TRIBUTES have been paid to long-serving Gloucester police officer Alan Lawrence who has died aged 79.
Alan served for many years in Barton Street, Longford, Sandhurst, Twigworth and the city centre.
He passed away at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on June 12.
Alan grew up in County Durham and moved to Gloucestershire during his service with the RAF.
He signed up for a full 10 years and served with the RAF Regiment which included tours in Germany and Cyprus.
Alan became an instructor in weaponry and chemical, nuclear and biological warfare and put his weapons expertise to good use when he proposed to his wife Margaret on the rifle range in 1962.
The couple moved to Gloucester where Alan joined Gloucestershire Constabulary as a serving constable in the Gloucester Division.
His son Mark said: "He always put his family first above any career aspirations and despite passing all his policing exams he never once accepted any promotions within the constabulary."
During his time in the police force Alan took a leading role in the establishment of the Enquiry Unit.
Alan retired from the police force in 1989and spent the last 10 years of his working life as an environmental health officer at Cheltenham Borough Council.
Mark said: "He was always a very modest man and rarely felt the need to talk about himself or his exploits.
"It only came to light in recent months that whilst on active service in Cyprus in the late 1950s he was instrumental in the capture of what turned out to be a high ranking member of the EOKA terrorist organisation."
Alan and a friend were being driven back to barracks by taxi when they were held up by two men with guns who tried to hijack the car.
They overpowered the hijackers and managed to restrain them until help arrived and the two assailants were arrested.
The family knew nothing about this incident.
Alan's funeral took place at Gloucester Crematorium on June 26.
He leaves behind his wife Margaret, three children Mark, Paul and Helen and grandchildren Tom, Elliot, Phoebe, Kirsty, Vicky, Samantha and Megan.
