PW_1_2022

IPA News

Going North: Avon & Somerset

Chairman joins Rochdale’s 30th Anniversary Celebrations John Weeks , Avon & Somerset Branch In September 2021 I travelled to Rochdale with my wife Maureen, to take part in a Friendship weekend marking their 30th Anniversary. At the event’s base at the Bredbury Hall Hotel, we were soon getting to know members from other parts of the country, including Section UK President Clive Wood, as well as members from Aberdeen, Blackpool, the Met, Suffolk and many others. The blue lamp at Bury Transport Museum

Didcot Railway Centre Pauline Osborne , Thames Valley Branch Social Secretary With Covid restrictions relaxed, we still wanted to be careful, so chose the 21 acre open space of Didcot Railway Centre for our first post-lockdown event. The centre exceeded our expectations. We could roam all over the site, seeing such curiosities as Brunel’s unsuccessful attempt at atmospheric propulsion. There was a fascinating signalling centre, and naturally many questions as to how it was overcome for the Great Train Robbery. If tech is not your thing, then head over to the wagon and carriages exhibition, or the ticket office as we remembered it. There is also an air raid shelter for the workers, a signal box and a museum, with posters advertising the English Rivera, swanky crockery, and luncheon menus for three shillings. Then the pièce de resistance, the trains. You can ride up and down the track as many times as you like, and we did. The steam locomotive still has the lovely old separate compartments, which was a real joy. As luck would have it the centre was expecting 600 visitors the following weekend, which made it necessary to shunt countless engines around, and we got to watch it all.

Day out in Manchester

Heights of Abraham

The following morning, we visited the Greater Manchester Police Museum, which is well worth a visit if you are in that part of the country. After the museum, we boarded two barges for a cruise along the Rochdale Canal and Manchester Ship Canal, during which we enjoyed a buffet lunch. We disembarked at Media City. From here we felt in a cultural centre, nearby the BBC & ITV buildings, Old Trafford football ground and the outdoor set for Coronation Street. Crossing the canal, we visited the Imperial War Museum North, before returning to our hotel. On Saturday morning we travelled to Bury, where Sir Robert Peel is remembered with a monument. Then, following the theme of historic transport begun on the canals, we boarded a steam train along the 13 mile East Lancashire Railway. After arriving back in Bury, we visited the Bury Transport Museum, which although small is full of interest. Of particular interest to IPA members, are a Velocette “Noddy” motor bike and a blue lamp outside the main entrance. Sunday saw more modern transport, as our coach took us southeast to Derbyshire and Matlock. The fitter members visited the Heights of Abraham, who’s name suggests a steep walk. The rest visited Crich Tramway Village, where we saw and rode on the many historic trams. After collecting the walkers from Matlock, we were taken for dinner in one of the villages near Derbyshire Police HQ. Monday dawned wet but, as it was scheduled for shopping in Manchester, the rain did not unduly spoil the day. We returned to our hotel for the Gala Dinner, at which each member was presented with a miniature truncheon.

At the Robert Peel Statue

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POLICE WORLD Vol 67 No.1, 2022