Visit to Strathclyde Road Policing Unit .

[219]

I just had a telephone call re my letter asking for a visit to the Road Policing Unit - they are very receptive to the request and just need us to indicate a suitable date , the one proviso being that it has to be a midweek evening .

Here is a copy of the email sent me by the PC , who is my contact there ( I am not posting his private contact details on a public website , though ) .

"Derek ,

Just in confirmation of our phone call . Let me know the date and time you would like and I will get something booked up for you .

I can show a road safety presentation which would also give a brief input on advanced driver techniques which would last approx 30mins and thereafter give an input on the Road policing complex and the various departments , we could also have a look at some of the vehicles and on-board equipment . If I can arrange someone to speak about crash investigation I will , however this would only be possible if they are not out on a call at the time.

Numbers are limited due to the size of our conference room - 16 is getting friendly and 20 is the absolute maximum.

Can you email me back please just so I know this has been received .
My direct number is below and I generally work from 8am-4pm . If I am away from my desk the following number has an answer phone attached:

Kind regards ....... "


What we now need to do is work out a mutually convenient date , and get an idea of numbers - if it becomes oversubscribed , it would probably be fair to give preference to those NOT going to Tulliallan - but hopefully the absolute ceiling of 20 will be enough to accommodate all wishing to go . In the unlikely event we are struggling for numbers , partners would be welcome . I said we would plan at least a month ahead to give plenty of advance warning on both sides ; it was suggested that summer is the best time for them as they are not out giving talks to senior high school/young drivers , which is what the Road Safety department (hosting us) do most of the time .

I'm thinking sometime June/July - if you have hols planned , please indicate dates that are not good for you .

Please add your name to the list and any preferences for/against certain nights of the week .

I'll start the ball rolling

1) Pontoneer - no preference i.e. any night of the week , no hols planned - yet .

 

[SilverSaloon]

sounds great. Thanks for arranging this.

1) Pontoneer - no preference i.e. any night of the week , no hols planned - yet
2) SilverSaloon - anytime really - cannot make 25th june to 12th july

 

[ecossebev]

Let me know what your poison is Derek (case of beer, bottle of malt/vodka etc). You have spent a lot of your own time and effort organising this...just a wee thank you. If the numbers go over the preferred 16, I'll go 1st reserve

1) Pontaneer - no preference i.e. any night of the week, no hols planned - yet
2) SilverSaloon - anytime really - cannot make 25th June to 12th July
17) Ecossebev - If you listen to the rumours, I'm easy....anytime for me

 

[219]

I really haven't done all that much - I just wrote a short letter/email to two different establishments : they were actually the same text copied/pasted and it all took about 10 minutes of my time - so please don't worry !

I appreciate the gesture , though .

On the subject of remuneration , again no mention of money has been made by the RPU , but I would think a donation to a worthy charity would again be in order .

 

[stormkenny3]

i am def up for this but i said that about meet at braehead and could'nt make it (1 burst front tyre and one that needed replaced.)

but this is something which i would find really interesting.

count me in.

 

[219]

1) Pontoneer - no preference i.e. any night of the week, no hols planned - yet
2) SilverSaloon - anytime really - cannot make 25th June to 12th July
17) Ecossebev - If you listen to the rumours, I'm easy....anytime for me
4) Stormkenny3

 

[Barryh]

Barryh is up for this.I am on hols 17-28th June.Otherwise let me know and as long as I am not working away overnight i can sort something out.5 mins from home.

Thanks for arranging this.

 

[flango]

Let me know what your poison is Derek (case of beer, bottle of malt/vodka etc). You have spent a lot of your own time and effort organising this...just a wee thank you. If the numbers go over the preferred 16, I'll go 1st reserve

1) Pontaneer - no preference i.e. any night of the week, no hols planned - yet
2) SilverSaloon - anytime really - cannot make 25th June to 12th July
17) Ecossebev - If you listen to the rumours, I'm easy....anytime for me

Derek

Would love to go on this one on hols from 19th July, but as previously advised I have been to Tulliallan and Govan when I lived in Scotland 5 years ago so quite happy to defer and give others the chance and go 18th on the list after Ecossebev

regards
Ian

 

[219]

Ian , do you mean you would like to go during your hols from 19th July , or is that when you wouldn't be able to go ?

Anyway , to update the list

1) Pontoneer - no preference i.e. any night of the week, no hols planned - yet
2) SilverSaloon - anytime really - cannot make 25th June to 12th July
3) stormkenny3
4) Barryh
17) Ecossebev - If you listen to the rumours, I'm easy....anytime for me
18) Flanaia1

 

[flango]

Ian , do you mean you would like to go during your hols from 19th July , or is that when you wouldn't be able to go ?

Anyway , to update the list

1) Pontoneer - no preference i.e. any night of the week, no hols planned - yet
2) SilverSaloon - anytime really - cannot make 25th June to 12th July
3) stormkenny3
4) Barryh
17) Ecossebev - If you listen to the rumours, I'm easy....anytime for me
18) Flanaia1

Hi Derek

Sorry bit of a poor post from me, What I meant to say way I am on Holiday from 19th - 29th July so won't be able to go in this period as I will be out of the UK.

Best regards
Ian

 

[st4]

1) Pontoneer - no preference i.e. any night of the week, no hols planned - yet
2) SilverSaloon - anytime really - cannot make 25th June to 12th July
3) stormkenny3
4) Barryh
5) ***
17) Ecossebev - If you listen to the rumours, I'm easy....anytime for me
18) Flanaia1

 

[fuzzer]

Sounds good Do i need to pretend im called Derek For the evening?


1) Pontoneer - no preference i.e. any night of the week, no hols planned - yet
2) SilverSaloon - anytime really - cannot make 25th June to 12th July
3) stormkenny3
4) Barryh
5) ***
6) Fuzzer
17) Ecossebev - If you listen to the rumours, I'm easy....anytime for me
18) Flanaia1

 

[Barryh]

just a non avalability note-I am away 1st week of the glasgow fair week.

I will be getting the Derek transplant work done that week so I suppose I can go anytime after that.Unsure what type of Derek to be.Then after the plastic surgery "which Derek "car to drive.

 

[smiddyboy1]

Would love to go to this!, My name is down if thats ok?


1) Pontoneer - no preference i.e. any night of the week, no hols planned - yet
2) SilverSaloon - anytime really - cannot make 25th June to 12th July
3) stormkenny3
4) Barryh
5) ***
6) Fuzzer
7) Smiddyboy1
17) Ecossebev - If you listen to the rumours, I'm easy....anytime for me
18) Flanaia1

 

[219]

Since I don't want to keep the Police hanging on too long for our decision re a date , I'll reply to them on Monday with a selection of dates that suit everyone who has put their names down so far .

Once they come back to us with a firm date , we can continue to accept names up to the maximum of 16 or 20 at a push .

 

[del320]

1) Pontoneer - no preference i.e. any night of the week, no hols planned - yet
2) SilverSaloon - anytime really - cannot make 25th June to 12th July
3) stormkenny3
4) Barryh
5) ***
6) Fuzzer
7) Smiddyboy1
16) del320
17) Ecossebev - If you listen to the rumours, I'm easy...anytime for me
18) Flanaia1

Btw, Derek, is there any provision for parking or would public transport be a better bet?

 

[219]

There are lots of parking spaces throughout the complex , although it has been fairly full when I've been there during the day , I expect it will be no problem at night .

There's an Asda/Toys'R'Us/McDonalds just across the road with a HUGE car park . The place is just a block along the road from Ibrox stadium if that helps with bearings .

 

[219]

I had meant to get back to the Police on Monday , but have been kept busy the last couple of days with the fire which destroyed the Coloseum Cinema in Eglinton St. (traffic likely to be disrupted in that area for next few weeks - so be aware) .

Anyway , I have just been collating everyone's availability and it seems that the dates which suit everyone so far are as follows -

1-16 June , 13-17 July , 30 & 31 July .

Assuming that is OK with everyone on the list , I am just about to reply to the police with these dates and see what they come back to us with . I will suggest the week in mid-July would be best as that gives everyone the most warning ( and time for others to sign up , as there's still room for another six )

 

[219]

I have just sent the following email in ; I 'dropped' the first week in June as I felt this would give too little notice for everyone - hope this is OK !

"Scott ,

further to our recent correspondence re a visit to the unit , I have 10 names on the list as 'definites' and the possibility of a few more . We will limit the numbers to sixteen maximum .

Having collated the dates everyone gave for availability/non-availability we have the following ranges of dates which would suit everyone who has replied so far :

8-16 June , 13-17 July , 30 & 31 July

My personal preference would be for the week in mid July as this gives everyone plenty of notice ( and a little more time to fill the last six places ) . However , please feel free to book us in on any date within the above ranges that suit you .

With Kind Regards

Derek ."

 

[219]

We are booked in for 7pm on Tues 14th July .

I'll post a map showing the location when I get home tonight .