A Wiltshire woman will pay tribute to her uncle, a former police officer, by taking on a major challenge after his death.
Juliet Fooks, a Winterbourne Monkton resident, will tackle the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race this year to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK in memory of her uncle John Holloway.
John, a former officer in the Midhurst Police force, died in September 2023 following a late diagnosis of the disease.
Ms Fooks has since paid tribute to her uncle, who she described as a “true gentleman” who would leave the family “crying with laughter” at any event.
She added: “My earliest memory of Uncle John was standing in my Grandmother's kitchen, with this larger-than-life character towering over me, wearing his uniform and looking exceedingly scary.
“He will always be remembered for his kindness and compassion and lived life to the full, with always a project on the go, a man for all seasons.
“A dying breed and a true gentleman in every sense of the word… he tackled ill health with the same spirit and sense of humour he had faced in everything in his life.
“Never one to complain, he was stoic until the end, surrounded by those he loved, John was a true light in this world and his family in different ways are the beneficiaries of his life well lived.”
John served in the navy before joining the police, where he was awarded with the Humanitarian Society Award for saving life.
He later worked in the Marine Police at Chichester Harbour.
Ms Fooks added that John maintained his sense of humour despite the difficulties of his job.
She said: “Though this gentle giant witnessed the very worst of tragedy, evil, and deprivation in his work, he always maintained his unique attitude of balanced understanding, empathy, consideration and generosity of spirit.
“His very sharp and clever wit could bring a light touch to any situation and he always managed to find a common ground with everyone he met and immediately would make people feel at ease - even those he was arresting.”
The Wiltshire native decided the best way to honour her uncle would be to tackle the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race, because of his love of competitive exercise.
She will be setting off on the 125-mile challenge with her racing partner Peter Clarke on Saturday, March 30.
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