PW_4_2018

IPA News

Thames Valley Welcomes IYG 2018 A last minute change to the International Youth Gathering program brought Oxfordshire into action. Harvey Whittam , Thames Valley Branch I am delighted that my daughter Grace provided a most interesting walking tour around the city, based on one she has been delivering recently to foreign language students. I am also delighted that following a few last minute ‘phone calls to fellow Thames Valley Branch members and officers at the main Oxford police station, we met six uniform police officers with several bags of police hats. The police officers welcomed us outside the Ashmolean Museum, which formed a brilliant area with the steps and backdrop for a nice few photos. As a result Thames Valley Police (Oxford) have already tweeted the news story. Perhaps having the Deputy Chief Constable for Thames Valley Police as Patron of the Branch and supportive of Branch events is also beneficial when it comes to fairly spontaneous events.

Big Roger is awarded Honorary Life Membership Roger A Falkingham, who is in his 29th year as the Secretary of the West Yorkshire Region, was awarded Honorary Life Membership by the out-going IPA President Mick Luke at the NCM at Pitlochry. When Roger joined the West Yorkshire Force in 1976, he was at that time their tallest Officer at 6ft 8 inches. Roger joined the IPA in 1981 and, with his wife Helen, assigned themselves to IPA hosting and visiting other branches at home and abroad. At the Leeds branch AGM in 1990, Roger was elected Branch Secretary and worked tirelessly for the Association. In 1994 German Branch Dortmund presented Roger with a shield for services to the Association in Germany. In 1998 whilst hosting the Chairman of West Mercia Branch and his family, it was decided that the two branches had a lot in common and Roger was instrumental in the twinning of the two English branches. At the 2005 Number Three Regional AGM and Conference held in Scarborough, The Regional Committee made Roger their member of the year. Then at the Hartlepool conference, Roger, together with four other members, put together the structure for the IPA Motorcycle Group. The Group was confirmed in August the following year at Arthur Troop house when the first committee was formed. On Sunday 5th August 2018, Roger and Helen celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary and hosted a party at their home in Leeds. Over thirty people attended, including Mark Golliher and his family (President of Region 61 – Northern Arizona and Grand Canyon). On behalf of the President of the Association, Number Three Regional Vice Chairman, Karel Simpson, presented Roger with the 2018 Honorary Life Membership award.

Do you come from a land down under ? Andy Burrows , Vice Chair, Sussex Branch During our incredibly hot August, Liz and I were delighted to host John and Lilly Barker, from Victoria in Australia. John first joined the IPA in 1981 when he worked for what was then the Australian Commonwealth Police, now known as the Australian Federal Police. After five years, John moved into another Section of Government where he spent 12 years in an investigative role. He then left Government service and moved into the private sector, conducting insurance and compensation investigations. John and Lily are now both retired and travel to the UK every two years to visit their son, daughter-in-law and grandson, who live in Crawley Down. His son married an English girl who he met in Australia and they set up home in the UK. Liz and I travelled to Crawley and met up with John and Lily for lunch. We went to the Brewery Shades in the High Street where we enjoyed a meal, a few drinks and each other’s company. John and Lily were very good company and we had plenty in common, what with our policing backgrounds and both being from Australia.

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POLICE WORLD Vol 63 No. 4, 2018