Benjamin Charles Firmin (Ben)

Retired Officer Ben Firmin died on 1st September 2008, after a short, dignified fight against renal cancer, aged 80 years. He retired as an Inspector in 1988, having served at Copenacre, Portsmouth (Training), Prestwick, Hereford and Sculthorpe.

His widow and daughter have fond memories of moving around the country with him and his work. They recall Ben returning home on his pushbike, in the rain, and having to dry out his heavy woollen uniform cape. Frequent house moves introduced a family motto - "If you can't find it, it's in a box". His tours of duty satisfied his love of geography, history and architecture, and he continued to explore after his retirement, even up in a balloon.

Ben was proud of his family history and had visited St Firmin's tomb in Amiens Cathedral, France while tracing his ancestry. It was because of this possible family connection that he chose to be buried at St Firmin's Church, Thurlby, Lincolnshire.