Alan Burton

Mr Burton, who was also involved in Devizes Light Operatic Society and The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, died peacefully at Anzac House, Devizes, on March 10, aged 85. He had dementia for the past ten years.

Mr Burton was proud to have served in three uniforms during his life. He was born and brought up in the mining village of Altofts near Normanton in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Both his father and elder brother worked at the colliery and Mr Burton was expected to follow them but he didn’t want to.

He left school at 14 and started work as a cleaner on the railways and moved to be with his brother who had got a job as a train driver in Skipton. Mr Burton then got a job as a fireman on the LMS Railway.

In 1947 he was called up for hostilities only and joined the Royal Navy. He served on the destroyer HMS Cadiz and his duties included painting the ship. He also met his future wife, Jeanne.

After the Navy he returned to the railways but decided to relocate to Wiltshire where Jeanne lived and he joined Wiltshire Constabulary in 1950.

He started his career in Swindon and also served in Hullavington, Corsham, Chippenham and Devizes. He gained the nickname of Biff when he dealt with an aggravating drunk in Swindon and in those days it wasn’t uncommon for a policeman to give someone a clip round the ear.

He rose to the rank of Inspector and was in charge of a new road safety department and, after a spell in charge of the centralised traffic department at county headquarters, traffic was divisionalised and he took charge of the Chippenham division which was based at Devizes Police Station.

Mr Burton was a prominent bowler, playing in championship games with both Devizes and the county police bowling club. On one occasion, in Salisbury, in an open singles tournament, he not only became the champion but beat the world champion, David Bryant.

When he retired from the police in 1986 he was the longest serving police officer in the county. He then took a civilian job with the force as an abnormal loads officer until retiring in 1992. He lived in Blounts Court, Potterne, and his love for walking meant he would often walk from his home to his office in Devizes.

He was very proud to be a policeman and always liked to be smartly turned out. He enjoyed spending time with people and had a thirst for learning.

He was a parish councillor for a number of years and played skittles for the Oddfellows team at the George and Dragon pub, Potterne.

He loved to entertain and he performed with Devizes Light Operatic Society and at the Wharf Theatre. He was involved in the move of the theatre to its present canalside location and got seats from a former cinema in Bath and installed them at The Wharf.

His love for the outdoors led to him becoming a leader with a walking holiday operator and he met his second wife, Rosemary, on holiday and they were married in 1990.

He is survived by Rosemary, daughters Lorraine and Sandra, and grandchildren Lewis, Rachel. Lauren, Bryony, Rowena and Olivia.

His funeral service is on Wednesday at St Mary’s Church, Potterne, at 1.15pm. His family have asked for donations in his memory to go to Alzheimer’s Support, Devizes.