PC on patrol

Today I went to Richard's funeral. I had known him for almost 20 years, first in the walking group and in later years in the bowling group.

He was a policeman in the days when there were local bobbies - the photo is of him in the 1960s.  I knew that he was a fundraiser for charities local, national and international but found out so much more at the funeral.

As a policeman he was really well loved.  He chatted to and reasoned with unruly youths instead of booking them and them having a criminal record.  He paid the fines of people that couldn't afford to pay so that they wouldn't go to prison and allowed them to pay it back when they had the money. He drove people to court when it moved to Shrewsbury and they didn't have transport.

He helped the travelling community - even reading bedtime stories to the children.  He was the only non traveller to be invited to a prominent traveller's funeral. 

There were many more examples of his sporting achievements (he was a linesman in the FA Vase one year), his good works and community spirit - a remarkable man that will be greatly missed.