Police World Edition 3 2015

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Thames Valley Branch has taken various
trips. One, to the Thames Valley Police
Museum triggered many memories as the
history of the force was recalled by Colin Boyes,
a PCSO who is the Curator there. The museum
also has a lot of information about the Great Train
Robbery which took place in Milton Keynes in 1963.
A trip to Whitechapel Bell Foundry proved so
interesting that the Branch paid visits on two
consecutive months! Visitors were taken on a tour
of the building covering all aspects of the bell
process including casting, tuning, polishing and the
woodwork shop which displayed beautiful wooden
bell wheels and some interesting memorials to
previous carpenters, many who died prematurely,
thought to be the result of their work. The tour
also included an insight into national bell ringing
habits, change ringing being an English custom,
not experienced in any other country and the origin
of the saying ‘ringing the changes’.
During a trip to Millets Falconry, a home to
eighty birds of prey including tiny burrowing
owls, falcons, vultures and gigantic eagles,
every member had the opportunity to handle
some of the birds and to witness the agility and
magnificence of the birds in flight during a flight
demonstration.
An exclusive tour of the Mini Cooper production
line at the BMW works in Cowley, Oxford
provided a fascinating insight into robotic car
production and the Branch members learned
some astounding facts about the Mini Cooper’s
production.
Finally, the Branch organised a raffle at the
Branch AGM and raised £120 for Hounds
for Heroes.
The charity provides specially trained assistance
dogs for the disabled men and women of the
Armed forces and Civilian Emergency Services.
Two Branches have succeeded in providing a full programme
of events for their members during the first half 2015
S carborough Branch has continued to
eat its way around the world with its
programme of Monthly Dining Club
meals. Members have also tried to lose some of
the calories with a series of Monthly Walks.
Scarborough Branch Secretary Chris Charlton
writes:
The beautiful countryside walks – each one
typically 4 to 5 miles long have been either cliff
top walks or simple urban walks through the town.
Members have also enjoyed meals from Turkey,
India and Sri Lanka, Brazil, Italy and Great Britain.
One meal was preceded by a few games of 10 Pin
Bowling just to whet the appetite. At a Brazilian
themed restaurant in Leeds, Branch member
Della Cannings was presented with her 20 years
Membership Certificate.
A couple of Scarborough Branch Members
also attended the Bremen Kohlfahrt (Cabbage
Festival) with members of IPA Oldenburg and
IPA Bremen and celebrated the 60th anniversary
of IPA Berlin (See Page 27).
The Kohlfahrt is an interesting tradition,
apparently only celebrated in Northwest
Germany, and an annual ritual in Bremen and
the surrounding area. Groups assemble on
Saturday afternoons in January or February,
load up the ‘Bollerwagen’ (hand cart) with an
assortment of local spirits and then walk through
the countryside sampling the contents of the
‘Bollerwagon’ at every opportunity whilst also
playing a variety of games.
Friday evening before the walk was spent
enjoying a traditional meal of pickled herring
with musical entertainment provided by a
Choir. The songs were traditionally sung by
local fishermen. On a cold but crisp Saturday
afternoon, around 100 members and
guests from IPA Bremen and IPA Oldenburg
assembled before setting off on a walk. The
spirits on the ‘Bollerwagen’ managed to
keep the cold at bay. The weekend finished
at a country hotel with an evening meal and
contemporary entertainment all topped off
with copious quantities of Schnapps and Aquavit.
The dining club and walking group will continue
for the remainder of the year and in addition,
there’s another trip to Germany. A group of 15
are travelling to Ludwigsburg and Stuttgart to
further cement our relationship with twin branch
Ludwigsburg. We also hope to have a dash on
P&O North Sea Ferries to the Christmas Market
in Bruges.
A Tail of Two
Branches
Both Branches organise a full programme
of events and keep their members informed
– pre and post event by way of regular
newsletters. They provide articles for the
wider membership through publication on
IPA web news and in Police World. Visit:
and follow
the tab through the Region to Region News
for full stories and more photos.
Did you know? Thames Valley
Branch offer a subsidy of £5
on events costing £10 - £20.
John Osborne of Thames Valley Branch
Article
6 POLICE WORLD Vol 60 No. 3, 2015