We use cookies to make your experience better. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Learn more.
Page 20 - Stories
-
- June 01, 2020
Netball World Cup 2019
Gary Burgess’ dedication and passion for sport has shown throughout the years. Starting as a PE teacher in Bedfordshire, Burgess has since gone on to umpire at some of the worlds greatest international Netball matches.
He left his teaching job with the dream of becoming the Head of Officiating at England Netball and is now one of the most recognised figures on the side-lines of Netball courts, thanks to his signature gold ACME whistle.
Iconic ACME Whistle
The golden whistle was awarded to him after his 50th international umpiring cap in 2013, and has since been at the forefront of his on-court identity.
With a career spanning 20 years, he has achieved multiple career defining milestones such as umpiring at 2 netball World Cup finals, 10 consecutive Vitality Netball Superleague finals and 2 Commonwealth Games gold medal matches.
Burgess continues to volunteer his spare time as an international umpire, with this dedication being the key to his success.
Dedication To
-
- October 21, 2019
The Visit
My name is Ajay and on the 30th September I had the pleasure of visiting the J Hudson & Co ACME Whistle factory, along with my classmates from Queen Marys Grammar School. In coordination with our Design and Technology A-level course we visited the factory to see some of the various metal and plastic manufacturing processes in action, such as stamping, nickel plating and injection moulding.
After a short ride to the factory we were greeted by the factory managing director (Simon Topman) who proceeded to give us the tour. He started off by showing us to the room which held Joseph Hudson’s desk where he created the first prototype of the police whistle. He told us about the history of the company and how it all started with the police whistle.
J Hudson had presented his prototype to the police and was promised that he would be contacted in the near future. Days and weeks went by and J Hudson had heard nothing so he decided to contact the metropolitan police. To his misfortune the
-
- October 17, 2019
Manufacturing isn’t a skill, it’s a culture. Culture needs its place to begin, to develop and to pass its learning and understandings from generation to generation. Such a place is Birmingham. Manufacturing remains a huge part of our local GDP. No company exemplifies this tradition more than J Hudson & Co. (ACME WHISTLES) Ltd.
Founded in 1870 it is just a few months away from its 150th birthday and to this day it remains the world market leader in the design and manufacture of whistles and audible warning signals. Take a look at the Rugby World Cup taking place in Japan this week and you will see Acme Thunderers on parade controlling the game. Used in every match they are currently exported to 119 countries.
When Joseph Hudson, the founder, invented the first police whistle which he made in his washroom that he had converted into a workshop , and took an order for 21,000 from the Metropolitan Police in London, he must have wondered how he was ever going to complete it. But in Victorian
-
- September 26, 2019
My name is Colton Thompson. I own and operate Thompson Working Dogs here in the states. From the infancy of my time as a handler and gundog trainer, I have had an ACME whistle. The UK methods of training resonated with me early on. The common sense and straight forward approach just made sense to me. Most importantly the dogs. As I poured my time into researching the methodology, I started gathering every piece of training equipment the winners were using. I noticed one commonality. An ACME whistle. “If it is good enough for them...” was my mentality. An ACME 211.5 TM was bought and it was history ever since
Photo Credit: Element Six Media
Fast forward to today, I fancy the 211.5 TM whistle, along with the 212 Pro Trialler. I use the 211.5 TM for up-close training exercises. With its mellow tone and ability to produce sound at a low volume, it is a staple in my puppy training and started gundog work. As I work to longer distances, I switch to the 212 to maintain meaningfulness in my commands.
-
- July 25, 2019
Whenever police officers from around the world meet there is always an inevitable exchange. Knowledge, ideas, stories, and of course gifts. Often these are items symbolic of their homeland and are happily received, but wherever possible, it represents their unit or organisation and these are most prized by those that receive them.
When the officers of the International Police Association (IPA) met in Stirling for the 5th Bi-annual Young PoliceOfficer Seminar (YPOS), it was no different.
The IPA draws the police family together from 67 countries, in the spirit of shared learning and friendship, enabling a huge range of social exchanges and professional development, and is the largest social police organisation in the world.
Founded in the UK, this year it was our honour to host our colleagues for YPOS, a series of seminars and lectures targeted at younger members helping them to improve their knowledge and expand their experiences, and naturally develop contacts and friendships. At the University
-
- July 09, 2019
Originally constructed in 1929 at the Faarborg shipyard in Denmark, the 69 foot gaff rigged ketch once known as ‘Johanne Regina’ is a historic vessel with a fascinating story to tell. In her early days, Johanne Regina was used extensively as a trading vessel and by the 1970s she began a journey to the West Indies.
It was in Antigua, 1974, that Edward Allcard spotted the neglected vessel on a slipway and asked it’s owners if they’d be willing to part with it. Unfortunately for the Allcard family, the boat was not for sale. It wasn’t until the owners tempted fate by changing the vessel’s name that they fell on hard times and eventually agreed to sell.
For the Allcard family this was the beginning of an exciting new venture and having sold all their possessions to buy the boat, they immediately got started with restoration work. Living aboard the Johanne Regina was a relentless task of repairing and maintaining the vessel, balanced against their responsibility to educate their daughter
-
- June 04, 2019
Factory Tours:
See the "Lost ACME Clicker", a hugely significant piece of military history, displayed at the ACME Whistles factory.
How We Found The Lost ACME Clicker
Earlier this month we launched a campaign to find the “Lost D-Day Clickers” that ACME Whistles produced to be used by the 101st American Airborne Division in June 1944. Their purpose at the time of production was kept top secret but it later became evident that these clickers, which we produced in complete secrecy, were a vital piece of survival equipment for the heroic paratroopers involved in the famous D-Day Landings during World War II.
We have been delighted with the incredible coverage that the “Search For The Lost Clickers” campaign has had and we’d like to take a moment here to say a very sincere Thank You to everyone who helped to spread the word about the campaign. We even had the opportunity to appear on BBC News.
As a result of the campaign’s coverage, we are overjoyed to be able to reveal that
-
- June 03, 2019
There are few sporting events in the world which inspire the levels of excitement and camaraderie that are stirred by the Amsterdam Sevens Tournament. It may not be the only rugby tournament which takes place every year but it a truly special one with plenty of international appeal - it holds a special place in the hearts of rugby players and fans alike.
Every year it allows rugby players and fans to meet, mingle, and enjoy an event that captures the true spirit of the sport. It only natural then, that the Amsterdam Sevens places a high importance on good sportsmanship and the social aspects of the game.
Taking place in June, more than 120 teams from the North and South hemispheres will compete in the men’s ‘Silver Pier’ ‘The Shield’ and ‘The Cup’ Tournaments, while the women’s teams will go head-to-head for the ‘Ladies Pier’ and ‘Shield’ Tournaments.
Veterans of the sport will compete in their own 10-a-side tournament which always guarantees an excellent game will be played. As well as
-
- March 28, 2019
Choosing the perfect dog whistle for your family pet or working dog is key to facilitating smooth training. Like with people, no two dogs are exactly alike and this can make it somewhat challenging to choose the right whistle to train with. Of course, the level your dog is trained to and the speed at which they make progress will depend on the amount of time that you invest in training as well as the aptitude of your dog, but choosing the right tools will give you both a great start. There are a number of things which will help you to choose the right whistle the first time, including the breed of dog and the kind of work you will be doing with them.
Retrievers
Retrieving breeds such as goldens, labradors and curly coats are generally energetic and sociable, and most will benefit from being able to run in large open spaces, especially young dogs. Whether your retriever is a working dog or a family pet you will need a whistle which can be heard over long distances so you can reliably recall
-
- January 24, 2019
THANK YOU ACME
By Lt Cdr Glenn von Zeil, SA Naval Reserves
The Bosun’s Call or Bosun’s Pipe (also sometimes spelled 'Boatswain') was used in days of sail to communicate commands onboard ships, especially to those men in the rigging who were adjusting the sails. In modern navies it fulfils a functional ceremonial purpose used to announce daily evolutions, including sunset, colours, call the hands at “wakey wakey”, summons the officer of the day, announce meals, rounds and pipe down. It is also the symbol of office of a Master at Arms or Cox’n and is displayed on a silver chain worn around the neck.As in the SA Navy the Sea Cadets use Bosun’s Calls for the same purposes and young Cadets are taught the art of “piping” early on in their cadet experience. There is nothing like the piercing sound of a Bosuns Call piping “Wakey Wakey, rise and shine, heavo, heavo, lash up and stow” or other humorous variations at 0500 to rouse the hands.
As Bosun’s Calls are not manufactured in South Africa
