Page 4 - Police World Edition 1 2014

4 POLICE WORLD Vol 59 No. 1, 2014
An Update from the NEC
Working on
your behalf
In this edition of Police World we
mention the work and dedication
of Sergeant Joe Holness QPM, IPA
member and, importantly, founder of
the National Police Memorial Day.
Sunday 29 September 2013 marked
the 10th National Police Memorial Day
(NPMD), an annual event that honours
police officers throughout United Kingdom who
have lost their lives in the line of duty.
The National Police Memorial Day charity was
founded in 2004 by Joe. His vision and continued
work, supported by his wife Sharon, ensures that
fallen officers are not forgotten.
The key event of each National Police Memorial
Day is a service held on the nearest Sunday to 29
September, to coincide with St Michael’s Day - St
Michael being the Patron Saint of Police Officers.
The inaugural service was held at St Paul’s
Cathedral in 2004 and since that time it has
circulated around each of the four countries of the
United Kingdom. In 2013 it was the turn of Wales.
As well as having charitable status, the National
Police Memorial Day is recognised by the
Government and Royalty as an official National Day
and has the distinction of having the patronage of
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who was
in attendance at the service held in St David’s Hall,
Cardiff.
Individual members of the IPA have supported
the National Police Memorial Day and along with
members of the NEC have represented IPA at
many previous services. Recognising the place
that the National Police Memorial Day Service has
in the Police calendar and wanting to mark the
special anniversary of the charity, the National
Executive confirmed National Police Memorial
Day as Section UK’s national charity in 2013. The
increased profiling of the National Police Memorial
Day throughout the year resulted in several fund
raising initiatives by IPA members, and a large
gathering of IPA members at the 2013 service. Joe
kindly ensured that IPA Executive members were
afforded a high profile over the memorial weekend.
For example, IPA was highlighted over a two page
spread in the official Order of Service. Furthermore
VP Ronnie Dukes was invited to formally present
an IPA commissioned artwork to Joe Holness at
the eve of the service’s official reception at Cardiff
Museum in front of an audience of the bereaved
families, invited guests, senior police officers and
other dignitaries. Ronnie made the most of the
opportunity to promote the virtues of
IPA to the assembled audience, and
was greatly assisted in that endeavour
by Joe who was very complimentary of
IPA in his response.
National Treasurer Fred Boyd also
took the opportunity to present
a cheque on behalf of 2 Region,
Northern Ireland, and wearing his
other hat, a further cheque on behalf
of the Harp & Crown Credit Union of
Northern Ireland.
Local branch and region members and partners
joined with the NEC members and partners at
both the eve of service reception and the service
itself. Also in attendance were Sandy and Mary
Morton from Scotland, who made a significant
detour on their journey home from Southampton
on the completion of a cruise to celebrate their
40th wedding anniversary.
At the service IPA was accorded the further honour
of having National President Tom Crozier and his
wife Pauline seated along with invited guests from
the UK National and Devolved Governments, the
Police, HMIC and HRH The Prince of Wales.
Tom commented: “Of course I was delighted
to represent IPA Section UK and having the
opportunity of being presented to HRH Prince
Charles. I am also very proud of Section UK’s
association with the National Police Memorial
Day charity. The service of remembrance provides
an opportunity for us to not just reflect on, but to
reaffirm our shared commitment to our calling
and the ties that bind across all Police services.
These same sentiments are at the heart of what
IPA stands for.”
First to embark on fundraising during 2013 were
members from 3 Region (Northern England), who
announced they were to buy and transform a
green 1968 Morris Minor into a vintage police car
before taking it to several police related events
and then across the USA on Route 50. The team,
comprising Mark Faunt, Darren Edwards, Dave
Taylor and Bill Lloyd, wasted no time completing
the refurbishment. The car, known affectionately
as Stan, had several outings during 2013, not
least to the World Police and Fire Games in
Belfast and the National Police Memorial Day.
Stan is already raising funds through donations
and merchandise sales, as well as increasing
the profile of the charity in local, police and
international media.
In July 2013, the Motorcycle Group held a Charity
Ball in York which had a performance from Mick
Miller, Comedian. Guests of honour were Joe and
Sharon who were delighted with the £500 raised.
Terry Flint, a commercial artist, produced
previously mentioned specially commissioned
montage of National Police Memorial Day images
that was presented to Joe. The painting was
produced at the request of IPA and was presented
to Joe. Terry has given permission to the National
Police Memorial Day to reproduce the artwork
which will be sold in aid of the charity.
Stan will undoubtedly continue to raise both the
profile of the event and funds for it in the lead up
to his journey across US Route 50 in 2015. There
is to be another charity ball organised by Section
UK on 21 June 2013.
Next year’s National Police Memorial Day will be
held on Sunday 28 September 2014 in Belfast.
We hope members will join in and support the
National Police Memorial Day and our fundraising
events throughout 2014.
Tom and Pauline Crozier meet HRH Prince Charles