PW_3_2018_050718_flip

IPA News

Rab Peattie gets a Signal Service Award Devon Branch were delighted and proud to be able to present our own Rab Peattie with an IPA Signal Service Award. The photo shows Rab with wife Jenny receiving his Certificate from Chairman Alan Street at our Branch meeting at The White Ensign Club in Exeter on Tuesday 17 April 2018. Rab has a wonderful history with IPA starting with his service with the Royal Military Police at Bergen Hohne, Germany and later in Düsseldorf when he was given the enviable task of hosting IPA visitors from the British Section. They made such an impression on him (and vice versa) that he became a member of the IPA when he joined the Thames Valley Police in 1981. Two years later he was posted to Whitney, Oxford meeting with Don Franklin. Don was quick to spot potential in Rab asking him to host visitors to Oxford. Rab looked after the wonderfully educated Hector Pererra from Sri Lanka and numerous other IPA visitors. His Superintendent recognised his ability to speak German and asked him to help the Twinning Association. He was such a success they elected him Chairman and he oversaw the visit of over 600 twinners from Unterhaching in Bavaria, Le Touquet in France and a 60 piece orchestra from Maasbracht in Holland. He was able to present a red telephone box to Unterhaching and the Police uniform he wore for the opening of Witney strasse is on display in the Fire Station Museum.

Car insurance - let the buyer beware! Mike Chappell , Cornwall Branch As a car owner who has possessed a full driving licence for over 40 years having been taught to drive by a police instructor back in the dim mists of time, I am increasingly convinced that great care needs to be taken in getting a good motor insurance deal. My current car is a 2017 Ford Focus with a 999 cc Zetec engine and I have achieved maximum No Claims Bonus . During January, 2017, I started my usual search for motor insurance renewal using the comparison websites and a couple of non comparison website insurers including the PMAS and eventually achieved a quote offering cover at £156.73 for a fully comprehensive policy with everything included, protected no claims, key cover and so on but not legal assistance or breakdown which I already have via the Devon & Cornwall Police Federation Group Insurance. So another year passed by and in January, 2018, I received a reminder from my current insurer that my insurance was due for renewal quoting me a much increased £266.99! That represented a rise of £110.26 for the same cover and with the same circumstances. Not content with this, I again commenced the same search procedure and via a comparison website on this occasion, achieved the best price of £171.93, also from my current insurer, offering fully comprehensive all-inclusive insurance. So, I contacted my current insurer on their renewal line and informed the operator of the difference and he offered to reduce the renewal quote down to £223, still £51.07 more than the same company had offered on a fresh quote. You can imagine my choice. Yes, I took out the new policy for £171.93 and received a ‘good bye’ message from my current insurer expressing regret at losing me as a customer and then a ‘welcome’ message from the same company sent to me as a new customer! I am forced to draw the conclusion that the insurance ‘industry’ employs some very sharp practices. Loyalty counts for nothing and the motorist needs to employ every ounce of wit and guile when dealing with it.

Since Rab moved to Devon he has been an outstanding example to our Branch members hosting IPA families from Germany, France, USA and Australia. He became special friends with J.P.Johnston and his wife taking them to Scotland and helping trace their family tree later staying with them in California. Whenever on holiday in Europe he always keeps in contact with his German, French and Dutch friends. He was once asked to look after a DS from Perth and found they had been stationed together in Berlin in the 1970’s. Rab loves the idea of service through friendship, none of which can be achieved without the wholesome support of wife Jenny. He enjoys showing his guests ‘off the beaten track’ places and sharing proper English food - fish and chips and an English breakfast! He is ever mindful of the cost of IPA to younger officers today and hopes this will be borne in mind when we all plan events. Something for retired officers would also be appreciated! Rab says: ‘Being a member of IPA has enriched my life and introduced me to many new friends. Servo per Amikeco.’

©Shutterstock

20

POLICE WORLD Vol 63 No. 3, 2018