ARTHUR BURNSDecorated war hero and former police chief Arthur Burns died on February 19, 2008.During a 37-year career with the police Mr Burns of Duffield, Derbyshire, was given an OBE, Queen’s Police Medal and the Colonial Police Medal.He was also awarded a Distinguished Service Order while serving in WW2 and was the youngest in his regiment to receive the honour.His daughter Lynne Burns, who followed in her father’s footsteps and was Chief Inspector in the Derbyshire force, said she would remember him as "a hero, a successful police officer and a loving husband and father"."He was a very brave man," said Miss Burns of Ripley."He served his country during the war and succeeded to get to the top in the police force but the dad I remember the most is a loving family man and friend to many people."Mr Burns died at Bankwood Nursing Home in Duffield shortly after suffering a stroke.The 90-year-old had lived independently in a flat in Duffield until two weeks before his death.Mr Burns, who in later life enjoyed being part of the Duffield bridge club, spent 37 years with the police in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex but described his "best years" as when he was in charge of the CID in Derby.He joined the Derbyshire force in 1939 and rose rapidly from police constable to Detective Inspector.His career was interrupted when after just two years pounding the beat in Derby he was called away to join the 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington Regiment.He did his training in Scotland, where he acquired the nickname Robbie, and was made an officer.In 1944 he was awarded an "immediate" DSO medal for outstanding leadership and personal bravery in appalling conditions during a successful attack on Monte Cece in the Italian campaign.The citation described how, having seen his commanding officer killed, he took command of two units under intense enemy fire and led successful attacks "with courage and cheerfulness, inspiring his men with his personal courage and his leadership and initiative".Mr Burns returned to Derby after the war but left in 1956 when he was seconded to the Colonial Office for two years duty in Cyprus as Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of an anti-terrorist force.When he returned to England he was appointed Deputy Chief Constable of Norwich, then moved to Essex as Assistant Chief Constable, later becoming Deputy Chief and, finally, Chief Constable of Suffolk before retiring in 1976.He returned to Derby after the death of his wife Necia to multiple sclerosis, in 1982, who he had nursed."He and my mother had a wonderful marriage, my dad had nursed her and devoted his life to her," said Miss Burns.Former Kedleston Road School pupil Mr Burns was born to Lily and Thomas Burns in Darley Abbey, in 1917, who after a career on the railway kept St Helen’s Inn, now The Five Lamps, in Duffield Road.He was a keen sportsman and was a school swimming champion, played football for Derby Boys and rugby for Derby RFC before going on to study at Derby Technical College.
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