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Nijmegen
March
This year marked the 100th anniversary of
Vierdaagse, the International four-day March in
Nijmegen, Netherlands. The dates were 19th to
22nd July and on Friday 22nd July 42,557 walkers
proudly walked along Via Gladiola to the finish.
T
he weather made the event quite difficult
this year with high
temperatures and humidity on all four days with an incredible
thunderstorm and heavy rain on the morning of the last day.
Walking the 55km route from Section UK were Kurt Schenk, Andre Dique
and Dan Rookes. Walking the 40km route from Section UK were Spike &
Helen Elliott and Donna Powell. Section UK IPA member Lee Douglas was
part of the 55km support
team and experiencing
Nijmegen for the first time.
Donna Powell
, Sussex
Branch
Unveiling of
UK Cyprus
Emergency
Memorial
Over 500 people gathered, some with Standards at ‘The Carry’, at the National Memorial Arboretum on 21st
August 2016 to dedicate the new Cyprus Memorial. The large piece of rock from the Troodos Mountains in
Cyprus had been airlifted back to the UK by the RAF.
T
he Memorial gives names and details
of those that lost their lives, both British
Serviceman and Police Officers.
It was very moving for Sara and I to see armed
services veterans, serving and retired police
officers, relatives and families of those that had
served in Cyprus and dignitaries commemorate
the losses.
The Memorial was unveiled by Air Chief Marshal
Sir Michael Graydon GCB, CBE with enormous
credit going to David Littlemore who gave the
opening address and was the instigator in making
the Memorial happen
Wreaths were laid and I was very honoured as
President to represent Section UK in laying a
wreath to those that had made the supreme
sacrifice.
The Police Roll of Honour Trust (our National
IPA Charity) played a huge part in the event and
Chairman Sidney Mackay laid a wreath on their
behalf. After the service Sara and I caught up
with him and Steve Lloyd, the Trust Manager
who was also the standard bearer during the
service carrying the British Cyprus Colonial Police
Standard.
The Trust’s work is never ending and support from
the IPA both in terms of donations and help is
gratefully received.
I asked Steve Lloyd to keep me informed as to
other memorials that maybe dedicated in the
future so that the IPA could be present at them.
The Trust relies on donations and volunteers to
undertake their work and I would urge you to read
up on the Charity on their website.
A very moving service which ended
“We will remember them”
.
Mick Luke
, President Section UK
Pictured are members of
Section UK, front row L to R:
Helen Elliott, Donna Powell,
Dan Rookes; back row
L to R: Kurt Schenk, Andre
Dique and Spike Elliott.
The museum was staffed by operational Police Officers who when I
introduced myself at the reception and showed my IPA membership card
couldn’t have been more welcoming. We were offered refreshments and
shown around the museum which had three distinct areas covering the
early history of policing from pre European days to the emergency in the
1950/60s and finally the present day.
The staff were interested in the IPA, what it is and what it does and the
country which is growing at an unbelievable rate could prove fertile ground
for a new section.
Unfortunately I had not brought any memorabilia with me but that did not
seem to bother them and we were presented with a Malaysian National
Police memorial mug.
I would recommend anyone going to KL to give the museum a visit as
it shows a police force built on British roots which has developed into a
modern and efficient 21st century force with a similar ethos to our own
Police Service.
Pat Bailey
, Region 8 Norfolk
Cultural
POLICE WORLD
Vol 61 No. 4, 2016
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