A FELIXSTOWE family today led tributes to a former chief inspector of Suffolk police who has died after a long battle with cancer.Alan Cornish died in Ipswich hospital on March 14 after a prolonged fight against cancer of the oesophagus.

A FELIXSTOWE family today led tributes to a former chief inspector of Suffolk police who has died after a long battle with cancer.

Alan Cornish died in Ipswich hospital on March 14 after a prolonged fight against cancer of the oesophagus. He was 85.

The well-known former policeman, of Gleneagles Close, was a much loved husband, father and grandfather and an honorary life member of Felixstowe golf club.

Today his widow Iris, 86, paid tribute to a husband who was also a “great friend”.

The couple were married for 58 years and she said: “We were always great friends. We had a very close relationship and friendship, we never stopped talking.

“When he was diagnosed we just couldn't believe it. He was playing bridge, he was playing golf, he was doing all the things he'd always done.”

Mr Cornish, who would have celebrated his 86th birthday today was born in Colchester but spent his early years in Stowmarket. He served in the military police in the Second World War and was posted to North Africa and Italy.

On his return to Suffolk he joined what was then East Suffolk Police in 1946 and moved up the ranks in postings which included Lowestoft, Kettleburgh, Debenham, Leiston, Eye and Ipswich.

He was made an inspector in about 1963 and when the three police forces of east Suffolk, west Suffolk and Ipswich merged to form Suffolk Constabulary he was made a Chief Inspector.

In 1967 he moved to Felixstowe where he was put in charge of the Felixstowe sub division for the last 10 years of his service.

In total he was a policeman for 30 years.

Mrs Cornish, who was only the second female police officer in east Suffolk, said: “He was a very happy man in his job. He was a very efficient man and very well respected.

“He took everything in his stride. He was recognised quite early as somebody who was going to make it.

“He was a very hard-working man.”

As well as painting and gardening, golf was a great hobby of Mr Cornish's and after his retirement he became part-time secretary of Felixstowe golf club and later took up the post of honorary treasurer. He was rewarded for his contribution to the club by being made an honorary life member.

Mr Cornish leaves Iris, his sons, Paul and Andrew, daughter-in-law Mary and grandchildren James, 26, and Lucy, 25.