Aged: 78
Funeral details: Funeral Wednesday 27th August 2025, 11.00, St Matthew's Church, Highfield, Billinge Road, Wigan WN3 6BL.
Member of Wigan Branch.
Obituary Year: 2025
Roy TAYLOR
Date of Death: 5th August 2025
Aged: 84
Funeral details: Funeral Tuesday 26th August 2025, 15.00, Blackley Crematorium, Victoria Avenue, Manchester M9 8PJ.
Member of Rochdale Branch.
Roy died on 5th August 2025, aged 84. He had been diagnosed with dementia and, after a fall, was taken to hospital where he died.
Jonathan Stuart FOWLES
Date of Death: 4th August 2025
Aged: 82
Funeral details: Funeral Friday 5th September 2025, Middleton Crematorium, Boarshaw Road, Middleton, Manchester M24 2NW.
Formerly of Lancashire Constabulary and GMP, serving initially on the old Task Force as collar number 1634, and retiring on 6th August 1993.
John died on Monday 4th August 2025 at the age of 82.
He initially joined Lancashire Constabulary and transferred into GMP on amalgamation, where he served initially on the old Task Force. His old collar number was 1634. John retired on 6th August 1993.
Ronald “Harry” LAURENCE
Date of Death: August 2025
Aged: 93
Funeral details: Funeral Friday 12th September 2025, Stafford Crematorium. No floral tributes by request. Arrangements by Field Funeral Services, 37a High Street, Tean, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4DY.
Joined the police in 1956, retiring as Chief Superintendent in 1986. Best remembered for his time in charge of the Mounted Branch.
Harry was born on 3rd March 1932 in Moss Side, Manchester, and was known to everyone as Harry.
He did his National Service in the Army from 1950 to 1952, then joined the police in 1956, retiring as Chief Superintendent in 1986. He later moved to Staffordshire with his wife, Jean.
He always said the highlight of his career was being in charge of the Mounted Branch, and the opportunity it gave him to ride some of the magnificent horses.
Alexander STRACHAN
Date of Death: 6th July 2025
Aged: 86
Funeral details: Funeral Thursday 31st July, 13.00, Stockport Crematorium (Rowan Chapel), SK2 6LS.
Branch member.
Robert “Bob” MILLER
Date of Death: 26th June 2025
Aged: 82
Member of Wigan Branch. Joined Lancashire Police in 1963 as PC 1944 and came to GMP on amalgamation as a dog handler, retiring in 1993 as dock officer at the old Wigan courts.
Robert — Bob — Miller, or probably better known as Dusty, died on 26th June 2025 at the age of 82.
He joined Lancashire Police in 1963 as PC 1944, then as part of the amalgamation came to GMP as a dog handler, PC 3943. He served most of his police career as a dog handler, with his dogs Argos, Jason and his last dog Bruno, covering the Wigan and Leigh division.
After leaving the dogs due to health issues he spent time at Ashton-in-Makerfield station on the front desk, and a brief stint in communications, retiring in 1993 as dock officer at the old Wigan courts on Crawford Street. He went on to work at both Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Courts until retiring again at 70.
Gerard (‘Ged’) DARGAN
Date of Death: 25th June 2025
Aged: 85
Funeral details: Funeral Friday 25th July, 1345, Stockport Crematorium (Rowan Chapel), SK2 6LS, then at Dog and Partridge, SK2 7AN.
Formerly of Stockport, Cheshire and GMP. Motorcyclist in Stockport, later JTU, retiring as Sergeant from 'D' Division. Member of Altrincham Branch.
Derek ANKERS
Date of Death: 20th June 2025
Aged: 91
Formerly of Cheshire and GMP, retiring as Chief Superintendent 'Y'. Member of Altrincham Branch.
Michael Ranleigh PARR
Date of Death: 24th May 2025
Aged: 87
Formerly of Manchester and GMP, working in Traffic, Training and Community Relations. Holder of British Empire Medal.