Reading a Gideon article about Badged Testaments being presented to other police services, prompted Airedale & Wharfedale member Colin Kingsman to ask his son Tim, a senior officer with West Yorkshire Police, about the possibility of similar presentations to this Service.

Tim duly obtained approval and Wendy Hall of the local Christian Police Association was put in touch with our Development Manager, Tony Lovering. An image of the West Yorkshire Police crest was provided to be printed on the front of the Service Testaments.

The initial order was for 2,000. These have been funded thanks to a substantial donation from the York Branch and by Airedale & Wharfedale members. We are praying many more Testaments will be required as there are some 8,000 officers and staff in West Yorkshire Police.

Inside the front cover of the Testaments has been inserted a prayer applicable to West Yorkshire Police. These 2,000 inserts were stuck in by the Airedale & Wharfedale members at a social meeting involving much fun and fellowship.

The Testaments have been delivered to the West Yorkshire Police Chaplain, Dudley Martin, and we are waiting to hear about the presentation arrangements.

Earlier this year we were honoured to present the Chief Constable, Dee Collins, with a personally inscribed Bible at the Police Headquarters in Wakefield with Tim Kingsman in attendance.

Zone 3 Trustee, John Coldwell, Airedale & Wharfedale members, Ian Hutchinson and Colin Kingsman, were very encouraged by the warm welcome they received and the enthusiasm for the work of The Gideons, expressed by the Chief Constable.

Colin Kingsman, Airedale & Wharfedale Branch