COLIN Cramphorn was a police officer with an outstanding career.

The former West Yorkshire Chief Constable died last week at the age of 50, losing his battle with prostate cancer.

But he left behind a legacy of policing at the very top - both in England and in Ireland.

Tributes paid to him included the phrases "consummate professional", "courageous" and "remarkable".

He arrived in West Yorkshire in 2002, having distinguished himself with the Royal Ulster Constabulary, which became the Police Service of Northern Ireland in November 2001.

He was educated at Strodes Grammar School, Egham, Surrey, before joining the Surrey Constabulary in 1975.

He served in uniform and CID posts before attending the 17th Special (Accelerated Promotion) Course at the Police Staff College, Bramshill, in 1979.

He subsequently attended King's College, London, from 1981 to 1984, where he read law and theology.

From 1987 to 1989 he was seconded to the Science and Technology Group of the Home Office in the Police Requirements Support Unit.

In 1990 he transferred to Greater Manchester Police, serving as a Sub-Divisional Commander in South Manchester, and from 1993 as the Divisional Commander for the City of Salford. In 1995 he was appointed an Assistant Chief Constable with West Mercia.

In 1997 he graduated from the Faculty of Business & Management of the University of Salford as Master of Science in Human Resource Management and from the Royal College of Defence Studies.

He has travelled widely in his professional capacity, visiting Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Italy, India, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Sierra Leone and the United States.

He was a member of the Association of Chief Police Officers and its vice-chairman of finance and resources.

He was also the lead Chief Constable in the Yorkshire and Humber Region for civil contingencies and regional resilience and was a member of the Regional Assembly.

In the Queen's New Year's Honours List of 2004, Mr Cramphorn was awarded the Queen's Police Medal and in the autumn of 2005 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Bradford University.

In January 2006, Mr Cramphorn was appointed to serve as a Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire and only last month, Huddersfield University awarded him a Doctorate in Civil Laws.

Mr Cramphorn was married with two sons.

He retired from the Force last month.