Charlie bows out after 27 years' service

The father-of-three from Coleraine called it a day after an unblemished career with the police spanning three decades during which he never missed a single day of work.

The towering rugby-loving cop - a familiar face around the streets of Ballymoney - walked out through the gates of the Charlotte Street station for the last time last month.

Speaking to the Times, Charlie (49) said he would miss all those he worked with on a daily basis in the "fantastic" town, but said he was looking forward to beginning a new chapter in his life.

"Whenever I left school all I wanted to do was to join the police," said Charlie.

"People always said to me growing up that I had the height for the police and maybe that planted the seed early on and the notion grew on me.

"But when I left school my mother wasn't keen on the idea of me joining the police so I took up a job as a van driver at Coleraine Hospital.

"I absolutely loved it and loved the people I was working with and loved playing rugby for Coleraine but I always harboured the ambition to join the police.

"After five years I finally thought it was time for a change and my boss at the hospital encouraged me to do so. But it wasn't an easy decision, as I said I loved everything about the job."

Charlie joined what was then the Royal Ulster Constabulary at the age of 22 in July 1983, embarking on his initial training in Enniskillen prior to his first post at Holywood.

He remained in the Belfast area until 1987, living in Antrim Road Station.

Charlie reflects on those early days as being among the highlights of his distinguished career.

During that time he played for, and later captained, the RUC's First XV rugby side, touring with the team throughout the UK and as far afield as Bermuda.

Charlie also went on to play rugby for the Police Athletic Association representative team, lining up alongside Ulster and Ireland players to play in the British Police Championships.

"I loved rugby and it was a dream come true to line up alongside boys of that calibre, a real pleasure," he said.

In June 1987 he transferred to Ballymena and two years later to Londonderry, patrolling in some of the city's most volatile areas as the Troubles raged across the Province.

He remained for almost 14 years, working in areas such as Shantallow, Strand Road and the Waterside - five years of which he spent as Sergeant within the Mobile Support Unit, now known as the Tactical Support Group, who were at the coalface in times of significant disorder.

Charlie became a Neighbourhood Sergeant in 1999 and remained in Derry until 2002 - his last day spent overseeing the Apprentice Boys' annual parade through the Maiden City.

With a move to Ballymoney came another position, Section Sergeant, and a year later Charlie was appointed Acting Inspector.

In June 2004 Charlie was promoted to Inspector. Charlie was given responsibility for the rural areas of the borough while his colleague and close friend Inspector Noel Mitchell took charge of the urban areas.

"I have very happy memories from my career," said Charlie.

"I am eternally grateful to the police for everything they have given me though I suppose I too gave them a lot, the best years of my life in fact.

"There is no doubt that following the initial ceasefire in 1994 there were dramatic changes but there were still a lot of problems in areas such as Derry.

"I lost a few colleagues on the way, including close friends.

"One of the darkest periods personally was within the space of three weeks when I lost two close friends, one due to a stolen vehicle on Victoria Road in Londonderry and the other at Spencer Road in the city who was killed by a horizontal mortar. Those were the bad days.

"When the RUC became the PSNI in 2001, the uniform changed but we were still doing the job of police officers and we got on with it."

Despite the constant threat posed to himself and his fellow officers, combined with the stress of the job Charlie never missed one day's work. His attendance record is made even more remarkable given he was never absent from his previous job either.

Asked about his perfect attendance, Charlie said it was all down to the work ethic instilled in him by his parents.

He said: "I was fortunate that I always felt fit to go to work.

"There were maybe times I shouldn't have been there but I was always brought up that way.

"I am proud that in 32 years of my working life I never missed a day.

"But I was always happy to be able to go to work every day."

Charlie officially handed in his badge in April but if he thought he was due some well-earned down time, he has quickly realised he was mistaken. "I've had plenty of jobs to do around the house which I'd been putting off until my retirement," he laughed.

"But seriously, I have enjoyed relaxing as past few weeks but before long I will look to finding work elsewhere."

To mark his departure over 60 former colleagues as well as close friends and family threw a leaving do in his honour at the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine last week.

Numerous tributes were paid to the hugely popular out-going Inspector who was presented with a painting of Ballintoy Harbour to mark the occasion.

"It was a wonderful night and very humbling," said Charlie.

"It's only when you are at your retirement do the finality of the whole thing hits you and I was quite emotional. I'm greatly indebted to all those who came along, it was very touching."

And Charlie has promised his former colleagues and friends in Ballymoney that they haven't seen the back of him for good.

"I'm a Coleraine man born and bred so I am very familiar with this area," he said.

"Ballymoney is a fantastic town to work in.

"While other towns have changed over the years Ballymoney has retained its market town image and the people are of that mindset and are very easy to get along with and work with. It's a lovely place.

"Another big plus was the people I worked with in Ballymoney.

"Many had spent time elsewhere and were streetwise and very experienced. They were very, very capable of dealing with any situation.

"In particular Noel Mitchell who was my Inspector in the Maiden City.

"From then on we remained very, very close colleagues and very, very close friends. He has always been very trustworthy and a great colleague.

"Another man to single out is the Area Commander Chief Inspector John Magill who has been a breath of fresh air to Ballymoney and an absolute gentleman.

"I've had a great working relationship with everyone in Ballymoney - the council, councillors, the District Policing Partnership and the Press. I'll miss the town but I won't be a stranger."