‘ON THE BEAT’
The Newsletter of the Police Officer’s Fellowship
October 2010
Hello everybody, well this is my first attempt at the NEWSLETTER and I do hope that you enjoy the News.
Here we are and 6 months has passed since we met up at Rock Ferry Corps in April, the home Corps of our very own Mike Ring. The weekend was thoroughly enjoyable and we were made very welcome by everybody at the Corps.
As usual during the weekend we held our AGM whereby for those who are not aware Brian Oxley was returned as our Chairman, Andy Tonks remained as our treasurer and I was elected as the new secretary due to Mike LANE wishing to stand down. Our thanks went to Mike for all his hard work over the years and I know you will all join me in thanking Carol for just putting up with him!!! Seriously though as the guys always said in the Police Force they had so much to thank their wives’ for and the majority of us know what a tough time Mike had a couple of years ago. So big thanks to you both.
HONORARY MEMBER
Members would have been saddened to learn of the death of one of our members Tom Burns in March 2008. Tom and his wife Heather were regular attendees at our Campaigns and it was proposed at our AGM that we make Heather an Honorary Member of the Fellowship which she felt honoured to accept.
WELCOME HEATHER WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT OUR NEXT CAMPAIGN.
LOSS OF CLIFF RAYNER IN JANUARY 2010
It was with great sadness that we received the news that Cliff had been Promoted to Glory, and several of our members were privileged to attend his funeral in Sheffield, the funeral being conducted by Rainer Nadler another of our members. The funeral was a wonderful tribute to Cliff and his family were delighted with the service. We know that Cliff is having his Eternal Rest with his Lord. Well done Good and Faithful Servant. We can hear Cliff saying ‘ALLELULIA!’ Perhaps Members could remember Irene and the family in their prayers.
A donation of £40-00p was sent from the Fellowship to the ALZEIMERS RESEARCH TRUST in memory of Cliff and the following email was received from Elizabeth Whitehead of the Supporter Care Team,
“
I would like to thank everyone at the Blue Shield fellowship for the kind donation of £40-00p to the ALZEIMERS RESEARCH TRUST. Please accept our gratitude for remembering your colleague Cliff Rayner in this way. As you know Alzheimer’s is an awful disease for which there is presently no cure or long term treatment. The initiative to establish the ALZEIMERS RESEARCH TRUST came from the appalling lack of funding for research into this devastating disease. Your donation will help us fund vital medical research, to find a way of preventing or curing Alzheimer’s and related conditions. It will also give countless families the hope that they need for the future. Please accept our sincere thanks for supporting our vital work and our condolences on your recent loss”
HEALTH MATTERS
Our Chairman Brian has recently had health issues, which has meant visits to the hospital and biopsies being obtained. However I am pleased to report that Brian is doing well at this moment in time. Brian we wish you good health and will remember you in our prayers.
We wish to remember also Gerry Parsons who does not enjoy the best of health and is missed at our weekends. We know that Gerry is such a character and ill health prevents him from travelling. It is understood that Hilda has not been in the best of health either. Brian has visited them both and reports back on them. Bless you Gerry and Hilda may God place his healing hand upon you both.
We think too of Ken Cherry who was at Cliff’s funeral, he is struggling with his health and I am sure this prevents Ken from doing a lot of things he would like to do. God Bless you Ken and Beryl may God place his healing hand upon you also.
As many of you will be aware Pauline Dalby has been seriously ill and hospitalized. Pauline suffered a brain haemorrhage but thanks be to God Pauline is now at home being cared for by dedicated husband Malcolm. She was in pain, very weak and her eyesight was failing. Pauline was transferred to Bridlington Hospital, where there is a Rehabilitation Ward, and as Pauline returns to the hospital for her Outpatients appointments, Malcolm reports that Pauline is doing remarkably well and should recover especially with her eyesight being restored fully with hopefully no lasting damage. On behalf of the Fellowship I arranged for flowers to be sent to Pauline and I received the following email from Malcolm, ”Pauline and I thank all our comrades in the Fellowship for their prayers and support not just now but also over the years. The flowers were a wonderful gesture”. Both Malcolm and Pauline send their love and Christian greetings to everyone. God Bless you both and we pray for God’s healing hand upon you Pauline.
TERRITORIAL ENVOYS ANDY AND GAY TONKS
Many of you will be aware that our Treasurer Andy and his wife Gay were accepted as Territorial Envoys for the Salvation Army, and are now in charge of a small Corps at COEDPOETH. Their new address is 58 Heoloffa, Coedpoeth WREXHAM LL11 3EP. Tel. No: 01978-722677. I spoke with Andy and Gay a few days ago and they report that they are settling in to their new appointment and enjoying the work and the Corps Life. We look forward to seeing both Andy and Gay soon and hearing all their news. Anybody visiting the area is most welcome to visit Andy and Gay. Bless you both in your work for the Lord’s kingdom.
FAREWELL TO THE NADLER FAMILY
Rainer, Barbara Stephanie and Patrick farewelled from Hartlepool Corps on the weekend of the 11th-12th July 2010, the following report was received from our chairman Brian Oxley.
“At the request of Rainer one of our original Members of the Blue shield fellowship, I travelled to Hartlepool Corps to conduct the farewell Meeting held on Sunday 12th July 2010, preceded by a programme of Music and tribute the evening before. Tributes were given by Members of the local Community and also representing the Divisional police, where Rainer has been well loved and respected Pastor for some years. Members of the Parents and Toddler groups (3) attended as did people from some of the needy housing estates of the town and to whom Rainer and Barbara have been real friends and supporters, through the several clubs they have started and run over the past 6 years. In a farewell talk about Moses a reluctant yet powerful leader, teacher and provider who led his people towards new horizons and opportunities, though he was to leave it another to take the people forward as will the incoming Officer. Rainer, Barbara, Stephanie and Patrick will be at Friedeneau Corps where he is to be the CO and Barbara assisting at the DHQ Support Services. His other roles are to represent the SA to the overall Berlin Ecumenical groupings also to deputise for the DC during his absence around the huge division. The DC is long term friend and they are looking forward to working with each other."
Their new address is Die Heilarmee, Fregestrasse 12 12159 BERLIN.
God's Blessing to you all.
CAMPAIGN 2011
Thanks go to Ken Burton for doing the necessary enquiries at Knottingley Corps which will be the venue for our 2011 weekend, the 9th-10th April 2011. The Corps are looking forward very much to our visit.
PLEASE GET YOUR WEEKEND BOOKED NOW; Those of us that attended Rock Ferry as already mentioned had a lovely weekend and the Corps were blessed by our Ministry. Let us do the same for Knottingley.
Obviously more about this after Christmas.
CAMPAIGN 2012
We are well advanced, thanks to Bob Cameron; our campaign is to take us to Morecombe Corps for the weekend 31st Mar- 1st Apr 2012, early because Easter is the following weekend. I have spoken with the Officer and he feels this will be just what the Corps needs. SO MEMBERS THIS IS GIVING YOU PLENTY OF NOTICE TO BOOK NOW.
A Writing - entitled ‘Accepting Reality by Bob Cameron’
My Granddad Cameron died a pauper and is buried in a pauper’s grave in Maryport, Cumbria. Paupers were buried together with other paupers in unconsecrated ground like a dog. Gwen and I, with help from the cemetery warden found his grave and it brought tears to our eyes. We also found the old dilapidated buildings where my Dad grew up. Dad was only 4 weeks old when Granddad died.
Dad was wounded in the 1st World War, and then met with an accident in 1942 at Millom Ironworks where his left arm and part of his shoulder were ripped off. My Mum was a severe epileptic from the ages of 12yrs- 60yrs and they already had 5 children by 1942. Neither of them could then work, due to their disabilities so life was very difficult for us all. When other men returned home after World War 2 and families started bettering themselves, it was hard to accept reality.
It was hard to accept also that I would have to leave school at the age of 15, having already worked as a Co-op errand boy for 3 years, because of my family’s circumstances. My family’s commitment to Christianity and the Salvation Army helped me enormously to cope and has had a great influence on my life. Knowing that my Mother prayed for me every night of her life gave me encouragement when I did my National Service and eventually qualified for the Police Service.
Coming to terms with similar acceptance has stayed with me all my life, for instance, those who know me well, understand that I was dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century technology. We’ve had a Mobile phone about 3 yrs; it’s only used once per year when we go on holiday. I have not yet mastered the computer, when I think that I have it doesn’t do what I expect it to do. Last week we bought a Sat Nav and decided to test it on a Known route to Skipton, having had help from our little Whizz- Kid next door, to programme in our address. Briefly the experience was a disaster, it wanted to take us Southbound down the M6, when we refused that command it tried to take us into the Duddon Estuary. I wouldn’t have minded but the tide was in at the time! Heaven only knows what it would have done if we’d taken notice of it! The little arrow on the map representing our car was pointing the wrong way, on the wrong side of the road. We have now put the Sat Nav back to bed in its box and are returning to map and compass.
I couldn’t see the satellite that was directing my Sat Nav, nor those which bring my mobile phone messages or TV programmes but I know that they are there and I accept that as reality. What a pity it is that our modern generation with all its technical “Know-how” will accept the reality of unseen devices guiding their steps but many of them, unlike me, cannot accept the God who is also unseen but is guiding my steps every day.
Thank you Bob for your contribution and the reality this is in life.
Does this mean the Sat Nav is up for sale!!!!!!!!
New Member
James Woodgate from Eastbourne Corps, more details to follow in next Newsletter.
Welcome James to our Fellowship.
Remembering in Our Prayers
Irene Rayner and her family
Gerry and Hilda Parsons
Andy and Gay Tonks
Mike and Carol Lane
Brian Oxley
Ken Cherry
Blue Shield Fellowship and each and every member.
I trust that you enjoyed reading the News and that if any member has any items for the future then please forward them to me, so that we can have an interesting Newsletter.
God bless you all
Barbara Barron (secretary)
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