Coldstream Guards, HM Queen Elizabeth’s Keys, police station and ‘Trotters’ Reliant Regal - what is the common denominator? These are some of the requested itinerary items for our IPA Italian visitor, Ispettore Superiore, Gennaro Palumbo and his wife Marina. Mike Vince took on the lead role for hosting, and the detailed planning to make Gennaro’s visit memorable.
Gennaro is Il Commandante (Senior Inspector) Carabinieri, of his own station in Serra De Conti, Ancona which is on the east coast of Italy and south of San Marino.
Mike met up with the Palumbos at London Heathrow Terminal 5 and drove them to his home in Buckingham for their next few days accommodation. Tea and cakes in the sunny garden upon arrival and the exchange of gifts completed the introductions. Then Maggy Vince prepared a special meal for the visitors who soon retired to bed reasonably early as they had been up at 4.30 a.m. in order to catch their BA flight from Bologna.
Day 2 - after breakfast our guests were taken to Bicester rail station and then onwards to London. First port of call was the Guards Museum in Birdcage Walk. After a very informative visit and Gennaro soaking up all details - Coldstream Guards - he was given a photo call opportunity wearing a bearskin cap. A brief visit to the front of Buckingham Palace they saw a Household Cavalry detachment escorted by two Metropolitan Police mounted officers leaving the Palace to make their way to their barracks.
Making use of London travel cards, took them by underground to North Greenwich and a “flight” in the Emirates cable car across the River Thames. Here Gennaro nearly demonstrated one of his specialist military skills - as a parachute instructor! It transpires that as a station commander he has to be versed in many skills from management of his soldiers, dealing with their pay, taxation, training in military and policing and both car driving and motorcycling instruction.
The usual touristy visits included the site of the now demolished New Scotland Yard at Broadway, the new location for NSY on the Embankment, Downing Street and having a quick chat with the armed Metropolitan Police guarding the infamous gates there and finally a unique evening visit to the Tower of London for the IPA Guest night - Ceremony of the Keys. For this last part of the day, Gennaro’s Reading based daughter Francesca met up with her parents. Returning to Bicester by rail and drive back to Mike’s house, the Palumbos had finished another long day.
Day 3 fulfilled another part of Gennaro’s wish list - a visit to Milton Keynes Police Station and hosted by Superintendent Yvette Hitch. Once badged up with lanyard and visitors passes, the party was entertained in the Superintendent’s office. Now, Gennaro speaks little English, can understand most spoken English if said slowly but everything in the “communication world” went well with exchanges in Italian, some French spoken by the Superintedent and all present using their smart phones with “Google Translate”. With a whirlwind tour of the Mounted Section stables meeting 4 exceedingly tall and large horses, then down in the dungeons - Custody Suite - the Control Room and the CCTV monitoring room, culminating in a hands-on examination of an Armed Response vehicle. Photo calls with the Mounted Section Sergeant and “Odin”, and a special photo with the Superintendent by a marked police vehicle - both photos should grace Gennaro’s family photo album. So ended a memorable visit.
Mike then drove them down to Reading to a hotel organised by their daughter Francesca, who intended showing them around the locality for Day 4.
Branch member, Graham Tabersham now takes up the story for their Day 5 .....
“I had the pleasure of hosting Gennaro & Marina Palumbo from Italy. He is a serving Officer in the Carabinieri. Having myself only returned from a short trip to Rome two days before, we had much to talk about through his daughter, Francesca, who served as translator. It was his wish to visit the British Motor Museum at Gaydon. To my surprise there has been a serious makeover since my last visit. Gennaro is something of a collector himself with two VW Beetles a VW Camper and a Moto Guzzi Motorcycle.
At Gaydon he was fascinated with the old cars and the cry of “Look!” followed by a loud burst of Italian was often heard with Francesca trying to keep up with the translation. Of all the cars on show the ones he liked the best were the 3 wheeled Reliant’s. He is shown beside a Royal Mail Reliant Super van version and possibly the most famous 3 wheeled van in the whole wide world (well the UK anyway)! Del Boys Reliant Regal. I was surprised to learn that in addition to being used for “Only Fools and Horses" this vehicle has also appeared in films featuring “Mr Bean”. We then moved over to the second viewing area. At the end of our day I took them past the BMW Mini plant at Cowley, Oxford to point out the lonely Mini on the roof. We then passed the original MG Garage in Longwall. A very enjoyable day had by all.”
So after a hectic week, Francesca drove her parents to London Heathrow for their return flight back to Italy. This was a “friendship visit” at its best. Gennaro’s “wish list” was honoured and more.
For all the photos click here
report by Mike Vince, Treasurer Thames Valley Branch
