THE chief constable of Thames Valley Police was a special guest at a former officer’s 100th birthday celebration this month.

Holtspur resident Ronald Edwards marked his 100th birthday on Friday, August 6, with a garden party at a friend’s house in Maidenhead.

Among the guests at the special celebration was Thames Valley Police chief constable John Campbell.

Ronald was born in Devon and lived his early years in the county. Joining the territorial army as a young man, he then went on to join the Devonshire Regiment when World War Two broke out.

Ron then volunteered in 1944 to join the Palestine Police and spent the following four years serving in the country.

On his return to England, he joined the Buckinghamshire Constabulary and served as a police constable in the Thames Valley Police at Marlow and Beaconsfield, ending his 32-year career at Iver in 1980.

He has lived in Holtspur for over 55 years and has drawn his police pension for 41 years – something he is very proud of.

When asked what he puts his long life down to, Ron’s reply was “to always go to bed with a clear conscience”.