Tributes paid to former Shropshire policeman

Selwyn Wright passed away in Drobak after a struggle with cancer.

His wish was to be cremated in Shrewsbury, where he had spent most of his life, and his family arranged for his body to be flown back to Britain.

His son, Steve Wright, said his father's funeral will be held tomorrow at Emstrey Crematorium at 2.30pm.

Mr Wright was born in Wrexham in April 1945, the third eldest of seven children. He joined Shropshire Constabulary in 1965.

Mr Wright said his father had had a very varied life within the force.

"Initially he was on uniform duties in Shrewsbury, spent some time with the regional crime squad in the West Midlands, rural duties on a country beat around the Longnor area, before moving to CID in the mid Seventies.

"A short time with the fraud squad followed before he joined Special Branch from 1977 until his retirement from the West Mercia force in 1992. He was a qualified Royalty and VIP escort driver, having escorted Princess Anne and Princess Diana on various trips around the local area. He was also involved with the investiture of Prince Charles at Caernarfon Castle in 1969."

Mr Wright's marriage to Jane took place in Newport in 1968. His sons Steve and Mick were born in 1973 and 1978 respectively.

Steve Wright said: "The marriage ended in the late 1980s and he married his second wife, Norwegian Marit Helen, in 1992. He moved to Norway and became step-father to Gunnar and the late Aleksander."

After moving to Norway, Mr Wright set up his own successful company supplying anti-terrorist security systems to airports around Europe.

In his spare time he was a keen squash player. Most of his playing days were spent at Kingsland Squash club in Shrewsbury where he introduced his two sons to the game from a young age.

He died on 21 March and is survived by his wife Marit Helen, sons Stephen and Michael, daughters-in-law Lynn and Kirsty, granddaughters Rebecca and Sophie, stepson Gunnar and a number of siblings and nieces and nephews.