Ronald Arthur, a former deputy chief constable of Tayside, has died at the age of 79.
Mr Arthur, whose father was in the Royal Navy, grew up in Coventry and Dunfermline. His family were in the English city in the early years of the second world war and came through the Blitz.
They eventually moved to Perth after his father gained a post at the navy’s depot in Almondbank.
Mr Arthur followed his father into the senior service and saw action during the Korean War. He also served at Plymouth, Portsmouth and Liverpool.
He joined Perth City Police in 1956, and after a spell as a constable he was selected for the first accelerated promotion course at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan and was judged the top student.
His prize was a three-week study tour of law enforcement agencies in the United States.
He also gained a law degree from Dundee University.
Mr Arthur reached the rank of chief inspector in 1973 and the following year he became superintendent, commanding Perth division.
In 1975, with the formation of Tayside Police, he was made deputy to the officer in charge of traffic and took over that department in 1977 as chief superintendent.
Three years later he was appointed officer in charge of headquarters services and in 1984 was made deputy chief constable.
He was awarded the OBE in 1987 and the following year he retired.
Using his legal qualification he then joined Perth solicitor Robert Burns where he worked for five years in an office capacity.
In his later years he became involved with the Red Cross and other charities, and also with Letham St Mark’s Church in Perth.
Mr Arthur, whose wife Mary died five years ago, is survived by two daughters and grandchildren.