Chief Constable Ian Learmonth
Saturday, June 16, 2012
10:45 AM
Ian Learmonth among a list of the county’s finest to be recognised in the birthday honour’s list
Kent’s chief constable has received the prestigious Queen’s Police Medal in the birthday honours list.
Ian Learmonth, who joined Kent Police in July 2010, was among a list of the county’s finest to be recognised for their services and work in the county.
The chief constable was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal, which is given to officers for distinguished service.
Mr Learmonth joined Essex Police as a Cadet in 1974, and served with the force in a variety of uniform operational roles until 2005 when he was promoted to Assistant Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police.
In that role he led the major police operation for the G8 summit in 2005, and the policing response to the attack on Glasgow Airport by terrorists in 2007.
He was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable of Norfolk Police in 2007, where he led a major programme to redesign the force to put more officers on the frontline.
In July 2010, he was promoted to Chief Constable of Kent Police. His work with the force has been praised by both the Prime Minister in August 2011 during the disorder that gripped the country, and by the Home Secretary.
Mr Learmonth is the national lead for the police service on public order policing, a role he was given after last summer’s disorder.
He said he was both delighted and humbled to receive the Queen’s Police Medal.
“The success of Kent Police is down to the hard work and deep sense of public service of my officers and staff,” he said.
“I have not worked with a more dedicated team.
“I don’t consider what I do to be special, but I’ve worked with some amazing people over the years and seen the profound impact that effective policing has on people’s lives.”
Deputy Chief Constable Alan Pughsley added: “Ian Learmonth has given 38 years of his life to selflessly serving the community in a variety of difficult and dangerous police roles.
“He is an exemplary police officer who has always put the public first. It is a privilege to serve under his leadership, and this award from the Queen is very richly deserved and brings honour to the force as a whole.”
Director of Turner Contemporary, Victoria Pomery, was honoured with an OBE for services to the arts.
Ms Pomery runs the hugely successful gallery in Margate, which attracted more than half a million visitors in its first year of opening.
Others recognised in the honours list were leading hop grower Tony Redsell, who farms across Kent, who was awarded an OBE for services to the UK’s hop industry; Sally Anne Sweeney Carroll, founder and mentor of Transport for Sick Children, who received an MBE for services to child care; and Professor Christopher John Rudge, formerly national clinical director for transplantation and consultant in renal transplantation, who was honoured with CBE for services to transplantation and organ donation.
Mary Butcher, from Canterbury, and Heather Clemence, from Tonbridge, were both recognised for their talents and services to the community.
Ms Butcher was awarded an MBE for services to basket making after 35 years in the industry.
She said: “When I first saw a letter from the cabinet office, I wondered what I had done. Then I opened it and I couldn’t quite believe it.
“It’s such an honour, not just for me personally, but for the craft too.
“I have taught people in the last 35 years who have become traditional basket makers, and I have taught people to think differently about the basket making process.”
Heather Clemence has volunteered at Sevenoaks’ British Heart Foundation branch for more than 30 years and received a British Empire Medal for her long service.
She said: “I was completely surprised because I had no idea about it at all. I got it through my charity work which my husband and I have been doing since 1978.
“The award of the BEM is a great surprise and honour. I must share it with all those who, over more than 30 years, worked together as fundraisers.
“But most of all I will always remember the friendship we all shared, the happy meetings, the fun which we all had over coffee and biscuits and the pleasure of fundraising events.”
Source: www.kentnews.co.uk
Asda outshines competitors as sales for supermarkets stagnate - This is Money
By Neil Craven
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Asda has outshone its supermarket competitors in the battle for the Diamond Jubilee shopper, figures are expected to reveal this week.
Customers are understood to have responded to its Every Day Low Prices marketing message compared with discounts offered by competitors.
Recent sales figures from the chain’s three big rivals, Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s, have alerted the markets to an increasingly difficult grocery sector.
Reason to celebrate: Asda outsold all its main supermarket rivals
Until the past 12 months, supermarkets were regarded as well insulated from the consumer downturn.
The market share data released by market researcher Kantar on Tuesday is expected to show Asda led the pack in the four weeks to June 10.
Asda is closely monitored when Kantar issues data because it is the only one of the four biggest grocers, whose combined sales are more than 100billion, that does not issue trading numbers to the London Stock Exchange. It is owned by US retailer Wal-Mart.
Analysts believe that the grocers are now firmly fixed on a fight for market share because sales in the sector are not growing. Volume sales of food are falling because consumers are cutting back on waste and discounts have also helped to pull back inflation.
Last week, Financial Mail revealed that for the first time, Tesco, the largest of the big four supermarkets, and Morrisons are on course to report a drop in profit during their current financial year.
Sources say the most recent indications suggest Asda is taking market share off both. However, they have also warned that Tesco is getting ready for a major fightback this autumn. Meanwhile, with its AGM looming, Tesco faces other concerns.
An obscure pension fund called the Change to Win Investment Group, which works with the pension funds of four major US trade unions, said it plans to table a motion at this year’s meeting on June 29 demanding Tesco set up a separate non-executive board for its US business.
It is understood that the arrangement would make it easier for investors to force the closure of its US arm Fresh & Easy, which continues to perform less well than expected.
It said if the board rejects its proposal it would then ask shareholders to vote against the resolution to receive the report and accounts.
Chief executive Phil Clarke has already dismissed calls to shelve the business. Since its arrival in America in 2007, Tesco has faced battles with unions that have demanded recognition from the company.
Source: www.thisismoney.co.uk
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