Lothian And Borders Branch
The Branch, originally known as the South East Branch, was formed in 1946 and as well as being the longest established, is currently the largest numerically in Scotland with over 1370 members.
With members now settled in far flung places such as Australia, New Zealand,
USA, France, Spain, South Africa and all parts of the UK, the Committee strive to keep them informed by means of two newsletters per year.
In this era of high technology, members are also encouraged to provide E-mail addresses which allows for quick transmission of up to date news.
Secretary: Alan Dickson
News
Obituaries Click Here
Updated 19th February, 2010
Donation To Castlebrae
At the AGM it was decided that a donation should be made to The Police Treatment Centre at Castlebrae, Auchterarder. On Thursday 18th Feb Committee members Alasdair White and Davy McLuckie attended at Castlebrae and handed over a cheque for £500.They were shown round the Centre and then had lunch.
RETIRAL 'DO'
PC 2750 Mags Johnston is retiring....
Help her celebrate having 'surprisingly' completed 30 years service. Mags would like to invite all friends and colleagues, past and present, to a do at the Police Club on Friday 12th March 2010 at 1930hrs.
There will be a buffet and disco provided and partners are most welcome.
Obituary
WE have been asked by husband Malcolm, to let you know of the death of his wife, Ex PC Jessie Newlands nee Berrie (85) who died in Canada on 11 January.
PC Berrie was an officer at Leith Police station between 1952 and 1958 and kept in touch with many officers and police staff, through the years.
SPRING NEWSLETTER
To View the Spring Newsletter Click HereAnnual General Meeting
Lothian & Borders Branch of the Retired Police Officers Association Scotland held on Sunday 18th October 2009 at 2.00pm
The Chair welcomed those present (34) commenting that it was good to see an increase in the numbers attending as compared to last year.
She welcomed the Chief Constable David Strang and thanked him for the support he had shown to the Branch over the last year. She also thanked the Committee for their work during the period and the Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Kenny Allan who was not seeking re-election.
Apologies for Absence:
The Secretary read out the following apologies:
Paul Gilroy, David Donald, Bob Miller, Willie Wheelan, Graham Brown, Mike O’Reilly, Jim Hay, Gilbert Meikle, Jim French, Mary Hunter, Eddie Farrell, Jim Brizzle, David Legge, Alistair McDermott, David Rennie, Kenny McGow, Jim Anderson, Donald Murray, Rae Harrison, Peter Ferrie, Andrew Baird
Obituaries:
Vice Chair Ian Cowden read out the names of those colleagues who had died during the last year, following which the company joined him in a minutes silence in memory of them.
Address by Chief Constable David Strang
In opening, Mr Strang mentioned that three weeks previously he had been at a lunch, hosted by the Branch, for those members over 80 years of age, when some 44 were present and found it an encouragement that there is so much life after retirement from the Force, in fact the majority there having retired before he had joined.
He recounted his visit earlier in the year to congratulate Ron Brownlee reaching the age of 100. He was very pleasantly surprised to find him so bright and sharp, relating events from some sixty years previously.
The Force is presently carrying out a public awareness campaign, including the logo and messages, the punch line of each reading ’work with us to create a positive force in your community’, being carried on buses and three taxis for the next 12 months. In summing up the campaign, the core aim is still about trying to build safer communities and contributing to community well being.
As to the future, Mr Strang outlined the uncertainty at present, with politics playing a large part of this. There will be three elections over the next three years, General next year, Scottish Parliament in 2011 and Local in 2012.
Money is a huge issue with public spending being squeezed but assured the meeting that our pensions are safe, the local authority being under a legal obligation to pay them. With talk of a 10-12% cut in public funding over the next four years will result in some real challenges in how to continue providing the level of policing the public expects. One of the areas being looked at is whether all of the present police stations are required or could some be closed as the number of public actually attending stations is falling, the majority utilising other forms of communication. Questions are again being asked whether Scotland needs 32 local authorities, 8 health boards, 8 police forces etc but Mr Strang does not personally see a single Police Force for Scotland being politically acceptable and any changes would probably be after he has retired.
He finished by thanking the Branch for their support and wishing the Association well for the year ahead.
The Chair then pre-empted the usual question regarding the provision of a police helicopter for the Force, by saying that the present climate had probably put paid to this, to which the CC answered ”correct”
In response to concerns shown from a member present regarding his comments of possible police station closures, Mr Strang explained that officers would still be working out of these stations but it was possible that front counter services may be restricted. Rather than closures, he could foresee more use being made of sharing buildings as is the case in Livingston, where the new Civic building houses not only Divisional HQ, but also the local authority, the Procurator Fiscal’s offices and Court. The manned front counter in this building can deal with all sorts of enquiries, then pass on to the appropriate department.
After answering several other general questions, the Chair thanked Mr Strang and the company showed their appreciation in the usual manner.
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting 2008:
The minutes had been circulated previously and were approved on the motion of Dave McLuckie and seconded by Sheila Ross.
Matters arising from the minutes:
Nothing raised.
Annual Report:
The Secretary briefly went through the report, which had been circulated.
He confirmed that the Braid Hills Hotel would again be the venue for the 2010 Dinner, when Professor Tony Busuttil would be our Speaker
He concluded by thanking the members of the Committee for the continued support he receives from them, with special mention to Ken Allan who was standing down from the Committee after some thirteen years, the last nine as Assistant Secretary.
The report was approved on the motion of Tom Bain and seconded by Neil Russell.
Statement of Accounts:
The Treasurer reminded the members that historically the Branch had a Balance Sheet for the Social Fund, which was primarily for the Annual Dinner and another for the main Fund.
As a result of changes in the Branch’s banking accounts, the Social Fund would in the future be consolidated within the main fund, albeit still shown under its own heading.
The main Fund showed that the Branch was in a very healthy position financially, to the extent he had transferred a further £5000 to a yearly Bond with Standard Life making a total of £20,000 invested in this manner.
He went on to explain that the large increase in postage costs were as a result of posting out the new RPOAS magazine, albeit this was offset by a generous donation from the Force towards the postage of the first magazine.
Having over 600 members on E mail and receiving all communications by this method, results in considerable savings and he makes no apologies for repeating his plea for any member, who is on E mail and has not yet given him their address, to do so now.
He reported that he had received a message from the two typists at the Federation Office who normally receive a gratuity from the Branch. They feel that they no longer contribute much in the way of typing etc, as the Secretary carries out all of this at home, and would rather the money goes to one of our Charities.
Another increase this year was in the miscellaneous expenses, mainly brought about by the £200 spent on the over 80’s Lunch and the presentation made to Ron Brownlee on the occasion of his 100th birthday.
In response to question from the floor, regarding our healthy financial state, had any further thoughts been given to members visiting various venues, the Treasurer reported that this very subject was being brought up under AOCB.
Tom Bain wished that his thanks be put on record for the Committees efforts in hosting the over 80’s Lunch which he felt had gone down very well by those present.
Election of Committee Members:
The Chair informed the meeting that with the exception of Kenny Allan, the remaining members were willing to stand again for a further year. She then asked if there were any members present who would care to join the Committee, pregnant pause!! She then informed the members that one member, who may wish to join the Committee, was presently on holiday and had not yet been asked. If he was willing, then he could be co-opted for the year. The members present were unanimous in the re-election of the remaining members.
Appoint delegates from the Committee to attend the 2010 RPOAS Annual Council Meeting:
The Secretary explained that under the new Constitution & Rules it was required that delegates be appointed at the AGM.
The delegates elected were: Ian Cowden, Dave McLuckie, Alan Dickson and Sheila Ross.
Appoint Book Examiners:
The Secretary proposed that Norman McLeod and Calum Laurie be re-elected as book examiners but also to add Jim Foley’s name as a backup in the event of sickness or holidays. – Carried unanimously.
To receive and consider any Notices or Motions:
Nothing had been received.
Honorarium:
The Secretary had indicated to the Chair that he did not wish any increase to be considered at the meeting and in respect of his wishes, it was agreed to leave the honorarium at £750,
Family Fund
A member asked whether retired officers remained in the Family Fund after retiring and at what cost. The Secretary promised to look into this and report back.
MINUTE NOTE: The Secretary has since ascertained that regarding the above, when an officer retires they have an option (by signing a new mandate) to stay in the Family Fund by continuing to pay £0.45/month. At age 65, the contributions stop, but the member remains in the Fund.
Address by Welfare Officer:
The Chair reported that no-one from the Welfare Department had been able to attend at the meeting, but went on to say that we still continued to enjoy excellent support from them and hoped they would be able to come along to our Dinner. The Secretary explained that the problems experienced in obtaining the service history of members who had died, had hopefully now been resolved.
A.O.C.B:
Following discussion, it was agreed that on this occasion to make a donation of £500 to the Police Treatment Centre at Auchterarder and £150 to the Care of Police Survivors Charity (COPS)
The Chair reported to the meeting that the Committee had been discussing the possibilities to adding to the Social Activities of the Branch. Central Scotland Branch were very active in this aspect and she wondered if this would be something of interest to our Branch, the fact that we can attract less than forty to the AGM, may indicate otherwise.
The Secretary was of the view that the small and compact nature of Central and Fife Branches, where most members would know each other, probably helped them to organise such events, whereas our Branch with over 1360 members does he felt, suffer from a degree of complacency. That said, the Committee were willing to try to improve things, we have the money, we are able to hire the Sport & Rec. minibuses, as long as the driver is under 65 for insurance purposes.
The types of visits envisaged were for example to Edinburgh Airport, Tunnocks Biscuit Factory although there is apparently a two year waiting list, RBS HQ, the hidden bunker in Fife, but the list is endless if the interest was there. Peter Westbrook suggested a visit to the Edinburgh trams, but there was a five year wait for this!!
On a show of hands, a good majority expressed interest in the idea. The Secretary then undertook to include a short questionnaire with the draft minutes asking members to let him know of their interest or otherwise, together with suggestions on where to visit. It was felt that in the first instance, it may be necessary to restrict attendance to members only, but this would be reviewed.
Dave McLuckie explained that provisional arrangements had already been made to arrange visits to the Force Communication Centre at Bilston for interested members.
Gus Robertson gave an update on his comments made at last year’s meeting and confirmed that the judicial review had been successful with the new commutation tables being implemented as from the 1 December 2006. The Fire Brigades Union had used the findings from the judicial review in their case and had their implementation date put back to 22 August 2006 and are fighting the case for an even earlier date. He accepted that none of this would affect the majority present, but he was continuing the fight the police case for earlier implementation by raising awareness and asked for any interested members to contact him.
Glen Brown reminded members of the new Police Museum, presently under construction at Tulliallan and asked if they had any old items of police uniform etc they wished to dispose of, to get in touch with him or the Secretary, when they would arrange uplift. He also asked that they include name and address and brief details of the background of the donation. This was so a receipt could be provided.
It was agreed that the AGM next year, be again be held at Fettes.
Dave McLuckie informed the meeting that the Executive Committee are looking at promoting a voluntary lottery within RPOAS with 50% of proceeds being returned in monthly prizes. Any surplus would go to funding the parent organisation, but if it proved a big success, branches would ultimately also benefit from lower capitation fees.
The raffle for a bottle of malt whisky was won by Kenny Killin.
Closure of Meeting:
In closing, the Chair thanked those present for making the effort to coming along and wished all good health and a safe journey home.
Sheila Ross
Newly Promoted Sergeants Course
Edinburgh, 11th-22nd November, 1968
Back Row Left To Right:-Cyril Cleeton (L&P), Douglas Laing (BRS), Lewis Pike( BRS)
Middle Row L-R George Sheppard (L&P), William Blair (ECP), Ronald Laing (ECP),
Andrew Cowan (ECP), Mary Gillies (ECP), Robert Jack (ECP), J Robb (ECP) Gordon Boag (L&P)
Front Row L-R Andrew Baird (ECP), Robert Gray (ECP), James Beattie (ECP), Duncan Robertson (ECP), Cliff Richardson (ECP), Tom Bisset (ECP)
Golf Offer
The Merchants Golf Club of Edinburgh have offered members of the Association a reduced green fee of £12.50 during the week and £15 at week-ends. Anyone interested should contact the Professional Shop on 0131 447 8709. or www.merchantsgolf.com
COMMITTEE
Chairman: Sheila Ross
Vice Chair: Ian Cowden
Secretary/Treasurer: Alan Dickson
Assistant Secretary:
Alasdair White
Members: Norman Black, Glen Brown, Frank Reilly, David McLuckie,
Peter Westbrook, Donald Urquhart, Tom Fergusson