It is with regret that we have to inform you of the death of a retired Police Officer : Det. Supt. Brian Hunter Turner, 85 years, who died on the 20th January, 2020 at Darlington Memorial Hospital.(after a long illness)
He leaves a widow Doris and two married daughters, Deborah and Fiona and he was the loving grandfather of four grand children and one great grandchild.
Brian became a Police Cadet with Durham Constabulary in 1950, serving with the H.Q. Traffic Department, Aycliffe Village.
In 1951, he became the first serving police cadet in England to receive a Judges commendation at High Court Assize for his part in the arrest and conviction of two men who had attacked and robbed a nurse at Dryburn Hospital. He also received a Chief Constable’s Commendation for his actions.
He did National Service in the Royal Military Police and posted to the Suez Canal Zone , saw active service and selected for 615 Special Mobile Provost Section -Bodyguard & Escort to the General Officer Commanding British Armed Services in the Middle East discharged with “Exemplary Service”
He joined Durham County Constabulary in 1957 initially stationed at Jarrow; He later served at Stockton, then Crime Cars, Motor Patrols. And then C.I.D.
1965 promoted to Traffic Sergeant and then Detective Sergeant. Brian was promoted to Inspector (Staff Officer at Police College Dishforth until 1972), before returning to Darlington as D/Insp..
1978 promoted to Chief Inspector Traffic (South) and then DCI at Bishop Auckland and then Detective Superintendent in 1982 at Headquarters, Aykley Heads.
Brian retired from Durham Constabulary in 1985 and then joined The Gaming Board for Great Britain, becoming Gaming Inspector for Tyne to Humber area. In 1998., he received a commendation from the Chief Constable of Humberside Police for his work in connection with Gaming activities.
The funeral service will be taking place on the 11th February 2020 at 13.00pm at All Saints Church, Blackwell, Darlington.
Donations have been requested in lieu of flowers to Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.
