Daughter pays tribute to well-loved policeman ahead of memorial

Officer Brian Woodcock, 61, who was stationed in Shedfield, near Wickham for 22 years, died on September 10.

His daughter Kate has paid tribute to him, calling Brian a ‘wonderful father’ and a ‘cheeky’ but ‘respected’ cop.

He died in the Scottish Highlands where he moved to retire in 2005 and Kate is now holding a memorial service for her father at St John the Baptist Church in Shedfield today.

She said: ‘He was one of the most determined men I knew.

‘You would always be able to rely on him as he was a wonderful father but also a very respected cop.

‘He had a bit of a cheeky side to him and when I was growing up, I’d see him interact with the local troublemakers.

‘He would always put them on the straight and narrow and you know over the years I’ve run into those same people who have said to me that if it wasn’t for him, they might not have got the message.

‘I think it just shows what a great policeman he was as the people of Shedfield always say great things about him.’

Brian was born in St Andrews but grew up in Hilsea where he met his wife Cathy. He was stationed in Felixstowe, Suffolk and lived in Devon and Norwich before moving back to Hampshire.

Kate added: ‘From what I understand, Brian was one of Hampshire’s last local bobbies, which were officers who lived in traditional police houses in towns and villages.’

During his years in south Hampshire, Brian, who chose a police motorbike as his force vehicle, looked after Shedfield, Bishop’s Waltham and Wickham.

The memorial service is set to take place at the church from 3pm today.