Tribute to well-loved beat bobby (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Tribute to well-loved beat bobby

Thomas SkillenTHE first police officer to walk the beat on the streets of West Swindon has died. Thomas Skillen died on May 23 at his retirement villa in Paphos, Cyprus, following a heart attack. He was 59.

This week his son Paul, 36, who followed his father into the force, paid tribute to him.

He said he was a generous dad and true gentleman.

"He might have only been 59, but he lived 100 years in that time," he said.

"He was very, very well loved and an extremely popular man.

"I was a bit rebellious at first, reluctant to join up.

"But when I followed his footsteps and joined the police in 1998 he was completely over the moon.

"He was about 12 feet tall at my passing out parade.

Mr Skillen was the community beat officer in Toothill when West Swindon was in its infancy.

He also worked in the town's custody unit as jailer.

He joined Wiltshire Police in 1978 but had previously served in the British Army from 1964 to 1977 in the 1 Battalion, Irish Guards.

It was a career which helped him to see the world and discover what would eventually be his future home, Cyprus.

In 1997 Mr Skillen retired as a police constable and a year later moved to Cyprus to enjoy his retirement.

Paul said: "He enjoyed collecting and selling antiques and going down to the beach.

"He loved the sun and the beach.

"But his whole life was dedicated to helping other people.

"He quite literally once gave the shirt off his back to someone in Cyprus.

"I remember that somebody told him that he liked his shirt, so my Dad took it off and gave it to him."

Mr Skillen also did some fundraising work while living in Cyprus, helping a local cancer charity.

"I think he touched the lives of many people," added Paul.

Mr Skillen leaves his son and his widow, Mavis.

A service to celebrate his life is planned at Kingsdown Crematorium at 2pm on Wednesday, June 8.

And people who attend are urged not to wear black.

After the service, his ashes will be flown back to Cyprus for a memorial service with friends who were unable to travel back to the UK for the funeral.

And his ashes will be scattered on his favourite beach.

Anthony Osborne