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Recently, The Derby West Neighbourhood team had the privilege of being invited to be a small part of a very ‘Special’ big day.
The team was contacted by a neighbour and very good friend of a retired Special Constable, his 60th birthday was approaching and he wanted us to be a part of a surprise for him. His friend; Ian, was a Special Constable, based at Cotton lane, Merrill Section from 1986 to 1990. He had very fond memories of his time there, but didn't have anything else to remember his service. Like all of us, he was partial to watching Traffic cops and Police Interceptors and would often remark and reminisce of his time in Derbyshire Constabulary. This sparked the friends idea and we were honoured to oblige. On his 60th Birthday PCSO Supervisor Coleman and PCSO Keates attended for an early morning door knock, to Ian's complete surprise. We facilitated a drive around the neighbourhood; chatting about his experiences as a Special, what's changed and what's remained the same in policing, and let him have a look around the newest marked vehicle in the neighbourhood teams fleet.
It was a treasured moment for us to meet Ian; to learn about policing in recent memory; comparing the heavy wool uniforms, pressed shirts and helmets to our modern equipment such as the radios, cameras and ANPR and uniform to the types of incidents we attend and the comradery built over the years.
At the end of this, we presented Ian with a cap badge that the team had framed for him, as a memento of his time as a Special Constable. From the pictures, and the day, i would say it's safe to say Ian had a lovely time.
Thank you to his friends and family for reaching out, moments like this mean just as much to us as they do to the public. Thank you also to T/SGT Sahota and PC Maughan for locating the cap badge. Sam 12829 
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