PW_4_2018

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Reliant Regal (“Trotters - Fools & Horses”) Gennaro with daughter Francesca

Mounted Section Sergeant with Gennaro and Superintendent Hitch with “Odin”

“An Inspector Calls ” Mike Vince , Treasurer Thames Valley Branch Coldstream Guards, HM Queen Elizabeth’s Keys, a police station and ‘Trotters’ Reliant Regal - what is the common denominator? These are some of the requested itinerary items for our IPA Italian visitor, Ispettore

Superiore, Gennaro Palumbo and his wife Marina. G ennaro is Il Commandante (Senior Inspector) Carabinieri , of his own station in Serra De Conti, Ancona, which is on the east coast of Italy and south of San Marino. Mike met up with the Palumbos at Heathrow and drove them to his home in Buckingham for their next few days. Tea and cakes in the sunny garden upon arrival and the exchange of gifts completed the introductions. Then Maggy Vince prepared a special meal for the visitors, who retired to bed reasonably early as they had been up at 4.30 am to catch their flight from Bologna. Next day, - Day 2 After breakfast we took our guests to Bicester rail station and onwards to London. First port of call was the Guards Museum in Birdcage Walk and a very informative visit, with Gennaro soaking up all details. During a brief visit to the front of Buckingham Palace they saw a Household Cavalry detachment escorted by two Metropolitan Police mounted officers leaving the Palace. Making use of London travel cards, we took them by underground to North Greenwich and a “flight” in the Emirates cable car across the River Thames. The usual touristy visits included the now demolished New Scotland Yard, the new location for NSY on the Embankment, Downing Street and a quick chat with the armed Police guarding the infamous gates there and finally a unique evening visit to the Tower of London for the IPA Guest night - Ceremony of the Keys.

the Superintendent and all of us using our smart phones with “Google Translate”. Then there was a whirlwind tour of the Mounted Section stables, meeting four exceedingly tall horses, then down in the dungeons - Custody Suite - the Control Room and the CCTV monitoring room, culminating in a hands-on examination of an Armed Response vehicle. Branch member, Graham Tabersham now takes up the story for their Day 5… “I had the pleasure of hosting Gennaro & Marina Palumbo from Italy. Having myself only returned from a trip to Rome two days before, we had plenty to talk about through his daughter, Francesca, who served as translator. It was his wish to visit the British Motor Museum at Gaydon. Gennaro is something of a collector himself, with two VW Beetles a VW Camper and a Moto Guzzi Motorcycle. At Gaydon he was fascinated with the old cars and the cry of “Look!” followed by a loud burst of Italian was often heard with Francesca trying to keep up with the translation. Of all the cars on show the ones he liked the best were the 3 wheeled Reliants. He is shown beside a Royal Mail Reliant Super van version and possibly the most famous 3 wheeled van in the whole wide world (well, in the UK anyway): Del Boys Reliant Regal. I was surprised to learn that in addition to being used for “Only Fools and Horses” this vehicle has also appeared in films featuring “Mr Bean”.

Reliant Super (“Postman Pat”) Gennaro (left) with Graham Tabersham

So after a hectic week, Francesca drove her parents to London Heathrow for their return flight back to Italy. This was a “friendship visit” at its best. Gennaro’s “wish list” was honoured and more.

Day 3 fulfilled another item on Gennaro’s wish list - a visit to Milton Keynes Police Station hosted by Superintendent Yvette Hitch, where our party was entertained in the Superintendent’s office. Gennaro speaks little English, can understand most spoken English if said slowly but everything in the “communication world” went well with exchanges in Italian, some French spoken by

Gennaro wearing the Guards traditional Busby helmet

Gennaro and Marina in Emirates “flight” across the River Thames

Gennaro with Superitendent Hitch, Thames Valley Police, Milton Keynes

POLICE WORLD Vol 63 No. 4, 2018

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