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IPA News

Summer News from London Alex Williams, London Reception Officer (LRO) What a blast this summer has been! In July and August London hosted IPA visitors from all over the world, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Spain, Switzerland and USA (Miami, Nevada, Wisconsin). We’ve helped serving and retired police officers and staff in all sorts of ways; from providing pre-arrival information, to sharing a coffee or a meal, facilitating tourist visits, or visits to police facilities for professional development and networking. More and more of you are getting in touch, to offer support and friendship to our visitors which is great. You contribute to our association in a multitude of brilliant ways. Thank you. The IPA have allocated a very modest budget to the LRO role this year, which I want to use in supporting our volunteers. A £10 honorarium will be available, to any section UK member who meets any of our international visitors, in or near London, from the LRO circular. The £10 may be spent at the volunteer’s discretion, perhaps going towards a train fare, or to buy a welcome drink upon meeting them. Please request an LRO expense form from me and I will ensure one is sent to you, along with the relevant instructions. Thank you to those who write articles for Police World magazine, IPA news for the website and those who post on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Please continue to submit your stories and experiences, along with photos. Your work really does enliven our association. A special thanks must go to those who help organise events: Gary Sheppard, for his fabulous Palace of Westminster tours; Tom Brazil, for his intriguing “off-the beaten track” walking tours; Eddie Rooney, for his unique Wellington Barracks: Mounting of the Guard visits; Keith Darcy, for facilitating the incredibly special photo visits to Downing Street. I am delighted to welcome on board Darren Hartigan, as the new Assistant London Reception Officer. Darren is also a serving officer in west London, working for the Roads Traffic Policing Team. D Day Map Room and Royal Military Police Museum David King, Surrey Branch Secretary Surrey Branch and 11 Region members enjoyed a wonderful trip to Southwick House, near Portsmouth. Southwick House is steeped in history and is the home of the D Day Map room for Operation Overlord (D Day Landings). The House and grounds were requisitioned by the government in 1941, as the new home HMS Dryad . The site was chosen because of the protection from German bombers, provided by the various defence forts on the hills above the house. In 1943, the house was chosen as the Command Post for the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force. During 1944, in the months leading up to D Day on 6th June 1944, the Allied commanders moved their Headquarters to Southwick House. A plywood map of the proposed D Day landings for operation Overlord was made, in what is now known as the Map Room. Eisenhower had his office next to the map room. We were given a wonderful and informative talk by our guide Richard Callaghan, whose knowledge was awe inspiring. Afterwards we enjoyed coffee in the Eisenhower room, where he made the decision to go on the 5/6th June 1944. It was very special indeed to have coffee in the same room. After coffee, we went next door to Royal Military Police Museum, which we all found very interesting. Since 2007 Southwick House has been the training centre for The RAF, Navy and the Royal Military Police, as well as the training centre for Hampshire Police. We then enjoyed a wonderful lunch in the local pub in the village, to round off our very enjoyable day.”

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