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5th March 2013 - VIP and Royal Security Ian Thomson The President welcomed members to the meeting on Tuesday 5 March and introduced our guest speaker Ian Thomson, who gave us an insight into the demands placed on police drivers responsible for VIP and Royal Security. A proficient musician in the '60s Ian opted, as he put it, for a quieter life and joined the police force. Joining the Traffic Division and appointed to drive on Royal Escort duties, Ian took us, with great humour, through the layers of detail that ensured our Royals and VIP's were transported within Scotland and without incident. In a driving career of over 30 years, Ian was, in addition to his Royal duties, the trusted driver to Prime Ministers from Harold Wilson to John Major, His Holiness the Pope when he visited Scotland in 1982, concluding with Milton Obote's visit in 1997 just before he retired from driving duties. A retirement, to his great regret, that resulted in his dispensation to ignore the speed limit being rescinded. Bill Allen gave the vote of thanks to Ian for his most interesting talk. The next meeting is on 19 March, starting at 10.30am when we meet to hear Brian Craigie who will talk about PC Safety and Security. |