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Inverness’s best-known ‘special’ dies aged 79

Special Cop Alan Melville with the Queen.
Special Cop Alan Melville with the Queen.

Well-known Inverness businessman and volunteer police officer has died aged 79.

Alan Melville – whose first name was actually William – was a well-known face in Inverness for two reasons.

For decades, he was a “special” in the city, promoted to the rank of superintendent before his retirement in 2012 and received a gong from the Queen.

And in his “spare” time, he ran his shoe shop in the then town centre – a visit to Melville’s for new school shoes was a rite of passage for most local children.

He was a family man, with three sons, and well-respected and liked among both the business and police communities in the north.

David Conner, Branch secretary of the Retired Police Officers Association Scotland (RPOAS), paid tribute: “Alan proudly achieved almost 60 years of dedicated volunteering involvement with the police service and willingly provided valued advice, assistance and guidance to a great many regular officers, special constables and police staff along the way.”

Mr Melville always wanted to be a police officer, but was not tall enough to join the regular ranks.

But he became a Special Constable in the Inverness-shire Constabulary in September 1961.

Mr Melville spent many of his Friday and Saturday evenings on duty as a call-taker and dispatcher in the control room.

In 1995, he was awarded an MBE from the Queen in recognition of his service to the force.

When he reached the official retirement age for a special, he was promoted to the rank of superintendent so he could continue his volunteering work.

Bruce Turnbull said: “I had the pleasure of working alongside Alan in the force control room for several years. He was an absolute gentleman and the one constant in an ever-changing environment.

“His local knowledge was second to none and this together with his calm approach, reliability and good humour were sorely missed when he ‘retired ‘.”

Mr Melville died on Tuesday in Raigmore Hospital. He is survived by his wife Margaret and their three sons and families.