PW_2_2021

IPA Section UK Patron - Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal

Vol 66 No.2 2021

The magazine of the International Police Association, Section UK

www.ipa-uk.org

Running for Matt See Page 21

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Contents Police World The magazine of the International Police Association, Section UK

Vol 66 No.2 2021

Keeping You Informed 4–5 4-5/ Keeping You Informed Clive Wood President of Section UK Professional Development 6–7 York on Patrol / Section UK IPA Partners Network Forum / Strange & Testing Times Martin Turner, VP Professional Cultural Corner 11 The Amazing Writer’s Weekend D.B. Lewis, Scarborough Branch & Writers’ SIG Chair 12 Old Bill’s Tales of the Railway Bill Rogerson, North Wales Branch 12 I Wonder if we’ll see the Comet, a poem Geoff Jackson K Branch & Writers’ SIG

Editorial Neil Hallam e-mail: mail@neilhallam.com Deadline for article submission for Vol. 66 Edition 3, 2021 is 09 June 2021 Dispatched July 2021

Advertising Michele Rai tel: (+44) 115 981 3638 e-mail: michele.rai@ipa-uk.org

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General enquiries IPA HQ - Section UK, 1 Fox Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham. NG2 6AJ tel: (+44) 0115 981 3638 e-mail: mail@ipa-uk.org Printed by Bishops Printers, Walton Road, Portsmouth,

Feature Articles 8–9 A Dyslexic Copper

D. Osborn Hughes, Leicestershire Branch & Writers SIG

10 Virtual Burns Supper

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Yvonne and David McGregor, Tayside Branch

13 Tales with Tony

Hampshire PO6 1TR Graphic Design by BDS 21 Ltd Membership

Andy Gregory, Birmingham - West Midlands Branch

14 Surviving Thailand

Paul Black, West Midlands Branch & Motorcycle SIG

15 Seventy Wonderful Years

Andy Gregory, Birmingham & West Midlands Branch

In Section UK, the membership comprises serving and retired Police Officers, Special Constables and members of Police Staff employed by a Chief Constable or other appropriately designated Chief Officer. We also now offer associate membership. The Section has a unique mixture of police personnel who are still serving, retired, or in some instances, who have voluntarily resigned from the police service. For details of who can join Section UK, go to www.ipa-uk.org/Join-Us ‘Join the IPA from £20. Visit the website to learn about our promotional offers. Annual renewal is £32. Visit the website to learn about our promotional offers. To apply either visit www.ipa-uk.org or request an application form from the general enquiries team. A guide to Region numbers 1 - Scotland Region 2 - Northern Ireland Region 3 - North of England including Isle of Man Region 4 - Wales Region 5 - Midlands Region 6 - Central and West London Region 7 - South & Southwest including the Channel Islands Region 8 - East Anglia Region 9 - Northern Home Counties and North and Northwest London Region 10 - Essex and East London Region 11 - Southern Home Counties and South London Region

16 Staycations: Caravan or Motorhome?

Kevin Hullah, Section UK Caravan & Camping SIG

17 Identity Theft – a word of caution

D.B. Lewis, Scarborough Branch & Writers’ SIG

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23 A fulfilling Retirement

Paul Amoo, New Scotland Yard Branch 24 There’s Something About Mary: Choosing the Right Puppy Chris Bostock, Nottinghamshire 25 An Unclassified Incident Ian McNeish, Central Scotland Branch & Writers’ SIG 26 Trying a Motorcycle Track Day Stewart Hall, Hampshire Branch & Motorcycle SIG 28 Inside the Box: an insider’s view of reality TV Neil Hallam, Editor News 18–22 News from around IPA Competitions 27 Crossword and Soduko WIN one of these books by Johnny Crook and John Penlington Sports 29 It’s All About the Victims – running for domestic

Cover Photo Paul Hollis who organised the virtual 10k running event for Matt Ratana’s family Next deadline 09 June 2021 for publication July 2021

SIGs

Caravan & Camping SIG Family History Group Motorcycle SIG Police Educators Writers’ SIG

violence victims Neil Hallam, Editor

30 Classifieds 31 Diary

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Keeping you informed

Keeping you informed

As I write this article for our magazine, I am minded that it could be my last, because this is an election year for several posts on the National Executive. Mine is included, and I once again remind any of you who fancy putting yourself forward to give me a call.

I mentioned last time that I hoped to hold our National Council Meeting (NCM) in person in Lincoln, in June this year, particularly as it is an election year with the continued Patronage of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. Sadly, we have decided it was just not feasible for us to go ahead in person this year. I’m very disappointed, but being mindful of the Prime Minister‘s roadmap, it would be inappropriate for us to go forward in person. I remain grateful to Region 5 who have once again, together with the Lincolnshire Branch, offered to lead on hosting in 2022. I also wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to all Branch and Regional Secretaries, together with the committee members who have held annual general meetings (AGM’s), using technology to keep the Association within its Constitution and Rules. I recognise the challenge this can sometimes bring, so well done. I know many of you have encountered Zoom, for perhaps the first time, over the last 12 months. We have decided this is how we will proceed with our NCM. World Congress was held electronically with great success, and I am hopeful that we can work through what will be a different, but successful meeting of the Council, to decide on several priority issues. Among them will be an issue that I have mentioned to you before. This is the future of our property at Fox Road in Nottingham. We have previously entered into consultation with your Regional Executives, asking for their initial views on the future of the property. I am grateful to all of you who took the time to engage in that process. There is now a decision to be made and a further paper will be presented in June, to determine the future of the property one way or another. Whilst I am mentioning our Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, I am delighted to share a Christmas card we received at Fox Road, together with a memento photograph I showed to those who were on the Zoom call before Christmas. I remain extremely grateful to Andy Gregory, Region 5, for his significant support in the production of the photograph.

Sadly, some of you may have seen the President of IPA Portugal, Anabela Alferes, passed away recently following a period of illness. Anabela was a great friend to our Section, and I was honoured to represent you at a memorial event hosted by IPA Israel recently via Zoom. Many Sections were present and I spoke briefly to deliver condolences from Section UK to her family and IPA Portugal. On a personal note, I wonder if any of you have put your name forward for a job with the forthcoming census? I thought it would be a way of helping fund our next holiday, when cruises are back on. Well, I have passed the first hurdle and now await a formal interview, so fingers crossed. Finally, this time I want to remind all members that one of the privileges of my role is to determine Presidential Awards and Honorary Life Memberships, which I confer during the NCM. Things have been particularly difficult and challenging over the past 12 months, so do please think about your colleagues and those that should be nominated for an award. Speak to your Branch or Regional Secretary to make sure the great work that many of our members do on our behalf and others is recognised. It has been my absolute pleasure to be your President for the past three years. Thank you for all the support I have received during my tenure. It would also be appropriate for me to thank the other members of your National Executive for the tremendous amount of time and effort they give supporting me to deliver the very best we can, for you the Members of the International Police Association’s founding section, UK.

Stay safe and well In friendship Clive Wood: Section UK President

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POLICE WORLD Vol 66 No.2, 2021

Keeping you informed

Memorial zoom for the President of Section Portugal

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Memento of our zoom meeting with HRH The Princess Royal

Christmas card from our Patron

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POLICE WORLD Vol 66 No.2, 2021

Professional Development

York on Patrol 2021 Martin Turner , Section UK: VP (Professional)

Section UK IPA Partners Network Forum The idea for a Section UK IPA Partners Network Forum stemmed from a Tweet by a new in-service Metropolitan Police Officer, who was looking for support for his partner. You can see from the likes, comments and retweets in the screenshot that it is an issue for many police officers and staff. T his is something the military and fire services use extensively , but nothing seemed to exist for the police. Locally, very few forces have such a scheme in place, other than WhatsApp groups and similar informal initiatives. Of course, a support network does exist to some extent within the IPA but is something of a subtlety within all IPA events and meetings. Our support for the Thin Blue Line charity, and the growing involvement of Section UK in the ‘Police Family,’ provided an opportunity to ‘plug a gap’ in UK policing. As an example – Chris Duncombe’s branch (BTP) are a national branch and fairly unique within Section UK. During the pandemic, his branch supported members and non-members across the UK, by checking on relatives, delivering essentials, providing local contacts and so on. This network could offer much needed support to our members, without much effort at all. So why is this relevant to the IPA? • Fundamentally we’re a friendship organisation. • We need to continuously evolve the IPA for newer members to remain relevant. Offering something that members cannot get elsewhere, is another major benefit of IPA membership. • We also provide something of value to help retain members, especially in the current pandemic where travel and other traditional IPA activities are in short supply. • Keeping partners on-side is especially important to serving officers and staff. My other half is very understanding of my job, but it does take a toll on her. Helping give her a bit of mutual support means that I can continue to do my job with less worry about looking after her. This is a remarkably simple initiative which has been set up on a secure Facebook Group (same as the IPA Section UK group) and membership of which is dependent on supplying a valid Section UK membership number for the spouse or partner. The Network is for UK members only, due to security/privacy safeguards. Please encourage your partners to join the Facebook group and if you have any issues finding it/the link – get in touch with me. Martin Turner: VP Professional: vpturner@ipa-uk.org BTP Branch Secretary Chris Duncombe came up with this concept and my thanks to him for getting it up and running. The tweet that started it all My wife, along with other IPA members’ partners, have found benefit in meeting other spouses and partners of police employees. It enabled her to see that she isn’t alone in living with the impact policing can have on their relationships and life in general. The policing family should encompass the families of its members, and the IPA can help support towards this aim.

Back in 2019 I attended the inaugural ‘Europe on Patrol’ event in Detmold, Germany, along with a handful of other Section UK members. T his long weekend featured inputs, and operational deployments about cross-border policing and how the German Police do their job. It was interesting and a great operational training weekend. The social aspect was also phenomenal and as with all IPA events, I made many friends from across Europe. This event sparked a roll out of ideas across Europe, with Sections Poland and Netherlands planning events for 2020, which were of course postponed. Section UK members have signed up for the rearranged dates and I’m sure, like me, you will look forward to reading about their trips in Police World in due course. ILDEP coordinator David Hunter is working with the Young Member Forum in planning York on Patrol, which will be Section UKs version of the event later in 2021. The long weekend will be operational focussed; with visits to North Yorkshire and British Transport Police in York City Centre. Demonstrations, deployments and station visits will be arranged for around 20 people. A social and cultural programme will accompany the professional element and Region 3 / York Branch of Section UK will be heavily involved with supporting this event. Several spaces will be available for Section UK members, keep an eye out for the advert to find out more and apply.

© Shutterstock

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Professional Development

Strange & Testing

Times Martin Turner , Section UK: VP (Professional)

When I wrote my last article for Police World, I did not expect to still be in lockdown by February 2021. Happily, we now have several vaccine programmes, and in a few months’ time I hope things will indeed be in a much better place.

Martin Turner VP Professional

T he past year has been extremely challenging for us all and we are not past it yet. I have lost several colleagues and friends to the virus, so keeping a team of officers and staff motivated has been a great challenge. I pass on my sincere condolences to anyone who has suffered a loss to the pandemic. I have not been idle in my IPA business, despite the restrictions on what we can do currently. Work is ongoing on several initiatives, such as the International Learning & Development Exchange Programme, Gimborn Seminars, Online Conferences and other Development Opportunities. Keep an eye on the Facebook Group and website to take advantage of such opportunities, I highly recommend signing up for the daily web news emails from the Section UK office. Before Christmas I met with the French Police Attaché to the UK and her deputy. Commissaire General Nathalie Skiba is a member of IPA Section France and envisages utilising the IPA network to forge links between French and UK policing. She will become a member of Section UK for her time here in the UK, and I look forward to working with her on a variety of projects. Together with Nathalie, I am arranging support for a charity London to Paris cycle ride planned for later this year. Hundreds of police officers and staff are partnering with celebrities and community members, to cycle from the Police memorial in London to the UK embassy in Paris. Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to take part or support this worthwhile event. I have also been busy ‘meeting’ with academic institutions and conference companies, to negotiate participation in their academic programmes. This is important to keep the IPA current and accessible to current and prospective members. Aidan Goundry and I continue to work with the Young Member Forum, to improve how Section UK attracts and retains serving members of the police family. Aidan and his team of UK members regularly feed great ideas into the NEC for us to support and develop. Do look out for a rebrand of the YMF later this year, Aidan and I are keen to ensure the initiative is not bound by age, but is about a desire to maintain currency and accessibility for the Section.

I have been in regular contact with colleagues and friends from across our fine association, developing opportunities for members and improving our links with other sections. We are working on getting UK members to Germany, the Netherlands and Poland once travel restrictions are lifted. I have also done regular zoom Q&As with German Police students as part of their initial training. Later this year I will be chairing several Gimborn seminars, hopefully in person at the wonderful Gimborn Castle. Remember that you can apply for bursaries to support attendance, please visit the website to find out more. I will be in touch with some of you soon to discuss delivering inputs at some of these seminars. With topics ranging from Gangs, Counter Terrorism and Missing People, to Self Defence, Disaster Management and Drones – there really is a seminar for everyone! Do get in touch with me if you think you can deliver an input on one of the UK seminars this year, or if you have an idea/ request for a seminar next year. Finally, I want to pass on my immense gratitude to the many of you who have helped me with various pieces of work over the last few months. To those who have worked hard in your various fields during this pandemic, be it paid or voluntary. Keep on supporting each other, stay safe and stay positive. Martin Turner: Section UK: VP (Professional) vpturner@ipa-uk.org

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Professional Development

A Dyslexic Copper D. Osborn Hughes (Doz) , Leicestershire Branch & Writers SIG I am Dyslexic: Throughout my life, it became evident that for any disadvantage dyslexia brought me; it also gave me an equal and opposite strength. M any misconceptions still exist , but people with dyslexia possess many strengths, thanks to the unique way in which our brains process information. A dyslexic’s cognitive processing often with a dictionary at my side. I may not have known how to pronounce words like; gaudy, spewing and phosphorescence, but I learned what they meant, and I started to use them. I came away from the experience with a thrill for the English language.

hinders reading, writing and rithmatic, but it also brings many advantages. There are various definitions ascribed to Dyslexia, but all include the words, “learning difficulty,” which still does not sit comfortably with me. Maybe, as I continue, you will understand why. Dyslexics can be extremely creative, excelling in music and the arts. They are often highly conscious of their environment, with good spatial awareness, sharper peripheral vision, and a capacity to take in the whole scene. Dyslexics tend to be more curious than average, thinking mainly in pictures; highly intuitive, they can often think and perceive using all the senses. A dyslexic brain can be skilled in visual processing, and considers objects from a greater number of directions. They can also experience thoughts as reality, having vivid imaginations. Dyslexics have an immense capacity for reasoning and not only think outside the box, but often, in their minds, live outside the box. Dyslexics can be skilled problem solvers, with an ability to see the bigger picture, developing strengths like seeing when things are out of place. Famous dyslexics include John Lennon, Cher, Keira Knightley, Tom Cruise, Picasso, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, JFK, Richard Branson, Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci. Some of the greatest minds and talents in history were dyslexics, advancing humankind regardless of their spelling ability. As a child, I would not have understood what being dyslexic meant and I doubt many of my teachers did either. I could not read, or memorise my schoolwork, but I seemed able to articulate great intelligence and understanding for my age. I dreaded the thought of reading publicly and would not read even the simplest of books. The first book I voluntarily read cover to cover, was Jaws (I was fourteen and had a love of sharks). Because that one part of my academic ability was slow, I assumed that I was “thick.” But other abilities made me stand out from the crowd; I could paint and draw, I was musical and mechanically minded; I could see how things worked. I could not learn simple schoolwork, but I could memorise poetry, quotations and scripture, without much thought. To paraphrase Neil Armstrong, reading Jaws was “one small step for mankind, but a giant leap for my dyslexic mind,”

I was always good at metalwork, woodwork, art, and anything that involved the use of my hands, but my two passions from then on were Art and English. English was one of my worst subjects and I struggled tremendously, but English became one of my favourite lessons and the English teacher, Miss Owen, knew it. We meet many people on the path of life, and often do not realise their significance, until years later. Looking back on those who had most influence on my dyslexic mind, there is one person I consider changed my destiny, Amanda Morgan. Amanda was a classmate who was friendly towards me. In one English lesson she was asked to read a poem, The Lady of Shalott. I remember her voice and the rhythm with which she read. The mixture of Amanda’s voice and Tennyson’s evocative words, somehow climbed inside my mind. The experience overwhelmed me. Never had any words, including Jaws, hit me with such resonance and at the end of the poem, my dyslexic mind was in utter grief over the death of the Lady of Shalott. Tennyson’s poem was a catalyst that set my mind ablaze and I began to write, poetry mainly. I would only share my poems with Amanda; they were precious to me, secret somehow. Something I did not share with anyone but her. She took the time to help me write neatly, even showing me how to hold the pen and place the paper. Each week it was Amanda who tested me on our list of spellings. But she betrayed me, stealing one of my poems and handing it to Miss Owen, which made the difference between a pass and a fail in English. Amanda died at the age of 19, when her then boyfriend ran out of road and hit a tree. I now appreciate the time Amanda spent with me, along with others; Miss Owen included, but I am constantly haunted by the memory of Amanda Morgan. After making a plethora of misguided choices in my life, I found myself in a dead-end job. As far back as I can remember I had considered becoming a police officer, so I applied to join the police. The entrance exam was a nightmare for my dyslexic mind. I spent a year learning spelling, punctuation and simple maths. My hard work paid off and I scraped enough marks to pass the exam.

although I did not realise it at the time. It took me several weeks of being a recluse to finish the book, which I read

Coton Manor Blue Bell Woods IPA

Gozo sunset original oilpainting

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POLICE WORLD Vol 66 No.2, 2021

Article

Our Last Poppy watercolour

150 years of Women in Policing - original watercolour

Joining, was only a beginning. I had worked for so long in a factory, making a million jam pot lids a day, that I had forgotten how to write. My first couple of pocket books were written entirely in capital letters, much to the amusement of my tutor. The next giant leap for my dyslexic mind was in the CID office; no, I had not been demoted to a detective. I had arrested someone for chequebook fraud, and taken a statement from the shop assistant. DS Colin Walker tried to educate me in the subtle difference between check and cheque. There were a lot of checks in my statement, but no Cheques. Reading it aloud to the CID office, his ridicule drew laughter from his captive audience. With my tongue very firmly in my cheek, I quoted my favourite premise, “If you can’t spell a word in more than two different ways, you have no imagination.” I think my words were taken to heart by the old time sergeant, because he immediately tore up the statement, dropped it in his bin and instructed me to take another. On my return to the CID office and DS Colin Walker, I pondered the necessity of my extra work. I handed the new statement over with a smile, but on reading it, the expression on his face did not change. I confidently extended my arm and he reluctantly shook my hand, but I cracked the grim look on his face when I said, “Thank you.” On every occasion we met, it was with a smile. I spent 22 of my 30 years on a Tactical Firearms Unit, where I became known as a bit of a maverick. The maverick reputation followed me for the whole of my career, and into my final years as a Response Sergeant. If a job could not be done one way, then I would find another way to complete it. In one of my life’s surreal destinies, I became the Single Point of Contact for dyslexia at my station. A young Lady from HQ came to teach me about dyslexia and the ways I could help dyslexic officers. After the flying visit, I was left with a thick folder full of information. It was then I took the tests to see if I was indeed, dyslexic. I scored very highly, which was not necessarily a good thing, but it confirmed what I already knew.

Black Ops watercolour illustration

Throughout my career I was creative and often unorthodox in my approach to different situations. With my dyslexic mind generating a plethora of different ideas to overcome problems, I was often the person people came to for advice. I am now an accomplished artist, photographer and an author. I am a storyteller who tries to convey the whimsical wanderings of my mind in writing. The struggle between my vivid imagination and my dyslexic brain has often frustrated me. But since retiring I have written and published two books: Above the Italian Woods and The Last Celt - Waking Dreams. (both available through Amazon Books). Amanda Morgan still haunts me, looking over my shoulder as I write, patiently pointing out spelling and grammar. I wanted in some way to write about her influence in my life, but was unable to for many years. I felt her story, along with the stories of others, were worth the telling. I wanted to give her life a voice. My book, Above the Italian Woods, whilst a work of fiction, includes her story, along with the stories of others who helped me. In many ways you cannot overcome dyslexia; you can work around it and make it work for you, but it never truly goes away. That is probably a good thing, because if dyslexia went away, the other gifts would disappear with it.

Snowdon snowscape glowing in the sunrise photo image

Creative portraiture featuring Priya Chauhan

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Article

Virtual Burns Supper Yvonne and David McGregor , Tayside Branch During these unprecedented times, where IPA members have not been able to meet, friendship has continued by virtual means. Early in January I received an unexpected email from Ewan McIlwraith, the owner of Robertson’s of Pitlochry, inviting David and I to participate in a Virtual Burns Supper. E wan had linked up with the local Pitlochry Butcher , Rory MacDonald, and a local musical duo to create an evening of entertainment. Ewan is an experienced Whisky judge, and has attended our annual Ceilidh Weekends to host the Whisky and Gin Tastings. He also sourced the whisky miniatures for the NCM 2018, the original IPA Anniversary Whisky, and the 70th Anniversary Whisky and Ale.

The Selkirk Grace

The whisky tasters

The evening commenced with Ewan appearing in evening dress and Rory in Highland dress. Ewan invited us to pour our first Whisky, and he gave a very informative talk about how to make the most of enjoying it through ‘nosing’ and the art of tasting. This was followed by a dramatic pre-recorded journey of Rory leaving his butchers shop, accompanied by Piper Ross McNaughton. Their journey continued to the skirl of the pipes, with various costume changes depicting Burns poems. The haggis ended its virtual journey on a silver salver to the dining room, where Rory, in full Highland regalia, enthusiastically addressed it. David enjoyed the second whisky tasting, while I nipped to the kitchen to serve our meal. Prior to commencing the meal, Rory delivered the Selkirk Grace. This was followed by an interval so that we could enjoy our meal, and listen to the excellent rendition of Burns songs by the musical duo. After dinner, the final whisky tasting took place and the shortbread added to our enjoyment. To end the night we had a fantastic rendition of Tam O’Shanter by Finlay McIntyre, whose wife Gillian, made the shortbread. It wasn’t the same as being at the Gala Dinner in Kingussie, but it was the safest and next best thing we could do. Hopefully we will be able to arrange a real one again in January 2022, at a different location, if health and Covid permit.

David and I decided we would invite our Ceilidh Weekend friends to join us for the Burns Night, and the link was circulated to order the Haggis, Tatties, Neeps and three excellent Whiskies. A couple of days prior to the event our food parcel was delivered. There was enough food to feed an army, along with cooking instructions and some local handmade shortbread. Most important, for David, were the three drams. As well as the Tasting Notes for the Whisky, there was a programme for the evening and a history of Burns Night. We had International friends from Germany, Sweden and USA participating, and it was great to see that some had made their own haggis in order that their evening was as authentic as possible (Unfortunately, due to customs restrictions, the food and drink could not be shipped abroad). When the night arrived, it was great to see photographs on Facebook of our IPA friends preparing for the evening, with some dressing up in tartan for the occasion.

Ewan McIlwraith

Rory MacDonald with his haggis

International Secretary General, May-Britt Ronnebro, from Sweden with her IPA Tartan kilt and her home made haggis.

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POLICE WORLD Vol 66 No.2, 2021

Cultural Corner

The Amazing Writer’s Weekend D.B. Lewis , Scarborough Branch & Writers’ SIG Chair The SIG writers’ Zoom weekend in November was a stunning display of our collective talents and the below comments reflect the diversity, pathos, power and energy of the group as creative writers; a thousand thanks to everyone who helped to make it such a resounding success, both as presenters and delegates. I f ever there was a memorable presentation, it was most certainly that of David “Doz” Hughes, about living with David ‘Doz’ Hughes

Cultural Competitions to win an Amazon voucher Caption Competition

dyslexia. A very moving hour of my life. It was a true collective effort, proving the old adage that, the sum of the whole was greater than the individual parts. But the individual parts were excellent in the first place. Our speakers were: • Janet ‘Fizz’ Curtiss/David Lewis : Elements of Biography • David ‘Doz’ Hughes : The Dyslexic Writer • Bill Petherick : The Caricature • Ian McNeish : Writing Comedy • Tony Granger : Short Story Writing • Helena Hutt : Ideas, Prompts and Writers Block • Ann Cumberland : Poetry beginnings and ends • Sean Hannigan : Writer’s Aids It was an incredible couple of days, highlighting such inspiration, knowledge and talent. Thank you for all the organisation that must have gone into the event. It was a resounding success. Then we did it again in February, with a one day event.

Thank you to our presenters: • Neil Hallam Publicity and Marketing • Ian McNeish Publishing: Another Scottish View • Bill Petherick as Question Master for a Literary Quiz • D.B.lewis ‘Writers on Writers and their Writing’ • Project Updates: with David Lewis, (‘50 Shades of Blue’) Fizz Curtis and Bill Petherick (Irene Mawer Mime), Neil Hallam (SIG Journalism Project and Inter-cultural cross over project) and Helena Hutt (The Bookshop).

Name the Comet Which comet did Andy Gregory photograph recently?

Photography Competition Take a photograph on the theme: Rural Patrol Deadline for entries: 1st June 2021 to mail@ipa-uk.org

a Bill Pethrick illustration

The subject of Janet Fizz Curtis’ research

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Cultural Corner

Old Bill’s Tales of the Railway: 1971 – 2020 Bill Rogerson , Chair of North Wales Branch After years of threatening to publish a book about my memoirs with the British Transport Police, I finally got round to it, and it is now available on Amazon.

I n Old Bill’s Tales , I look back on 49 years working with the British Transport Police as a warranted officer, a civilian and a volunteer, which was sometime humorous and sometimes serious. Unlike a lot of police related stories, mine is not one of high-speed car chases, high level drug busts, or shooting bank robbers. This book details the everyday life of an ordinary railway copper, policing Britain’s railways, and a bit of time in the Netherlands.

From the hustle and bustle of Birmingham, Coventry and Leicester, to the usually more tranquil locations of Heysham, Crewe and North Wales, I have a story or two to recall. Some of these stories were comic, others were tragic or somewhere in between. Policing Britain’s railways was never dull, no two days were the same. Like most other people, prior to joining the police, I had no real idea of what police work was like. I had only seen the job through the eyes

of television and film – The Blue Lamp; Z Cars; No Hiding Place, Dixon of Dock Green and many others created images in my mind which were now to be tested against the reality. I quickly learned that any similarity between fictional police work and the real thing was purely coincidental. I learned that a police officer must be able to converse on equal terms with everyone he meets, be they rich or poor. He must take insult and praise with equal humility, and never be surprised at the heights or depths to which human nature can reach. I remember the dark humour of the everyday pranks and tricks that police officers play on each other, members of the public and rail staff, with great hilarity. The book takes you back to policing in the days when the world seemed to be a little bit more innocent and political correctness was something unheard of. Amongst the many anecdotes, I recall a duty to prevent the Mafia from becoming involved, when an Italian cafe owner in Birmingham was threatened by local youths. I describe falling into a sewage farm whilst chasing a suspect and getting covered in green slime. I describe arresting a member of the gentry in Birmingham, for being Drunk and Disorderly. A colleague and I were mistaken for rapists when dealing with a group of children who were trespassing on the railway. As the book unfolds there are stories of preparing for the Cold War, and meeting with high ranking officials from all three armed services on a regular basis. I appeared on two Crimestoppers reconstructions regarding a robbery and an indecent assault, and was identified as suspect in one of them. I even tell how someone in my own family became involved in the Great Train Robbery. There are some gentle, humorous memoirs contained in the book, including my experiences of teaching well over one million school children about the dangers of the railway. I was very proud to be appointed an MBE in 1995 in recognition of my charity and community work in North Wales.

I Wonder if we’ll see the Comet Geoff Jackson , K Branch & Writers’ SIG A clear night sky, slight chill in the air,

Some thin high cloud slowly comes into view. Small twinkling stars glint, others disappear. Will we see the comet, will it grace our sky? Staying put a while longer, the satellites are getting stronger, One from the East, another from the West Slowly gliding across the sky, at a distance so high. Will the Starlink and its satellites, make its presence known, Moving slowly across the sky seemingly like a string of glittering diamonds. Then… from nowhere… a bright streak from the East. An explosion of light, that gave me a fright, a beautiful, beautiful sight. its long fiery trail flowing into the night, the star at its head that started out bright, subdued as it flew, now gone in the night. Think I will sleep with a smile on my face.

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Article

Tales with Tony Andy Gregory , Secretary, Birmingham - West Midlands Branch It’s often been said that ‘Everyone has a book in them’. Some people write one, some a few and some publish lots. Birmingham’s own Tony Granger has written eighteen books so far. On the evening of Tuesday 17th November, IPA members were treated to an online Zoom event where Tony read some of the short-stories from his latest book, titled Blondie Requited .

BSAP 1973 Rhodesia

Tony Granger

S ince the 2020 Lockdown , all branch meetings moved online, and we discussed ways to offer something different to branch members. Branch Vice-Chair Simon Hensley said “The power of story-telling is part of Policing culture; those tales spun over a hastily eaten meal or during a long night on a cold Watch unites different Policing generations. We believe, now more than ever, the need to connect with our younger members and capturing our ‘tales’ for future generations should be one of the priorities for the IPA”. Section UK Vice-President Sean Hannigan organised the Zoom facility for us, and we threw open the invitation to other IPA members. Despite some of the invitations going out just 24 hours before the event, we attracted 56 members from across the globe. Tony Granger joined the IPA in 1974 while serving with the British South African Police in Rhodesia. He joined the Section UK in 2014 and has become an active member of the Birmingham, West Midlands Branch, as well as a regular contributor to the IPA Writers Special Interest Group (SIG). In 2018/19 he was instrumental

in leading the campaign to allow former BSAP officers and staff that served in South Africa and Rhodesia to join IPA Section UK. The Tales with Tony evening included several short stories from his books Blondie’s Revenge and Blondie Requited; including a particularly funny tale of when he was summoned to see his commanding officer, when he wanted to marry his sweetheart. His Application to Marry form had been doctored by his colleagues, and his future wife’s name had been replaced by a notorious member of the infamous Baader- Meinhof Terrorist Group. If you want to know what happened, you will have to order his books. At the end of the Zoom session our guests were able to ask Tony questions about his service with the BSAP, and how he gathered the ideas together for his books. As well as over a dozen of our own branch members, the online guests included Christopher Mannino (Chief of Park Forest Police, Chicago) who Andy first met at Gimborn in 2006, Justin Timm (Chief of Williams Bay Police, Wisconsin), Steven Boers (Cape Town), June Pettitt (Birmingham Branch but now living in Cape

Town), Angie Pare (Durban, South Africa), Fran Stiff (Johannesburg), Eleni Cotton (Malawi & Greece), Dr Marelize Swart (Cape Town), Henryk Ellert (Portugal), Judy Kerswell (Zimbabwe), Laura from France, Sean Hannigan from Frankfurt and members from across the length and breadth of the UK. The youngest participant Alex Bidolak, an officer with Greater Manchester Police, has been an IPA member for 5 years (Rochdale & District Branch). Alex gave some feedback saying “I think this is a fantastic concept, where a guest speaker shares their policing experiences and could be taken forward in the future, where different Regions can tune in and listen to members stories from far and wide. What a great evening and idea, all from the comfort of your own home!” Branch Chair Tom Chisholm said “We are extremely grateful to Tony for sharing some of his fantastic stories from his time with the BSAP, and look forward to inviting you all to our next events”.

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Article

Surviving Thailand Paul Black , West Midlands Branch & Motorcycle SIG

Remembrance ceremony

I flew into Thailand in October 2020, amidst all the uncertainty of Covid-19 restrictions. I was not sure if I would get there until the last minute. It took three Covid tests and 14 days isolation in a Bangkok hotel, but I made it just ahead of the second Lockdown in the UK. Leaving quarantine was a strange experience, as even Bangkok Airport was incredibly quiet. A Remembrance Day service, organised by the British Legion and the Embassy made it feel a little like home, even if the temperatures were in the 90s. The service was very meaningful, especially when they played the last post. T hen I took a motorbike out for the first time. I could only get third-party insurance, so my fingers were firmly crossed. It was a good ride, despite being a bit rusty after quarantine, and there were fantastic views. I ended up near a lake where they feed some very big fish. I also found a Thai guy who makes excellent fresh fruit smoothies and fresh orange juice, which I sampled every morning. Many of the elephant homes have closed due to the lack of tourists, but I managed to find one that was open. My next trip was to the beach, which seemed a good opportunity with no tourists here. The 2000 km journey was via Rayong and Ko Samet, which involved a ferry. It also involved a motorbike taxi in Rayong, with a wire side car attached. The sidecar can take up to five passengers and was an interesting experience as the driver was drunk. I had hoped to dive, but because there are no tourists, only snorkelling was possible, but it was excellent. I saw quite a few different fish and coral, and had to snorkel a long way around some rock pinnacles. I took a long motorbike ride to Udon Thani, which is in the north east of the country. The 1000 mile ride took four days and felt like riding from Coventry to Aberdeen, with no motorways, in 35° of heat. There were five of us in the group, three Aussies and two English guys, what could possibly go wrong. On the way we visited an interesting former American military camp, where thousands of Americans were stationed during the Vietnam war to listen for intelligence. It was absolutely fascinating. The Thai army showed us around the site which is called Ramasun Station.

Living by the railway

A great railway journey Glass sky bridge

Out on the motorcycles

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Celebrating Seventy Wonderful Years Andy Gregory , Birmingham & West Midlands Branch

The following day we visited a new glass sky bridge, near the border of Laos at Chang Khong. A lot of the Thais seemed nervous about walking on the glass bridge, and did not appreciate my English sense of humour in shouting “boo”. Laos was apparently the most bombed country in the world during the Vietnam war, but Chang Khong was lovely, the people were friendly and there was a nice Buddha too. The trip was challenging but good. My next adventure involved a train, rather than a motorcycle, when I took an adventurous three day railway trip right down to Su-ngai Kolak, the last stop on the train line. Just one mile from Malaysia, this is a Muslim area, which is in dispute with Thailand, so there were about 20 armed Thai soldiers on the train. The train was very interesting and very basic. Even when the train is moving, the side doors are fully open, and passengers step off at whatever speed we happened to be doing. When we stopped at some of the stations, street vendors approached the train with some nice food. My train compartment was basic to say the least, despite being first class. I spent two overnights on the train. In Bangkok the track was next to peoples’ shacks. At 06.30 I made my way to the river and took a ferry, which cost 50p and stayed on it for a few hours. Then I met my friend Nick, who lives in Bangkok, for lunch. Then it was time to get back on the train, where I was the only westerner travelling. When the train arrived at its destination, there was a high level of security with armoured cars, stop checks everywhere and a serious amount of military with automatic weapons. An article in the Bangkok Post helped explain the security, reporting a total of 6,543 deaths and 11,919 injuries between 2004 and the end of 2015. There were an estimated 15,374 “insurgency-related” incidents during the same period. I knew this was an area the UK Home Office advised against travelling to, so my insurance didn’t cover me and I decided not to stay too long. I spent a decent night there with no problems, apart from the very loud prayers from the mosques at 4am. The next day, the only way I could find to leave was to pay someone to drive me. The guy who turned up was a young man wearing a baseball cap backwards and driving a tricked up 4x4. I tried to set aside my ageing stereotype, thinking “he’ll be okay.” He wasn’t okay, he drove like he stole it. We made it back in five hours, even with lots of army stop checks.

Andy

In 1985, after three years in the electrical retail trade, I changed careers to work at Birmingham’s Hippodrome Theatre. My friend Martin Sewell had been promoted from Barman to Assistant Manager, and I took his place in a job I really enjoyed. I met some amazing and rather famous people including Lauren Bacall (Humphry Bogart’s wife), Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith & Griff Rhys Jones, Victoria Wood, Morrissey, Wayne Sleep and loads more besides. I also had the pleasure of preparing the Royal Rooms for the Queen, and personally waited on Princess Anne (twice) and Princess Margaret, when they attended various productions. In the Summer of 1986, Princess Anne (prior to receiving the title of Princess Royal in 1987) visited the Theatre to see a production of The Gang Show, and her second visit was to a fundraising show for the Army Benevolent Fund. As Head Barman, it was my responsibility to look after the Royal Party and ensure everything ran smoothly. After one of the events, I was asked by a Royal Aide to arrange for a line-up of bar and kitchen staff, so Her Royal Highness could thank them all. Princess Anne made her way towards us, and we all waited eagerly to see if she would speak to us personally. I was at the end of our line, and the last person she could potentially speak to before the Theatre Manager and Director. Her Royal Highness spoke to a few colleagues and then stopped in front of me. She asked me about my role, and during the brief conversation I said that I really wanted to be a police officer. She suggested I “Go for it,” and finished by saying that although I had done a great job for her visit, she did not expect to see me still working at the Hippodrome next time she attended a show. With that, she said her goodbyes to the Theatre Bosses and left the building. A few weeks later, my father arranged for his friend Barry McKay to visit and discuss joining the police. Barry was a Detective Chief Inspector in Birmingham and I listened intently to his tales of policing. These two conversations with HRH and DCI McKay changed the course of my life, as they convinced me to pursue my dream. I submitted my application and joined West Midlands Police on the 16th of February 1987. I mentioned earlier about my pal Martin Sewell, who was at senior school with me and later worked alongside me at the Theatre. Martin was from a police family, and in 1988 after travelling the world with his wife-to-be Clair, Martin also joined West Midlands Police. Martin’s father David served for 30 years, and was heavily involved with the IPA throughout his career. So, Martin and I followed suit, with both of us joining the IPA and serving as 5-Region Chair at different times. Mine was not a police family, so I truly believe those two encouraging conversations in 1986 had a profound effect on my destiny. Barry McKay retired about 15 years ago as Assistant Commissioner in the City of London, and he and my father Frederick remain great friends. I served for 30 years, retiring as a sergeant in 2017. Throughout my career I have had some wonderful experiences with the IPA, and I was delighted to see Princess Anne agree to be our IPA Patron. Considering the encouragement the Princess gave me, I was delighted to take part in the Zoom call with her in December. Unfortunately, I did not get an opportunity to thank her for the words of encouragement she gave me 34 years ago, but I hope to get another chance during her time as our Patron.

Stunning views

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Article

Staycations: Caravan or Motorhome? Kevin Hullah , Section UK Caravan & Camping SIG The COVID-19 pandemic brought a 20% increase in sales of caravans and motorhomes during 2020. With foreign holidays restricted, people began to look at other holiday options. I was often asked which was best: a touring caravan or a motorhome / campervan. (There is an official distinction: a campervan is a commercial goods vehicle that has been converted for simple habitation. A motorhome, or officially a motor caravan, is a coach-built caravan - with an engine.)

Rainbow at Woodhall Spa 1940s Rally in July 2016

Take care in considering any driving licence restrictions, for driver’s age, towing and gross weight limits. To help your choice, it may be useful to come up with a list of features you are looking for: Must Have, Like to Have and Nice to Have. A great tip is to rent or borrow a unit, to find what is best to suit your needs. Above all, avoid impulse buying. There are two main organisations catering for this leisure pursuit – the Caravan and Motorhome Club and the Camping and Caravan Club. Both have a network of sites available across the UK and Ireland and in Europe. They offer wide-ranging insurance policies and discounts on sea crossings. They also have technical departments to provide advice on purchasing, mechanical issues, and both Clubs offer towing courses. There is also a wealth of knowledge to be gained on YouTube. The greatest merit of this lifestyle is the freedom to go virtually anywhere at any time. Then comes flexibility; you can change your travelling plans at will, and make your own choices as to how you do things. There is nothing like enjoying the outdoors in some outstanding locations, while travelling in your own home. The IPA Section UK Caravan and Camping SIG has over 50 members, with a half and half blend of caravans and motorhomes. We are always looking for kindred spirits to join us. We meet on a regular basis, holding events around the UK. Most of our Rallies are on established caravan sites, however, a few are held on sports fields, showgrounds, racecourses and stately homes. Our members also tour throughout Europe, and some stay over winter in southern Europe. (I am grateful to Group members Eddie Downs, Jack Dobbie, Steve Palmer, John Shand and Danny Kaye for their input.)

The starting point for your decision is to decide how you will use it. Will you make regular, extended trips, or just do the odd weekend? Will you be making regular stops, or staying put on a campsite? Also think long term; is this just a quick fix until you can fly again? If you intend to stay on sites for long periods, a caravan will suit you better. However, for shorter and more regular overnight stops, a motorhome fits the bill. Your next consideration is budget. Retail prices for new caravans range from £15k to over £30k. Motorhomes are much more expensive, at £47k to over £80k. Obviously you can spend much less buying second-hand. Whether new or used the safest method is through a dealership. They will include a warranty to afford you some comeback if there are aftersales problems. Private sales can be a nightmare in terms of maintenance history, maintenance records, potentially stolen vehicles and outright scams. Storage brings other hidden costs, if you do not have enough space at home. A caravan will be cheaper in most respects, but it can be daunting to the beginner, hitting the road with something just slightly smaller than an Eddie Stobart truck. There is the big advantage of being able to use the car to get around during awaydays. Caravans are also less expensive to maintain in terms of running costs, servicing and insurance. Suitable towing vehicles must also be considered though, because the larger the caravan, the more powerful your tow-car must be. Motorhomes are easier to drive than a car and caravan, which bends in the middle. They are undoubtedly easier to set up on site; a bonus to those of advancing years. Informal sites such as pubs and farm shops are increasingly becoming available for motorhomers, which are not generally available to caravans. On the downside, everything must be packed away before you can drive your motorhome away. Parking a motorhome can be challenging in town, leading to many choosing sites close to public transport. Motorhomes are exceptionally well catered for in Europe with places to stay. For instance, there are areas for them to stay on motorways and in cities in France, Spain and Germany at very low cost.

Norfolk Broads Rally, Ludham 2019

AGM Rally Stratford Racecourse May 2019

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