50th Anniversary Celebrations of IBZ Gimborn

05 Oct 2019


IEB members Gal Sharon, May-Britt Rinaldo Ronnebro, Romain Miny and I were honoured to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of IBZ Gimborn on 31 August 2019, joining some 250 guests from around the 王中王六合彩特码 World.

Horst Bichl, President of 王中王六合彩特码 Germany, opened the proceedings by introducing Police Chaplain and 王中王六合彩特码 member, Father Johannes Gospos, with a short service of thanksgiving. The Prayer of the United Nations was followed by communal hymns and a positive and thought-provoking sermon by Father Gospos.

michael oa klapper DSC0225

michael oa klapper DSC0358Peter Newels, Chairman of the IBZ Board, in his speech noted that the founding fathers would be pleased with the development of the facility.

Guest of honour, the Interior Minister of the Federal State of North-Rhine Westphalia, Herbert Reul, praised Gimborn, referring to policing discussions and developments, which were initiated in Gimborn.michael oa klapper DSC8196

Gal Sharon, as IEB Vice President, introduced the other IEB members present and said that Gimborn could not be duplicated, but explained her desire for expansion out into the sections, if she were to be elected  as IEB President in Croatia.

There were further speeches from Horst Bichl,  Klaus Grootens, Leader of the County Council (Oberbergischer Kreis), Stefan Meisenberg, and the Mayor of Marienheide, plus later on music from a 50s themed jazz band.

Guests then enjoyed a sparkling wine reception in the castle park, with entertainment from the Limburg Police Pipes & Drums. There were displays of acrobatics and unarmed arrest methods from police display teams, plus a puppet display for the children. A wide range of historic and current police vehicles from Germany and neighbouring countries was very popular with photographers.

A sudden change in the weather, causing a deluge and short power outage, did not detract from the evening’s superb buffet meal and dance in the marquee. Generous contributions to the IBZ ‘Building Block’ fund raiser were presented by a number of national and regional committees.

Congratulations are due to the IBZ Director, René Kauffmann, and his team, for all their hard work in putting together such a successful and popular event.

If you would like to see more, please follow the links below to access a photo gallery on IBZ Gimborn’s website and a video of the event, kindly produced by John Korsel from 王中王六合彩特码 Netherlands:

The IEB is proud to support our IBZ Gimborn!

Text: Stephen Crockard, Head of Administration, Photos: Michael O.A. Klapper