POLICE_WORLD_2_2017

Cutlure Corner

Police Educators a Special Interest Group with a Difference. International Police Association (IPA) Section UK has formed a new special interest group aimed at members who are educators, trainers, or specialist trainers. The group welcomes members with a specialism/skill who are comfortable with public speaking or even developing their public speaking skills. W e are sometimes asked if we can supply a lecturer to participate and speak at an International seminar, course or workshop. A database will be maintained and when we receive a request from the International Professional Commission, or some other organisation, we will contact those on the database with knowledge in that area. This will then offer the chance for a member to share their knowledge and promote Section UK at the same time. The same list of members could be used to supply, on request, lecturers for IBZ Gimborn, the German educational venue, which organises police related seminars and has long had links with the IPA. The group will seek to create training events in this country, similar to at and open to IPA members worldwide and UK based non-members, with recruitment in mind and the intention of expanding our membership.

Last Night of the Proms Andy Gregory - Birmingham, West Midlands Branch Chair The Birmingham, West-Midlands branch recently held competitions for tickets to the British Police Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Last Night of the Proms’ at the Birmingham Symphony Hall. The first pair of tickets was subject to a raffle at the branch’s Charity ‘Pop Chorus’ evening and won by branch stalwart Bryan Carson. T he second pair of tickets were advertised on the IPA website and won by Steve Bretherton (8 Region) who attended with his father-in-law Wilfred. Both sets of tickets were kindly provided by IPA Vice-President (Cultural) Sean Hannigan. Branch chair Andy Gregory said “it was really kind of Sean to support our events with these ticket prizes. A number of Branch members attend the Proms night every December and it’s a great way to start the Christmas festivities. The competition winners thoroughly enjoyed the concert and it was lovely to see members that had not previously experienced the BPSO having such a great night.” Competition winner Steve Bretherton said “I was surprised and delighted to win the competition for the tickets to the British Police Symphony Orchestra. I didn’t know quite what to expect when we arrived at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham and met up with other IPA members but everything about the evening was first class. A small army of Police Cadets was on hand helping out and the hall was magnificent - all decked out in Union Flags with a huge net of balloons above us ready for the grand finale. The orchestra was great and I’d have thought they were professional musicians if I didn’t know otherwise. Of course being a Last Night of the Proms Concert meant that we got all the favourites - Pomp and Circumstance, the Fantasia on British Sea-Songs, Jerusalem and Rule Britannia, all accompanied by singing and manic flag waving! Along the way a talented soprano, fireworks and musket volleys by members of a military re-enactment group added to the fun of the evening. My father-in-law thoroughly enjoyed the concert. It was a great atmosphere and I wholeheartedly encourage members and their families to attend next year’s concert and I plan to be there myself.” For more details about the BPSO see www.bpso.org.uk

If you would like to join please email secretary.educators@icloud.com .

If you want to have a chat or find out more you can e mail vphannigan@ipa-uk.com or call me on 07828 261174

POLICE WORLD Vol 62 No. 2, 2017

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