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Raiders of the South Atlantic
by
Wes Marchant
, Secretary Rochdale IPA
34 years after landing on The Falklands as part of “Operation
Corporate” otherwise known as the South Atlantic Task Force,
Rochdale member and GMP Comms officer Gary Mcloughlin paid a
return visit.
Together with seven ex members of 30th Signal regiment, he left RAF
Brize Norton on the 18 hour flight via the Ascension Islands arriving in
Stanley in the middle of the South Atlantic winter. A sense of Déjà vu
prevailed
The intention was to revisit battlefield sights and trace the steps of the
fallen comrades from the Royal Signals who had made the ultimate
sacrifice during the conflict.
During their stay they were treated as VIP’s, served tea in the wardroom
of HMS Clyde the resident south Atlantic warship. They were also
entertained by the governor of the Falkland Islands Colin Roberts CVO.
Along with tours of all areas of the current RAF base at Mount Pleasant,
home to a squadron of Typhoon fighter jets, they were also treated to a
VIP dinner hosted by 266 Signal Squadron Gurhka Signals, who cooked a
splendid goat curry! The free bar helped with the digestion of the said goat.
They also visited sites that became household names during the conflict,
such as Goose Green, San Carlos harbour, Ajax Bay and Bluff Cove.
Respects were also paid at the
Argentinian cemetery, which is
maintained wholly by the families
of the dead.
The end of the memorable week
was capped when they were
welcomed and entertained by
the officers of the Royal Falkland
Islands Police force, including a tour
of their detention facilities, which
consisted of 3, 8 x 4 single stone
cells, with a bucket for ablutions. Obviously PACE has never reached the
Falklands.
As a thank you for their hospitality Gary was delighted to present the force
with a Rochdale branch IPA plaque which is now proudly displayed inside
the entrance to the police station.
The return journey back to the UK was much better this time, than in
1982, the A330 Airbus taking the place of the turbo prop Hercules
transporter where Gary had to bed down on top of a redundant missile
which was being returned back to the munitions stores in Blighty.
Police World
Editor,
Neil Hallam receives
Long Service & Good
Conduct Medal
I was very pleased to be presented with my medal by Nottinghamshire’s
Deputy Lieutenant. I was especially happy to have my retired Police
Officer mum, Barbara present.
You have read in a
previous issue how proud
my mum is of our family
trade. As a son it is a
wonderful feeling to
make your mum proud.
Cream Teas Event
raises £150 for
Air
Ambulance
Avon and Somerset Branch
Sunday 14th August brought sunshine and lovely warm
summer weather.
Hans and Derry had prepared the garden patio for an outside
event which encouraged a very cordial gathering of members
plus a couple of visitors. It was good to welcome new faces this
year. Having a good time and sharing friendship was not the sole
purpose of our event, we aimed to raise money for our charity
the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. We all tucked into the
lovely fresh scones still warm from the oven, with lashings of jam
&cream, then came the fresh baked cake selection and finally
that sponge – oh how Allan’s eyes popped out of his head – he
broke all the rules of his diet (& was not the only one). We are
very grateful to Hans and Derry who have donated their home
together with the scones, cream and cakes for a number of years.
This year the numbers were the most ever, the bonus being the
weather – so a truly outside summer event.
Gary presenting IPA Plaque
Meeting the Governor
Gary and the penguins
POLICE WORLD
Vol 62 No. 1, 2017
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IPA News