PW_4_2025

75th Anniversary

A Warm Welcome And A Wonderful Week By Andy Wright , Secretary, Central Scotland Branch IPA To celebrate 75 years of the IPA, Central Scotland Branch hosted 89 visitors from around the world at the King Robert Hotel, Stirling from 9th to 16th August 2025. Attendees from Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Gibraltar, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain and Switzerland enjoyed the Scottish sunshine and a week of varied trips and entertainment, highlighting some of the best of Scotland. T he Opening Ceremony was attended by the Deputy Lieutenant of Stirling, Robin Iffla MBE (IPA member), The Lord Provost of Stirling, Elaine Watterson and Chief Superintendent Rob Hay, Police Scotland A Ceilidh (traditional Scottish gathering) was held on the Monday evening back at the hotel where Scottish dances, such as The Canadian Barn Dance, St. Bernard’s Waltz and the Orcadian Strip the Willow had the dance floor full to the sound of the band The Jacobites, led by branch member Adrian Robertson. Everyone was keen to learn the dances and it was great to see so many guests taking part and throwing themselves into the fun dances. 7 5 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y 1950 2025 SECTION UK

who is the President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents. The Lord Provost welcomed everyone to the city of Stirling, which celebrated its 900th anniversary in 2024 and Chief Superintendent Hay welcomed the guests to the Police Scotland and Forth Valley Division area. After the ceremony, Central Scotland Branch launched a limited edition 75th Anniversary Single Malt Scotch whisky, which is an eight-year-old Wolfburn, matured in a bourbon cask (cask number 999 of 2016) and bottled at 58% ABV. A true spirit of Friendship and thanks to Wolfburn brand ambassador and branch member, Mark Westmorland for making this happen. Appropriately the evening was then a celebration of Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns, with branch piper Stewart Carle providing bagpipe tunes, secretary and event organiser Andy Wright and his daughters Heather and Joanne singing Burns songs and branch member Harry Morton giving a wonderful rendition of Tam O’Shanter. The first trip of the week was to the picturesque village of Pitlochry where we visited Blair Athol Distillery and enjoyed a tour there (with a dram of course). Blair Castle and Gardens in Blair Atholl were also visited. The Castle dates back to 1269 and is the ancestral home of Clan Murray and the seat of the Duke of Atholl.

Tuesday saw a trip to Loch Lomond and its bonnie banks and a sail in glorious sunny weather, seeing the loch and surroundings at its best. That evening the sound of the bagpipes was loud and proud with the Neilston and District Pipe Band playing a selection of tunes and highland dancer, Cameron Walker, dancing traditional highland dances. The week’s highlight was probably Wednesday’s trip to Edinburgh. A day to explore the historic capital city during the busy Edinburgh Festival and free time to explore, before attending the famous Military Tattoo in the evening. Of note, the Tattoo is celebrating 75 years this year too, so it was an appropriate show to see “The Heroes Who Made Us” on the castle esplanade in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. A fantastic sight with the massed pipes and drums and many acts who took part. Thursday evening was the Gala Dinner at the hotel, with invited guests, Deputy Lieutenant Robin Iffla MBE and his daughter, Erin and No. 1 Region Chairperson, Yvonne McGregor and her husband David attending. Some guests had hired kilts for the occasion and together with the local members, the formal dinner and dance was a roaring success, where some of the Scottish dances learned earlier in the week were showcased by all.

Opening Ceremony

POLICE WORLD Vol 70 No.4, 2025

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