North East Branch
Secretary: Ronald Hughes
News
Obituaries Click Here
Updated 23rd June, 2008
Summer Newsletter
Condolences
To Barbara and Donald Munro in the loss of their father Donald (SNECC) In February. To Jean Ledingham and family in their loss of John (Aberdeen City) in March. To Kathy Bruce and family in their loss of Alastair (Aberdeen City) also In March and to Donald McPherson and family in their loss of Donald's wife Sheila, also in March. And to the family of George Dalgarno (SNECC) who died in April. And colleagues will be sad to read of the death in April of June Humphries, aged 96 years, whose late husband Bi11 was a sergeant in Aberdeen City Police.And to Ella Dunn and family in their loss of Bob (Ex-Aberdeen City) in May.
New Members
The Branch welcomes John Stewart and Stephen Mark into the Association and wishes them and theirs all health and happiness in retirement.
Hope You're Feeling Better
Members send their best wishes for a full return to good health to Bob Nicol, Graeme Stewart, George Watt, Jim Lawtie, Ian Skivington and Rod Jamieson
61st AGM Retired Police Officers Association Scotland
Glasgow Branch hosted the Association's Annual Council Meeting over 15th/16th April 2008 under the chairmanship of our own Bill Berry MBE, when the proposed new constitution was presented by the Executive for discussion. It was agreed that implementation and acceptance should be completed by Branches ideally by 31 March 2009, but given the Branch committee concerns about aspects of the new constitution, it is likely that amendments will be necessary.
At the AGM of our own Branch in January this year, it was agreed that the following letter and motion be presented for discussion at the National Conference:
Costings - ACM 2008.
The Annual General Meeting of the Branch took place on Sunday 27 January 2008 at which the forthcoming ACM costs and the role of the National Executive were discussed. It was agreed that you draw the following concerns, and the appended motion to the attention of the Executive: ''The Branch is unanimous in recognising that Branch funding should as far as possible be used for the welfare of the Branch membership. The Branch is concerned that Capitation Fees have risen from £423.90 in 2006 to £608.75 in 2007, an increase of £184.85 The Branch will not sanction the usual attendance of 3 delegates, since this will incur additional costs of £140 per delegate plus transport. The Branch is concerned that such a radical shift in the funding of the ACM was not referred to Individual Branches for their consideration and response. The Branch requests commitment from the Executive on the development of the Welfare role of the Association, and their proposals to that effect. ''
A Motion:
Following the radical shift adopted by the Executive in the funding of 'The ACM', the following motion is submitted for discussion and decision at the Annual Council meeting in April. ''To ensure the preservation of all available funds for the welfare of the memberships at Branch level, the North-East Branch of the Association moves that future Annual Conferences be held at a central venue, and that such conferences be for one day" This motion was seconded by a delegate of Dumfries and Galloway Branch but following debate of the issues raised, it was agreed that the conference should continue in its present format.
Note: the Branch is grateful to Chief Constable Colin McKerracher who sponsored the attendance of Bill Berry and Ron Hughes at the Conference. Other business of the day included agreement that capitation Fees be maintained at £ 1.25 per annum.
In the photo below, the gathering very much enjoyed the wit and humour of guest after dinner speaker Donald MacLean a former chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, and former chairman of the Highland Joint Police Board, who also cautioned the membership to be vigilant against the apparent national aspirations of the recently formed Scottish Police Services Authority, and the central government breach of recent pay negotiations. He urged retired officers to stand up for local police accountability, and for serving colleagues on issues which degraded the working conditions of officers in Scotland.
Fate or by Design?
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the farm house and an elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy. "I want to repay you," said the nobleman.You saved my son's life. ''No, I can't accept payment for what I did." The farmer replied, and at that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door. "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked. ''Yes, '' the farmer replied proudly. 'I'11 make you a deal. Let me provide him with the same level of education my own son will enjoy. lf the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow up to be a man we will both be proud of" The farmer agreed and his son did attend the very best schools, graduated from St Mary's Hospital Medical School in London. And went on to discover penicillin; HIS name was Alexander Fleming.
Years afterward, the same nobleman’s son was stricken with life threatening pneumonia, from which he recovered in due course with penicillin, HIS name was Winston Churchill.
Outings on Offer
A Great Pleasure
For The Fishermen - Peter Walls
Many years ago, the CID dealt with a housebreaking in an office in the harbour area, and strangely, Jocky, the office budgie was lying dead in its cage, having been in good form the night before. over the next few days a felon also called Jocky, and definitely not the sharpest tool in the box, was apprehended and admitted to the crime, When asked about the death of the budgie, he confessed to killing it because when he came in through the window, he heard the bird say "Hello Jocky'' and he was afraid it could identify him
He was a poor Scottish farmer who, while out in the fields one day, heard a cry for help. He immediately ran in the direction of the cry and there saw a terrified boy struggling to free himself from waist deep bog, the farmer saved the lad from what would have been a slow and terrifying death.
If you have an interest in the following outings please ring Ron Hughes on 01224 318882.
A visit to Glasgow Police Museum, Glasgow Art Gallery end of summer. Or long weekend at the Union Jack Club in September with visits to Imperial War Museum and other places of interest.
All members including our widows are welcome and costs will be calculated and conveyed to potential travellers,
These past weeks it has been a great pleasure to visit the widows of old colleagues with a wee gift from the Association just to remind them that they are and will remain part of the great police family. In the photo below Pat Birse wife of the late Hugh Birse accepts a bouquet of flowers from Margaret Brooks, Welfare Officer who along with Raymond and several Association members have visited the 124 widows in the Force area.
This is the first venture as a trout section and I would like to see how it fares before expanding the list next year. The trout outing are different in as much as we will have to pay for the boats and the permits as opposed to the goodwill from the river owners we are used to, and in most cases pay for the boats if we call off and don't use them. I will look at loch boat fishing as opposed to still water fishing which is open and accesible to everyone, and as there are very few of these venues in Grampian, it means drivingout of the Force area to cast a line. I await confirmation from Monikie about the boats there, and at Crombie, but I do not forsee any problems with getting the numbers we require. Please advise me on what outing you wish to attend, and I will create a matrix and allocate the numbers accordingly.
7th July - Haddo - - 10 anglers - £15-£18 per head
29th July - Scottish Inter-Force Champs - Lake of Menteith - Team Event
1st Sept - Haddo - - 10 anglers - £15-£18 per head
22nd Sept - Monikie Loch - 4 boats - 8 anglers - £15 per head
Colleagues were very sad to read of the death in late April of George Ingram who would have celebrated his 100th birthday in May.
George was born on 13th May 1908 at the
Chapel of Garloch. A grocer by trade, he joined Aberdeenshire
Constabulary on 16 September 1929; his number was 24. He retired on pension on 30 March 1968 as Sup't ACC. The Association
sends condolences to George's family.