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Servo
Per Amiceko
Kevin Silver experiences ‘Service Through Friendship’
on a return trip to Poland
D
uring 2014, Loreen Glenn from the
Police Service of Northern Ireland
and I were selected by Section UK to
attend Warsaw as guests of the Polish Police to
celebrate their 95 years jubilee celebrations.
Whilst there we met some great people from
all over the world and especially from the host
country of Poland.
One friend made during the visit was Aneta
Sobieraj, an IPA member of Section Poland.
Aneta heard I was to visit Poland again to ski
in Bialka with friends and suggested I should
make contact with the IPA representative for the
area who she knew (Mateusz Kapolka).
In an email to Mateusz I explained I was visiting
the area with non-police friends and it would be
great to simply say ‘hello’.
Mateusz had other ideas! He arrived at our
accommodation with another friend, Robert,
who could speak very good English and we
were soon in their cars being driven high into
the mountains where we met with other local
officers to share a beer and a glass of Vodka
before being driven in a Police Landrover
high up to the truly spectacular and beautiful
“Mosskie Oko” (Marine eye) which is recognised
as one of the world’s most beautiful lakes.
Following a walk on the lake (frozen solid) and
an impromptu snowball fight we all enjoyed
drinks and cake together in the mountain
restaurant and I was genuinely overwhelmed by
the gifts that Mateusz had brought to give me
as a guest to his region.
Mateusz took us to the local ice hockey rink
in his home town of Nowy Targ where we
were allowed special access to meet the
championship winning team, visit the trophy
room and meet the players.
After that visit we walked around his home
town for sightseeing, ice cream and drinks
before being invited into his home to meet his
lovely family.
Throughout the visit the hospitality shown to us
all by the local IPA members was so welcoming
and I thank “Matty”, his colleagues, friends and
family for making this visit to Poland so special
and I consider Matty to be a friend.
I now fully understand the phrase ‘Servo Per
Amiceko’ which appears on the IPA logo and the
often used phrase ‘yours in friendship’ as we
really do have friends all around the world.
Kevin Silver
, Cornwall Branch
Nowy Targ is so proud of the
local ice cream, there is a
statue celebrating it!
Visit to the local Ice hockey champions (MMKS Podhale)
in Nowy Targ. Left to right Craig (UK), Garry, (Polish IPA
friend) Kevin, Justin (UK) and Matty (IPA Poland)
Matty introduces his UK guests to the local champion ice
hockey team MMKS Podhale
Visit to Morskie Oko (Marine eye) in the Tatra Mountains
Poland. Back L to R (Visiting from the UK) Seb, Justin,
Joel, Craig and Jarrard.
Front L to R Kevin with Matty.
POLICE WORLD
Vol 60 No. 3, 2015
11