Former Tayside Police Depute Chief Constable Thomas Lumsden MBE

Former Tayside Police Depute Chief Constable and Angus Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Thomas Lumsden has died at his Arbroath home, aged 91.

Born in Workington, Cumbria, as one of a family of five brothers and one sister, he attended Cockermouth Grammar School where he was a keen sportsman and played rugby union for the North of England.

Mr Lumsden then served in the RAF for five years where he was a recruit centre inspector in small arms, based in Blackpool, Great Yarmouth and then Arbroath, where he met his beloved wife, Flo, who worked in the NAAFI.

They married in 1944, two years before Mr Lumsden joined the then Angus Constabulary, serving in Carnoustie.

In 1950, Mr Lumsden transferred to Forfar headquarters to take over clerical and administrative duties.

Promotion to the rank of Sergeant in 1954 saw him take responsibility for recruiting and training. Mr Lumsden was then promoted to Inspector in 1958 and in 1964 became a Superintendent and Depute Chief Constable.

He was later made Chief Superintendent and was awarded the MBE in 1969. He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen and her husband Paul, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.