Hilary Banks

Hilary joined the police when she was 16 and became a police officer. She was medically pensioned at 27 after she was kicked in the head on duty and suffered epilepsy. Undeterred, she gained a job as a civilian in the police and over the next 20 years rose to be Head of Criminal Justice in Northants Police. In her spare time, she gained a Diploma and MA in HR. She was also awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and went to the USA for 6 months to study victimology in 2002/3. In 2006 she was selected to attend the Police Staff College as a member of the Senior Command Course which grooms police personnel for the highest ranks of the service. In January 2007, Hilary suffered a stroke. Her left side was paralysed but she regained her arm movement. Her leg ans speech remained affected. Although she tried to return to work in June 2007, she found she could not cope with the high level job she had and was, once more, medically retired. During her police career, Hilary's determination to succeed against many difficulties and health issues has served as a huge inspiration to many of her 100 or so staff. In late 2008, she and I embarked on a 6 month motorhome tour of Europe. During this time, she began cycling and walking. This proved so beneficial for her leg that she was able to discard the stick she had been obliged to walk with. Her progress has continued and she is now training (including running) to take part in a 10 day trek in Costa Rica in aid of the Stroke Association in November.Unfortunately the Costa Rica Trek has been cancelled - however I have signed up to Trek in Sumatra for 10 days in March, still raising money for The Stroke Association.