TROWBRIDGE copper Peter Lewis Robins died at Trowbridge Oaks Nursing Home on April 23, aged 82.

Mr Robins was born on November 23, 1933 in Ilfracombe, Devon, to parents Ivy and Leslie Robins, where he spent his childhood.

When he left school, he became an apprentice in the printing trade before he joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps for national service in 1954 where he rose through the ranks and became Sergeant before returning to civilian life in Ilfracombe in 1956.

Having met as teenagers some years before, Mr Robins married his wife Margaret in 1955, and had two sons, Garry and Mark, who both joined the Royal Navy and went on to serve full-term careers. During their time in the Navy, the family had proud moments such as Garry’s service in the Falklands campaign and receiving a bravery award for service in the First Gulf War, and a visit to Buckingham Palace to witness Mark receiving his MBE.

It was in 1962 that Mr Robins joined Wiltshire Police, moving to Swindon a year later where the family stayed for two years.

It was in 1965 that the Robins family moved to Lacock where Mr Robins enjoyed his time as the village bobby, patrolling the parish on his bicycle until 1969, when he was transferred to Trowbridge.

He continued in the force for a further 19 years as a community policeman, a role that earned him the Trowbridge Civic Award in 1986 for service to the community.

Over the years, Mr Robins was involved in many and varied activities such as road safety, schools liaison, lorry driver of the year and school governor up until his retirement from the force in 1987. He was known for many years as the Trowbridge Copper until he retired in 1987.

After a few part-time jobs, Mr Robins took up full-time employment, this time as youth training manager for Devizes-based Wiltshire Transport Training Ltd.

In 1995, Mr and Mrs Robins returned to their roots in North Devon where he started as district agent for SSAFA, a member of the RNLI Guild and chairman of the Museum Trustees.

While still in Ilfracombe, Mr Robins was also asked by the local town crier to help with the organisation of the town criers’ competition during Victorian Week, which he went on to do. This became a three-day event with criers from abroad as well as the country.

He was already a friend of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers, being proposed by Trowbridge’s Trevor Heeks. Mr Robins assisted in competitions around the West Country and, during the time spent in Ilfracombe, he was given the Pride of Ilfracombe award and long-service Silver award from SSAFA.

The couple returned to Trowbridge in 2009 to be nearer to family. Once again he helped in various competitions and was asked by Mr Heeks to assist with the national competition, which was held in the park during Magna Carta weekend, an event which Mr Robins was unable to attend due to deteriorating health.

Mr Robins is survived by his wife Margaret, sons Garry and Mark, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Mr Robins’ funeral was held on May 9 and donations were made to SSAFA and Dorothy House Hospice