16
POLICEWORLD
Vol 59No. 2, 2014
Article
AWhaleof a Time
After hosting43members inEdinburgh, LothianandBordersbranchmembersmadegooduse
of anemptyflight to theFaroe Islands.
I
n2013 LothianandBordersbranch in
Edinburghhostedmembers from IPAFaroe
Islandbranch. Half of theentireFaroe Island
force joinedScottishmembers for a fantastic
fewdays. Oneof theorganisers from the Islands
made the suggestion that we take theopportunity
touse the charter aircraft that they hadhired
to come toScotland.
“Theplanegoes back to
theFaroe Islands almost empty”
. Soaplanwas
hatched.
Once theavailabilitywas confirmed, the Lothian
andBordersbranchhadonlyweeks to get the
minimumof 24UKmembers to signup. Before
weknew it wehad29and the tripwas on.
Members fromall over Scotland, Englandand
Northern Irelandmet at AberdeenAirport to
discover wehad thewholeaircraft toourselves.
Theunlimitedbaggage rule for aprivate charter
meant that someof the group tookall their
possessions and the securitymust have thought
therewereother passengers secreted insidea
coupleof bags, judgingby their size.
Onarrival, wewere greetedby IPAmemberswho
invitedus to thePoliceHeadquarterswhichwas
next door toour hotel.We thenhad free time to
explore Torshavnand itsbeautiful harbour before
exploring further.
The followingdaywewalked round the town in
warm sunshine, somethingnot expectedwhen
youareperched in themiddleof theNorth
Atlantic - somewherebetweenScotlandand
Iceland.
Wewere thenpickedupby apolice vanand
takenagainst our will to the local brewery, which
producesOkkarabeer. About twohours later, we
wereonour way back. Thepoor police vanwas
strugglingup thehillsdue to theweight of the
various free sampleswehadaboard. There is
nodoubt that theFaroesePolice can certainly
organisea ‘booze-up inabrewery!’
That evening the local IPAmembers entertained
us inanancient house in the town. A variety of
local foodswereonoffer.We triedPilot whale
meat, whaleblubber anddried cod. Thebrave
shareda few sheepheads andonemember had
his eyeonaparticular delicacy - sheep’s eyes -
andwehavephotographicproof it was eaten!
Such is the friendliness of the Islanders that after
wewanderedback to thehotel the staff, as they
left, just askedus to switch the lights off andblow
out the candles. They don’t evenbother locking
thedoor as there is little crimeon the islands.
The followingmorning, wehada fantastic tour of
the Islands travellinghigh into themountains -
visitinga fewof the coastal towns and travelling
through the sub-sea tunnelsbeforebeing taken
toa small village.Wewere then treated toa short
concert in the local church.
Thiswas followedby theFaroese versionof
Strictly ComeDancingaswewereall taught the
Faroesenational dance. Luckily it only entails
shuffling from left to right. Thiswas a great event
andwas enhancedby a local IPAmember wearing
traditional Faroesenational dress.
Wewereabout toheadoff the followingdaywhen
wewere told that the flight back toAberdeenwas
cancelled ‘forcing’ us toextendour stay. That
night wewerehit by a terrific stormand several
members lost their hats andwigs. Thankfully
the followingmorning it was calmenough for the
flight home.
Weall agreed that theFaroe Islands area ‘must
see’ and that the scenery is stunning. However,
thehospitality of the IPAmembers, thepolice
officers and the local people surpassed the
scenery - a friendlier place youwill not find.
Our thanks toBergleif, Kristianandall theofficers
of theFaroesePolice (yes…all theofficers are IPA
members).
Thepriceof thewhole trip, includinghotels, trips,
andmeals proved tobe great value!
Wehope tomake this anannual trip sowewill
advertise this in themiddleof next year. Theonly
advice is…. bookearly!
TomMcInally
, LothianandBordersbranch
Room for seconds anyone?
NEWS
UPDATE:
The two
branches
havenow
twinned
