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millwatermotors Forget The Cat in The Hat – we have the Jag in The Mag! Local Millwater resident Mark Parkinson, a self-confessed petrol-head, is the proud owner of a very desirable S-Class Jaguar and we spent some time getting to know both Mark and his Jag. Born in Blackpool in the UK before the family moved to Albrighton, Mark went to Apley Park boarding school in Bridgnorth from age 11 to 16 before taking further academic qualifications and joining the Police Cadets at 17. “The Royal Marines might have been an option but that would have meant me waiting until I was 18,” said Mark. “I just wanted to get on with my life, so I became a warranted Metropolitan Police Officer just three months after I turned 18.”
patrolling in Ford Escort estate cars – but they both loved their home in Gislingham, which had been built in the 1450s and is mentioned in Pevsner’s Suffolk. Following a holiday in New Zealand, Mark and Sharon decided it was time for a change and so the family upped-sticks and emigrated here in July 2011 – just in time for the Rugby World Cup. Mark first worked for a drug detection agency as a training and business development manager before becoming a Senior Bylaws Officer for Auckland Council.
You would have needed to be a very fit criminal to get away from Mark, for he was a very useful 400m runner and played competitive rugby. A successful Police career followed over the next 30 years, 25 of them in central London. After 10 years in Fulham, Mark was selected to be part of the Royal and Diplomatic Protection team, assigned to look after Princes William and Harry whilst they were at school in Kensington. Although this all sounds glamorous, Mark assured “Routine Police protection duties were mostly quite boring and, after passing my Sergeant’s exam, I transferred South of the Thames, to Streatham and Brixton.” Mark saw service in robbery squads, armed response and vice squads, as well as a period as Acting Inspector at Gypsy Hill. He was a highly-trained advanced driver, owned serious motorcycles and has always loved the adrenalin thrills of driving high-powered machines. Mark’s wife Sharon bought a hotel in Suffolk in 2002 so they relocated after 25 years in London and Mark joined the Norfolk Police. This was quite a job change for Mark – especially the move from driving high-powered BMWs and Range Rovers to
“My 2003 S-Type Jaguar 3.0L is the top of the range model, with all of the toys,” said Mark. “It fills an emotional spot in my heart – and, to Sharon’s relief, it stopped me returning to high-powered motorcycles.” Mark has worked on his NZ-new, one previous owner Jag, including fitting new carpets throughout. It is now in showroom condition and, as you can see here, is a worthy and very beautiful evolution of the original Mk.2 Jaguar of the 1960s.
Smiles for miles!
