Police World Edition 4 2014

Article

Hospitable inHastings

Regular readers of Police World may recall that in 2012 Donna Powell attended the 50th anniversary celebrations of Section USA. Whilst at this friendship event she met Rich Duran, a retired LAPD officer from Los Angeles, California. They exchanged details offering to host the other if the opportunity arose. It did - Donna tells the story. L ast year as part of my one-girl Californian road trip I flew into LA in late September where Rich picked me up from the we visited and paid our respects. This War Memorial will now feature on all my tours with American friends.

Rich Duran at Battle Abbey

At Battle police station

airport, hosted me for several nights at his home and took me all over the surrounding area. Rich was a true ambassador of the IPA spirit. In early 2014, Rich contacted me to say he was coming to Europe, initially visiting Denmark then flying into London, and was wondering whether he could spend a few days in my part of the world. The answer was an absolute yes! I began to send Rich various links to tourist attractions in my area so he could advise me on what he would like to see and do. Rich was very flexible and his only request via email was he wanted to play 'historical' crazy golf on Hastings seafront - Rich implied that I should get ready to lose! Rich arrived and was instantly impressed as he had not realised that I actually lived on the coast. That afternoon we played crazy golf where we were joined by my friend, and Sussex branch member, Emma Bailey. It was this afternoon that Rich learnt a valuable lesson as he came last at crazy golf - with my somehow stealing the winning position! We then returned back to my house where we were joined by Emma’s fiance and IPA member, Jon Gillings. I cooked a traditional Sunday roast dinner for all of us. The pressure was on as Rich had never experienced a roast dinner but I pulled it off successfully. The next day I took Rich westbound where we visited Eastbourne and enjoyed fish and chips on the seafront - looking out to sea. We then headed up to the South Downs National Park and I was once again reminded how beautiful and special this part of the world, that I call home, really is. On Tuesday, I took Rich eastbound where he visited Battle Abbey and the site of the famous 1066 Battle of Hastings. We then went to Rye where Rich enjoyed an afternoon cream tea. I think the highlight of the trip for both of us was when a local shop proprietor in Rye told us about the Johnson Memorial - a US War Memorial at Ham Street in Kent. This memorial honours the memory of 23 year old 1st Lieutenant William H. Johnson - an American pilot during the Second World War. As it was only a short distance away

We concluded Rich’s visit by having a lovely dinner at one of my favourite local public houses, the 17th Century Queens Head, in Icklesham. It was an absolutely glorious afternoon and the views were outstanding.

The Johnson memorial

Crazy golfers

In conclusion, for me this is a real example of what the IPA is all about and I look forward to welcoming more friends to my part of the world in the future.

Donna Powell , Chair 11 Region

Details of all events including: friendship weeks, seminars, rallies, sporting events, social events and branch meetings can be found on-line: www.ipa-uk.org/event-catalog

POLICE WORLD Vol 59 No. 4, 2014

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