Our June talk

Meet Tom, the police dog

At our June meeting, we heard from PC Neal Nightingale from the Metropolitan Police Dog Section at Chadwell Heath.  

London has five dog bases. A large number of officers handle two dogs, a general purpose dog and a specialist dog, which could be a drugs dog, an expo dog trained in explosives, a blood dog that finds forensic evidence, a passive drugs dog trained to sniff queues of people at transport hubs, or even a cyber dog trained to recognise digital devices. There are also urban search and rescue dogs, which search with the Fire Brigade, and Trojan support dogs, experienced, friendly dogs for tasks where they have to be passed from officer to officer. 

When they retire, dogs often stay with their handlers as pets.

Neal has been busy during the Jubilee, and his dog Tom, who is marine trained, often works on the river. They've been searching Clipper boats, cruise boats, foreign yachts visiting London and sugar boats delivering to the Tate & Lyle factory – Neal took us through how dogs are transferred safely from boat to boat.

We heard how officers have to give plenty of space to public order dogs working in volatile situations, as a worked-up dog won't discriminate between the public and officers.

We learned just how complicated the issues are around dangerous dogs, from different interpretations of breeds to different reactions from owners, from those keen to agree to the measures required to get their dogs back to those who leave them in kennels. 

Then Tom showed us some skills... Neal had taped something to find under one of our seats, sent Tom around the room to search and within seconds, he'd found it. Job done, Tom got his favourite tennis ball. 

A big thank-you to Neal and Tom for a fascinating evening and a special mention for Heather's marvellous mini Victoria sponges.

Our next coffee morning

Friday 24th June, 11.00 at The Hub, Victoria Park, East Side, right next to the children's playground, skate park and pools play area. Buses 276, 488 and 339. We also plan to explore the tree trail we mentioned at our AGM.

See us at the East End Canal Festival on 16 and 17 July!

We're very excited to be running a tea and cake stall at our first big event since the start of the pandemic. Get in touch if you'd like to bake or help and come and visit. We'll be at the Arts Pavilion in Mile End Park. More on the festival here.

Look out for more on our July events

Look out for our July newsletter for more on what's coming up, including our next talk, on artist Madge Gill.

Our June walk

Our June walk – a City stroll

Meeting at St Paul's on a gloriously sunny Saturday, our June walkers wound their way through City landmarks Postman's Park, St Bartholomew's, Smithfield, Charterhouse Square and finally to the Barbican, for lunch.

Fancy joining us? Look out for details of our next walk in our July news.

Coming up in June

Coming up in June

Saturday 11th June - Walk: the wonderful City of London, London’s magical square mile 

Meet at 11.00 St Paul’s Station, the cathedral exit. Also well-served by buses 8, 25 and 56. An uplifting cityscape walk this time. Heather will not be there, but wishes you happy exploring. The City Information centre just to the South of St Paul's has plenty of info, maps etc. Turn right if you would like to just dip into the churchyard and admire the planting, the giant golden statue on a pillar and the fallen Beckett. Return to the tube entrance to go up St Martin Le Grand Street to visit the fascinating Postman's Park, on your left. Look at the extraordinary memorials to unknown heroes/ines. Nearby is the Museum of London, which will be closing soon to relocate. You can pre-book tickets; tickets are also available on the door each day. You may want to move on to the Barbican with plenty of refreshment and loo stop facilities.

Thursday 16th June - Meeting: a visit from police dogs and their handlers 

Usual venue - St Margaret’s House; 7 for 7.30pm. We're looking forward to meeting police dogs and hearing from their handlers about their work; we will also be acknowledging the Jubilee with perhaps some celebratory drinks and snacks. Do feel free to bring anything to share on the theme – perhaps you have made one of the prize Jubilee trifles; or bring along stories of street parties and bunting events!

Covid measures in place, hand gel on entry, masks till sitting down. We will keep the door open. No need for checking temperatures. 

Friday 24th June - coffee morning 

11.00 at The Hub, Victoria Park, East Side, right next to the children's playground, skate park and pools play area. Buses 276, 488 and 339. A chance to try their eclectic menu with delicious home made cakes and other goodies. You could visit the lovely English garden nearby and the tree trail we mentioned at our AGM.

Other WI news

Look out for our upcoming newsletter with information from local and National WI federations. And it's still not too late to sign up to observe the National Federation AGM virtually on Saturday 11th June. You can sign up from the main WI National Federation website. There are usually at least two high profile keynote speakers and there will be a vote and discussion on the resolutions put forward for the coming year. We have agreed to support the resolution, Women and Girls with ASD & ADHD – under-identified, under-diagnosed, misdiagnosed, under-supported.