A night of election duty had a happy outcome for a long-serving Norfolk police officer, Colin Parker, who has died aged 80.

In his career as a detective, he received a total of 10 commendations from magistrates, the chief constable and the recorder at Norwich City Quarter Sessions.

He retired as chief inspector at King's Lynn after 30 years' service in September 1980 but actually completed more than 40 years with Norfolk Police. He had continued in a civilian capacity, specialising in administration for a further 12 years.

Colin Eric Parker, who was a Norfolk man, was born on November 14, 1930. After national service in the Royal Navy, he joined Norfolk Constabulary and was posted to North Walsham.

As a young bobby, he met a clerk working for the then North Walsham Urban District Council on an election night. He married Jean Long, of Worstead, in September 1953 and they set up home at Wymondham.

In his career, he was based at Cromer and Kelling, and also served as beat officer at Blakeney and Pulham Market before becoming a detective constable at Wymondham in 1962 and then at Attle-borough a year later. He was then promoted to detective sergeant and transferred to North Walsham, where he remained until 1968 when he became an inspector at Lynn. He was promoted to chief inspector in 1975.

A funeral service will be held at Mintlyn Crematorium, King's Lynn,on Friday, January 7 at 10am.