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COVENTRY NARPO NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER, 2024
PRESIDENT: Ben Whitehouse
CHAIRMAN: Tony Crisp
SECRETARY: Nigel Bird
TREASURER: Roy Hammersley
SOCIAL SECRETARY Bernie Cook
WELFARE: Shaun Gould
COMMITTEE
Your committee continues to meet regularly and is well attended by its members. Gordon Meredith GM has resigned from his role as President. Sincere thanks to him for his many years of active involvement in a variety of capacities. Ben Whitehouse was subsequently elected to that position. Roy Hammersley will also be stepping down from his role as treasurer and we are actively seeking a volunteer to replace him. Many thanks to Roy for his excellent work in looking after our finances. Thanks also to West Midlands Police for allowing us the use of Little Park Street Committee room for our meetings. With the imminent closure of Little Park Street we are now looking for an alternative venue.
Stuart Wheeler and I travelled to Torquay this September to represent our branch at the annual NARPO national conference. It will be held in Blackpool in 2025.
MEMBERSHIP
Our membership remains consistent at around 685. If you do know of anyone who is not currently a member and would like to join, the process is relatively straightforward. You can complete an online application by visiting the National NARPO website. With a number of varied and some subsidised events to look forward to in the coming year, now is a great time to be a member.
WELFARE
Shaun Gould continues to be our main point of contact for welfare support and advice. Together with Steve Davies he has attended National and Regional welfare seminars on our behalf.
He has asked me to pass on the following request and information:
If you have changed your contact details or those of your second contact or next of kin can you please update us with that information.
He asks us all to think about the importance of wills and lasting power of attorney.
He also reminds us that if you are caring for someone you may be able to claim a carers allowance which is not means tested. If unsure, Age UK, if contacted, will assist in filling in the paperwork.
COMMEMORATIONS
A memorial service for Gavin Carlton was held at his memorial stone in Torrington Avenue on the 19th December 2023. The event was well attended.
It was recently brought to our attention, by one of our members, that there is no memorial stone for Gavin at the National Arboretum in Alrewas. Enquiries have been made with the Arboretum and they informed us that a plaque could be placed in the ‘on the beat’ section for fallen officers at a cost of £651.00.
Neither West Midlands Police or the Police Memorial trust are willing or able to finance the cost of this.
As a NARPO branch we believe this would be a most appropriate and fitting tribute to Gavin. A decision has been made to find the cost of the memorial from branch funds. If anyone should wish to help with the funding of this, then any donation would be gratefully received.
A graveyard commemoration service was held on Monday 22nd July this year on the anniversary of the death of Peter Guthrie. This was also well attended.
Many thanks go to Gary Croshaw and Stuart Wheeler for the organisation of these memorial events.
WALKING SECTION
Many thanks also to Ben Whitehouse who continues to organise a regular monthly walk. He is keen to remind members that all are welcome to attend. Please look out for the e-mails from him. In addition Stuart Wheeler and Steve Brown organised a day out to Bakewell and led 2 walks for different levels of ability. A great idea which hopefully can be repeated at an alternative venue next year.
COVENTRY POLICE MUSEUM
At long last Coventry Police Museum now has a permanent home. It is now located in the Coventry Council House. Many thanks to those committee members and volunteers who have helped to bring this about. Without their determined efforts this would not have happened. The museum now opens between 10am and 2pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Should you wish to volunteer in staffing the museum, please make contact with Ben. Your services would be much appreciated.
EVENTS
Our social secretary Bernie has had a busy year and our thanks go to him for organising trips and events. These have included trips to the Christmas markets in Belgium and a coach trip to Scotland to mention just a few.
Additionally Gary and Roy kindly arranged a coffee morning, a murder mystery evening and a Christmas buffet at the Telegraph hotel.
Forthcoming events are to include an evening of magic and a planned Christmas get together also to be held at the Telegraph Hotel.
A separate e-mail will detail proposed holidays, a trip to the Derby and a summer barbeque which I hope will be well supported.
If you do have ideas of trips or events that could prove popular we would be very glad to hear from you.
All the very best
Tony Crisp
Chairman