National Association of Retired Police Officers North Sussex Branch Spring Quarterly Newsletter

Transcription

1 National Association of Retired Police Officers North Sussex Branch Spring Quarterly Newsletter Welcome to the latest edition of the North Sussex Branch Newsletter. It takes time to produce and edit the newsletter so please find time to read it; and give your spouses a chance to do so as well. Some of the items you may have knowledge of as I ve previously sent them by but some of our members do not have access to . For those of you that have access to the Internet then please regularly visit the NARPO website at as this is continually being updated with details of member services, offers, information, news and requests Branch Annual General Meeting 24 April 2017 A total of 35 branch members attended the AGM with apologies from 39 members. Following the usual meeting formalities, Ahmed Ramiz, the Branch Chair, presented his report to the meeting highlighting the revised NARPO Rules which will be presented as a motion for NARPO members to vote on at the annual conference at Scarborough in September this year. He also provided an update on the continuing campaign supported by NARPO regarding widow s pensions. More details can be found on the NARPO website will be the Centenary of the formation of NARPO and plans are going ahead nationally to find a suitable means of celebrating the historic event. Ahmed pointed out that there was a reluctance among the Sussex Branches to join in a cross county event but he was hopeful that with the support of the Branch we could organise a local event. 1

2 The Treasurer presented his report which showed a healthy situation and his report was accepted by members. As with previous years Ahmed the Branch Chair proposed that the Branch make a 1 donation for each branch member to the Sussex Police Charitable Trust (SPCT) The proposal was seconded by Adam Christie and carried by the meeting. The branch has since donated 366 to the SPCT. The Secretary presented his report highlighting the fact that as at the end of December 2016 the Branch had 366 members made up of 340 full members, 18 widow members, 3 associate members, 1 honorary member, 3 life members and 1 additional member. In the last year 18 new members had joined the branch made up of 12 members new to NARPO, 2 transferees from other branches, 1 associate member 1 re-joiner and 2 new widow members. Other points highlighted by the Secretary was the introduction, by NARPO, of a Data Protection Policy. NARPO are keen to encourage branches to use Supersleuth, their membership management system, as the main personal data gathering and management tool. Branch Secretaries have been identified with having responsibility for membership personal data and compliance with the policy which will have an implication for branches. A Facebook Group had now been set up for the use of Branch members and their partners. It is a closed group so posts onto the group page cannot be viewed in the mainstream Facebook only by members of the group. It is hoped that the Facebook group will become a virtual community for branch members where they can renew or maintain acquaintances with other branch members, share items of interest, advertise social events and share experiences such as recommendations regarding traders and suppliers used by members. There are currently more than 100 members in the group and any member wishing to join can find the group page by searching for the NARPO North Sussex in Facebook and requesting to be added as a member. During the meeting the Branch Elections were undertaken. Ahmed Ramiz was elected to continue as Chair of the Branch for a further year with George Smith elected as the Vice Chair. Colin Moules was elected to continue as Branch Treasurer for a further year. Graham Bradley informed the meeting that he would be standing down as the Branch Secretary for personal reasons and Anne Rattray was proposed and elected to take over as the Secretary. Three members of the Branch Committee had asked to stand down and the following members were duly proposed and elected to sit on the Branch committee. Graham Bradley, Adam Christie and Bill Matthews. The following members now make up the Branch Officers and Committee: - Branch Officers Committee Members Ahmed Ramiz Chair Graham Bradley George Smith Vice Chair Adam Christie Colin Moules Treasurer Bill Matthews Ann Rattray Secretary Steve Bagley To be appointed Deputy Secretary Bob Donaldson Roger Buttle Social Secretary Valma Evans Alan Britten Welfare Officer The following nominated members were agreed as the branch delegates to attend the 2017 Annual NARPO Conference in Scarborough this September: Ann Rattray, Colin Moules, Bob Donaldson and Adam Christie. It was also proposed and agreed by members that the Branch would also fund partners of delegates to attend who would attend as observers. Ahmed put forward two further proposals to the meeting, namely that the Branch accept the principle of paying Honoraria to its Branch Officers, excluding the Chair, namely the Secretariat and Treasurer on an annual basis in arrears. This was to cover the out of pocket expenses incurred by those fulfilling that role. This was put to a vote with 35 members voting in favour, one against and no abstentions. 2

3 Under AOB Ahmed provided an update on the Joint Sussex Branches discussions regarding the possibility of amalgamating the six Sussex NARPO Branches into a single branch with the introduction of six area social sections. Now, the discussions were on hold however they may well be revisited in the future. I regret to have to report the deaths of the following North Sussex Branch Members: - Barry Markham, aged 71 years, passed away peacefully at home on Easter Sunday 16 April 2017 following a long illness. Barry served all his Police career at Mid Sussex and a further 10 years as Coroners Officer at Haywards Heath. His funeral took place on the 2 May 2017 at Worthing Crematorium. Gerald Stanley Edwards, aged 87 years, passed away in St Catherine s Hospice in Crawley on Monday 1 May Better known to many as Gerry Edwards originally joined East Sussex Constabulary in December During his Police Service at Hove, Bexhill, the Force Crime Prevention Department, East Grinstead, Headquarters in Career Planning and Gatwick where he retired in May 1988 in the rank of Chief Superintendent. The funeral takes place at 12 midday on Wednesday 24th May 2017 at Our Lady & St Peter's Church, East Grinstead followed by a burial service at 1.15pm at Mount Noddy cemetery, East Grinstead. I also regret to have to report the deaths of the following NARPO members of the other Sussex Branches: - Eastbourne Branch Mike Dean, aged 73 years, passed away on the 1 March 2017 following a long illness. He served in Sussex Police between 1969 and 1978 and joined again in 1984 retiring in September During his time in Sussex Police he served at both Eastbourne and Hastings. His funeral took place on the 20 March 2017 at the Beulah Baptist Church in Bexhill. John Lawrence, aged 82 years, passed away on the 4 March He joined East Sussex Police in 1974 serving at Hailsham, Heathfield and Operations Room at Lewes. He retired in March His funeral took place on the 5 April 2017 at Eastbourne Crematorium. Francis (Les) Leeves, aged 95 years, passed away on the 15 April He joined East Sussex Police in August 1950 serving at Uckfield, Fletching and East Grinstead. He retired in the rank of Sergeant in August His funeral took place on the 8 May 2017 at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium. Hastings Branch Obituaries Bryan Victor Orford, aged 82 years, passed away in Graves Memorial Hospital in Ontario, Canada on the 23 January Bryan originally joined Hastings Borough Police Force in 1965 and served at Hastings in various roles until his retirement in December Reginald Hoad, aged 78 years, passed away at Moreton House Care Home in Hastings on the 1 February He had been suffering from dementia for some time. Reg, as he was known to most, served at Hastings on both uniform patrol and latterly as Goaler. His funeral took place at Hastings Crematorium on 10 March George (Roy) Millar, aged 71 years, passed away on the 19 April 2017 in a care facility in Hastings. He had been suffering from dementia for several years. I do not have any service details but his last posting was at Hastings. Roy s funeral took place Hastings Crematorium on the 4 May. 3

4 Brighton Branch Daniel Donald Clifford, aged 83 years, passed away on the 1 January Daniel originally joined West Sussex Constabulary in 1959 retiring after 26 years service in the rank of Sergeant in During his police service he served at Bognor, Arundel, Petworth and Handcross. His funeral took place at Eastbourne Crematorium on the 25 January 2017 Robert (Bob) Enoch Barley, aged 95 years, passed away on the 13 February I have no details of any service history. His funeral took place at The Downs Crematorium in Brighton on 6 March Lionel Purdie, aged 94 years, passed away peacefully in his sleep on 6 May Lionel originally joined Durham Constabulary transferring to Sussex in During his service with Sussex Police he served at Lewes on the beat and in the Traffic Department and on retirement he was working in HQ Operations Room. His funeral will be held on 24 May at am at the Eastbourne Crematorium. Chichester Branch Cyril H F Moore, aged 93 years, passed away on the 18 January 2017 following a long illness. Cyril originally joined West Sussex Constabulary in 1947 and served for 30 years. James Henry Cross, aged 93, passed away in April James originally joined West Sussex Constabulary in March 1948 and during his service served at Chichester, Crawley and Petworth. He retired in the rank of Sergeant in December His funeral took place at St. Mary s Church, Petworth on the 3 May Worthing Branch Colin John Brooks, aged 91 years, passed away on 25 January 2017 following a long illness. He originally joined West Sussex Constabulary in 1952 retiring in the rank of Inspector in During his police service he served at Bognor, Littlehampton, Crawley and Worthing. I have no details of the funeral arrangements. Peter John Savage, aged 70 years, passed away on the 1 February Peter joined Sussex Police in 1973 retiring in During his service he served at Brighton, Haywards Heath CID and Lancing where he on retirement he was Acting Detective Sergeant in the Force Commercial Investigation Unit. His funeral took place at Worthing Crematorium on the 6 March Donald Key, aged 92 years, passed away on the 12 April in St Barnabas Hospice. Donald originally joined West Sussex Constabulary in 1950 serving at Horsham, Steyning, Shoreham and Worthing retiring in the rank of Sergeant in Sadly, Donald s wife, June, who was resident in a care home died earlier the same day. The funeral has taken place and was a small family affair. John Frederick White, aged 83 years, passed away on the 25 April 2017 and had been suffering from Parkinson s Disease. John originally joined West Sussex Constabulary I 1959 and during his police service he served at Worthing, Petworth, Lancing and Brighton retiring in His funeral took place at Worthing Crematorium on the 12 May and finally, some Non NARPO Members Ray Wake, aged 80 years, passed away on the 20 January Ray was not a member of NARPO but served as both a PC and DC in Eastbourne throughout his service between 1974 to His funeral took place at Eastbourne Crematorium on the 16 February. Terry Fallon, aged 79 years, passed away on the 12 March in St Catherine s Hospice in Crawley. Terry originally joined Staffordshire Police in 1955 and served in Stoke on Trent where I am told that at one point he worked alongside Ray Reardon the snooker player formerly a police officer also serving in Stoke on Trent. Terry later transferred to Sussex Police serving at Bexhill, Hastings, Crawley and East Grinstead. He also worked on Operation Countryman. Terry retired from Sussex Police in 1985 in the rank of Detective Chief Inspector as Head of the Force Commercial Branch. His funeral took place at Our Lady & St Peter Roman Catholic Church on 29 March

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7 Branch Social & Other Events NATIONAL POLICE MEMORIAL DAY - SUNDAY 24th SEPTEMBER ST DAVIDS HALL CARDIFF The registration process is open until 28 July 2017 for those wishing to attend this years service in Cardiff. For Internet Users full details can be found at: The Household Division Seven British Army Regiments serving Her Majesty Beating Retreat 14th and 15th June on Horse Guards Parade at 8.00 pm The Household Division s Beating Retreat a spectacular evening pageant of music and military precision drill, including horses, cannon and fireworks. Tickets from (10% Discount for Groups of 10 or more) more information at: WW1 COMMEMORATION 2018 Originally advertised in the Autumn 2016 Newsletter The take up for this proposed event has been quite poor so, reluctantly, Ahmed our Chair has cancelled plans to organise a trip to visit the WW1 battlefield of Ypres in Belgium including attending the Last Post Ceremony. GRUMPY NIGHT The next Grumpy Night will be held at The Hornbrook Pub, Horsham At 7pm (19:00hrs) Monday 12 th June

8 NORTH SUSSEX BRANCH SUMMER BASH 2017 Roger Buttle the Branch Social Secretary is again going to host a Branch Summer Bash at his home in Horsham on Saturday 1st July 2017 in aid of the charity 'Against Breast Cancer'. It will be the usual bar opening at 2pm with buns, burgers and bangers while catching up with old mates, friends and colleagues. The pool and hot tub will also be open for business. Those attending can donate to the Against Breast Cancer on the day. To help Roger with planning the catering arrangements could you please details of those who will be attending to narpo.northsussex@btinternet.com or If you have not previously attended one of Roger s NARPO Bash's then do come along you will have a great time and get to meet up with old mates, friends, ex police colleagues and their partners. As Roger would say it has to be better than meeting up at funerals when somebody is no longer with us BURNS NIGHT 2018 One for your diary, the next annual Burns Night Supper will take place on Saturday 27th January 2018 at the Hickstead Hotel In The Chair I think I could get used to this retirement lark! It may not have come to your notice but we are in the middle of a General Election campaign, ducks behind sofa and covers himself with a blanket. NARPO is heavily together with "Later Life Ambitions" to raise issues with the candidates in particular Urgently stablishing a cross-party solution to the long-term funding of social care Maintaining the pensions triple lock and pensioner benefits Standing up for pensioners during the Brexit process AND Obtain parity of rights for Police Widows (Widow pensions for life). 8

9 This last issue I believe is an issue that NARPO is rightly supporting. In England and Wales this affects only 131 police widows who have remarried and as a result had their police pension taken from them. Tim Farron put in an early day motion (EDM 1063) which reads: - That this House recognises that Police Officers often place themselves in the way of harm to protect their communities, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice and leaving behind families and loved ones; is deeply concerned that the Police Pension Regulations 1987 do not allow police widows or widowers the opportunity to marry or cohabit, without losing their right to a police widows or widowers pension for life; agrees with the Police Federation of England and Wales that it is morally and ethically regrettable to make police widows and widowers and their dependents effectively choose between future financial security and the possibility of future personal happiness; welcomes the fact that the Police Pension Regulations 2006 allow new entrants or serving officers to transfer to the new scheme which permits their survivors to access benefits which are payable for life regardless of whether they remarry; regrets that nevertheless many police widows and widowers still remain disadvantaged by the Police Pensions Regulations 1987; calls on the Government urgently to review the situation; and notes that this would achieve parity with Police Widows and Widowers in Northern Ireland and military widows in all parts of the UK. The standing of the EDM considering the election remains unclear. But I would point out this little-known fact. The MP's Pension Scheme were amended in 2005 using a statutory instrument (SI/2205/887). This means that the MPs Pension Scheme provides for payments to be made to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner, regardless of remarriage provided that the individual in question was a member of the MPs Pension Scheme as at 3rd November Further information on this worthy campaign is available on the NARPO Website. At a recent lobby and reception in the Palace of Westminster I was very disappointed to note that not one Sussex MP attended the lobby or reception this even though each member or the House of Commons and House of Lords received an invitation and in the case of my own MP I wrote asking him to meet me at the lobby or reception. I did not receive the courtesy of a reply and this is something that I and my family will bear in mind deciding who to vote for in the coming election. A lot to take in this month but I hope you will consider all I have said and look at the NARPO website for further information. Ahmed Ramiz Branch Chair New Members I would like to welcome the following new members to our Branch and hope to meet them at future social gatherings: Liz Pinkus a new widow member Andy and Mary Clay who have recently transferred from the Chichester Branch Wayne Short and Judith Steve and Jacqueline Mitchell Some Dates for your diary Half Yearly Branch Meeting Monday 2 nd October Annual General Meeting Monday 9 th April

10 and finally I am sure that you will all join me in welcoming Ann Rattray as the new Branch Secretary. Ann and I are working through a tapered hand-over of the role and Ann is now getting up to speed. Ann s contact details are as follows: Telephone: Mobile Phone: Address: secretary.northsussex.narpo@gmail.com Ann has asked me to let you know that if she is unable to answer your phone call you can a leave a message and she will endeavour to get back to you within one day. For my part I would like to thank you for all your support over the last couple of years that said I won t be far away as I plan to continue supporting the Branch as one of your Committee Members. Graham Bradley Branch Secretary North Sussex Branch 10