The 16th AGM of the MDPROA was attended by 94 members of the Association at the Kings Manor Hotel, Edinburgh over the weekend of 8 - 11 October.

Present at the AGM was our Patron, Jack Aspinall QPM and the Associations President Lloyd Clarke QPM, CCMDP, who was accompanied by his wife Pamela. The President opened the meeting with a welcoming address to all present and then went on to give an interesting insight to the current situation of the MDP in relation to the MoD Guard Service and the fact that both organisations are now under the one umbrella of the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency headed by the Chief Constable. He also referred to the large contingent of MDP Officers now serving abroad including Kosovo and Iraq, who are carrying out sterling work in very trying and arduous conditions.

The Opening Address by the Chairman, Harry Norwood, summarised the working of the Association over the past year and expressed the appreciation of the ROA for co-operation and assistance of the CCMDP and his Staff and the DPF. In particular he referred to the assistance of Supt Paul McLaughlin, as the Liaison Officer between CCMDP and the MDPROA, which has been invaluable.

The Meeting covered a number of financial matters affecting the Association leading up to the holding of the AGM, and the work of the Secretary in relation to other retirement/pensioner organisations, the issue of Talk Through and the ROA Newsletter. Consideration was also given to an item raised by a member about the merits of the MDPROA linking up with Retired Officers from the Guard Service to form one retired officers association. This matter was discussed fully and it was unanimously decided that the MDPROA would remain as it is, quite independent from the Guard Service retired members.

Election of Office Bearers and Committee Members took place and are indicated below:

• Chairman - Harry Norwood
• Vice Chair - Martin Harrow
• Hon Secretary - Cliffe Bucke
• Hon Treasurer - Les Cracknell
• Asst Secretary - Malcolm White

• Bill Duncan
• Les Gosling
• Ken Taylor
• Dave King

You will have noticed that a new Committee Member is listed above. Dave King kindly consented to be nominated and seconded to join the Committee. He was duly elected and takes the place of Marjorie Greenwood who had decided to stand down this year from Committee work as she plans to move to the USA. Marjorie was thanked for her dedication to the work of the Association.

Photos from 2004 AGM Reunion Dinner

Following the AGM the Reunion Dinner took place on the evening of Sunday 10 October. The dinner had a distinctive Scottish theme with the Haggis being piped in by one of our own members, Andy Burnside. The Address to the Haggis was made by Chairman Harry Norwood and the meal of smoked salmon, followed by haggis, tatties and neeps with a whisky flavoured cream sauce, Scottish Roast Beef and Raspberry Mouse, with Coffee and Mints, was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Later in the evening both Andy and Harry entertained the gathering with a selection of music from the Pipes.

On a final note, one unusual item came to light during the weekend and that was from among the 94 members who attended five had all been on the same Recruits Course at Debden Training School in April/May 1963. They are Les Cracknell (Treasurer), Barry Smith, Bill Teasdale, Graham Terry and Terry Appleby. Terry Appleby was on the same course as the others but not in the same class.