Retired police officer John Thompson, who has died aged 85, was invited to Sandringham and presented to the Queen about four years ago.

He was among a small group of retired Norfolk Constabulary officers who were thanked at a private reception for their many years of service.

Mr Thompson, who joined the former City of Norwich Police after the second world war, moved to Great Hockham, near Thetford, where he spent several years in the village before moving to King's Lynn.

In 1965, he moved to North Walsham where he remained as a beat officer until retiring after about 30 years.

In retirement, he also ran a taxi service in the town, offering a specialist limousine service for the oil and gas industry executives and for Anglia Television. He remained active in the retired police officers' association.

Mr Thompson, who was born in Birmingham, joined the Royal Navy and served for five years before joining the police service.

In 1974, he and his second wife, Kate, who was also a serving officer, were invited to represent the British section of the International Police Association (IPA) at a world festival at San Marino, Italy.

They were the only police officers from Britain to attend.

For many years, he was an active member of the IPA, which was a non-political organisation whose aims included strengthening police ties throughout the world. It then had a membership of about 100,000, which was financed entirely by serving or retired officers.

He was awarded a 20-year medal to mark his exceptional contribution to the IPA.

He leaves four sons, and 10 grandchildren, and is survived by his wife Kate.

A funeral service will be held at St Faith's Crematorium on Wednesday, August 7 at 11.45am.

Michael Pollitt