First for IPA
LondonSouthBranch
SectionUKmembers visited the
FreemasonsHall inLondon, inMarch. This
was thefirst event organisedby thenewly
renamedLondonSouthbranch (previously
theLondonSouthWest branch).
The groupof seventeen visited theGrade II
listedHall which is theheadquarters of the
UnitedGrand Lodgeof Englandand theprincipal
meetingplace forMasonic Lodges
in London.
Peter Kipps, Chair of LondonSouth
branch, whoorganised the trip said,
“This is oneofmy favouriteLondon
buildings and I would recommend
it as amust see for those in central
Londonwithanhour to spare. Entry
is freeof chargeand they providea
guided tourwhich includes the very
elaborateGrand Temple.”
TheFreemasonshavebeen in this areaof London
since1775. Thepresent Hall is the thirdbuilding
to standon the site. Built between1927-1932
as amemorial to theFreemasonswhodied in
theFirstWorldWar, it is regardedbymany as
oneof the finest Art Decobuildings inEngland.
Thebuildingalsoaccommodates a library and
museum - which is open to thepublic.
7Regionmember Bill Bertram spotted
thisCookevillepolicepatrol car / taxi in
Tennessee.
It was part of adrinkdriving
campaign - witha choice, if youdrink, of a
$10 taxi or riska$1500+ ridehomewith the
police if youdrive.
Bill said,
“I think youget themessage.”
Bill andhiswifewerehostedbyNickCominos
a retireddeputy fromOrangeCounty Sheriffs
Dept inOrlandowhoalsohosted retired
officer CharlesRahn. Bill explained that he
andNickmet throught the IPAabout 15 y
ears ago.
The threeof them canbe seenbelowat the
GrandOleOpry - thehomeof countrymusic
inNashville Tennessee. Left to right: Nick
Cominos, Bill BertramandCharlesRahn.
25
POLICEWORLD
Vol 59No. 3, 2014
IPANews
Taxi?
A Trip
I completeda travel form requestinghelp
andassistanceduringaplanned trip to
Perth, Australia.
I was soon given thenameof VicSmith, the
IPA contact inPerth. Vic volunteered tomeet
mywifeand I at theairport and takeus toour
hotel in the city centre.
From themoment wemet we got onwell,
relaying toeachother someof our experiences
inour policeworkandpersonal life. Vic then
saidhehad set aside the following twodays to
showus around the city and surroundingarea.
So, nextmorningat theagreed timeVicwas
at our hotel. He thenproceeded to takeus on
awalking tour - heknew the city like theback
of hishandashehadbeena resident and
workedall his police career inPerth.
After a light lunchhe thendroveus round
thewider city area inhis own car. The tour
includeda visit to thebeautiful botanical
gardenswhichalso giveawonderful view
over thewhole city and theRiver Swan. Heof
coursehad to takeus to theWACA, thePerth
cricket ground, whereEnglandhad lost the
Ashes onlyweeks previously.
The followingday Vic tookus toanoldpenal
prisonbuilt by convicts about 160 years ago,
andwhichonly ceasedbeingaworkingprison
some20 years ago.Wealsohad time to visit
theWesternAustraliaPoliceAcademy.
Beforewepartedhe gaveus some valuable
informationonwhere to goandwhatmight be
of interest duringour remaining time.
We left Perthafter only6days, it was a
short stay, butmywife Jackieand I had
seen somuchof the city and surrounding
area, that we felt wehadbeen there longer
andknew the city quitewell.
Without Vic’s profoundknowledgeand
assistanceour visit toPerthwouldhave
been somuch less interestingandwe
couldnever have seenor found somany
of thebeautiful places andbuildings on
our own.
We caught upwithVic oncemorebefore
we flewhome - just tohaveabeer anda
chat, and to thankhimoncemore for his
wonderful hospitality.
Thank you to the IPAandespecially toVic
formakingour holiday ‘DownUnder’ so
memorable.
RichardAmess
, Kent branch
Can’t
Beat a
bit of
Bully
InMarchanumber ofmembers from
Nottinghamshirebranch, and friends,
met at TheGleaners Inn inCalverton,
Nottinghamshire for a fewgamesof darts
anda lot of laughs!
Jenny Alexander, Nottinghamshirebranch
Secretary said,
“It turns out that wehave
some very gooddarts players amongus!”
LondonSouthbranchmembers outside theHall
RichardandVic
