A well-known and much respected member of the community, Mr. Albert McCaffrey, late of Enniskillen, a retired Chief Superintendent, who served in the RUC from 1951 to 1986, passed away peacefully at Altnagevlin Area Hospital, Londonderry, on May 11, aged 82.

A well-known and much respected member of the community, Mr. Albert McCaffrey, late of Enniskillen, a retired Chief Superintendent, who served in the RUC from 1951 to 1986, passed away peacefully at Altnagevlin Area Hospital, Londonderry, on May 11, aged 82.

Fermanagh was very much his home for a large part of his life for Mr. McCaffrey, who on his retirement was awarded the MBE. He had also been a JP.

Born in Belfast on July 7, 1932, he was the youngest of four children of William and Elizabeth McCaffrey, both of whom died when he was quite young. During the war years, he was evacuated to stay with his aunt in Omagh, a schoolteacher who encouraged him in his academic work. He won a scholarship to Omagh Academy, but was unable to take it up due to family circumstances.

Bertie, as he was known to almost everyone, joined the RUC in 1951, and was first stationed in Draperstown. He was chosen as part of the RUC delegation to take part in the review parade after the Coronation in 1953. He later moved to Victoria Station in Londonderry, which proved a momentous move, because it was there that he met his future wife, Dorothy Sterritt.

They were married in September 1957 in Great James’ Street Presbyterian Church in the city. For both of them, it was the start of a long and happy marriage which provided a stable and loving base for their family life.

Prior to his marriage, Bertie had been promoted to sergeant in 1956; he was the youngest sergeant in the force at the time. His first station in Fermanagh was as relief sergeant in Lisnaskea, and then he was sent to Tullyhommon near Pettigo shortly before his marriage. This started a long association with the county, and it was while in Tullyhommon that he developed a love of shooting and fishing, which endured into his retirement.

From Tullyhommon, he went to the Police Training Depot in Enniskillen as an instructor and remained there until he was promoted and then transferred to Bessbrook in January 1968. During that time, he was selected to deliver a lecture during a visit by the Queen Mother in the early 1960s.

After the outbreak of the Troubles, he was transferred to Dungannon in September 1969, first as an Inspector and then Chief Inspector. He remained there until September 1974, when he was moved back to Fermanagh on promotion to the rank of Superintendent.

After a couple of years in the local division in the mid 1970s, Mr. McCaffrey was appointed as Commandant of the Police Training Centre in Enniskillen. He introduced a number of modernising changes to the training, and welcomed Margaret Thatcher to the training centre, amongst others.

He also took up running in the late 1970s. Along with some colleagues, he ran from Belleek to Enniskillen to raise money for charity. The Belfast marathon followed, along with the Mourne wall walk.

When he subsequently moved to the Community Relations Branch, Bertie became very enthusiastic about the range of work in that branch, especially the Juvenile Liaison programme. He finished his police career in Force Control and Information, where his diplomatic skills came to the fore.

On his retirement in 1986, he was awarded an MBE. Moving into retirement, he became Treasurer of Riding for the Disabled for the Northern Ireland region, a post he held for nine years.

Perhaps the greatest challenge came in 1987, when he was asked to serve as secretary to the Enniskillen Appeal Fund following the Remembrance Day bombing. The distress involved to so many (including to Mr. McCaffrey and his wife who themselves lost good friends in the bombing) was close to his heart.

He also had time in retirement to do more reading and loved the opportunity to get more involved in church life. His faith deepened and he was elected as an elder in Enniskillen Presbyterian Church.

For Bertie, family was at the heart of his life. In Dorothy, he found a wife who supported him through many difficult professional challenges, always with humour and love; they made a great team.

His funeral service at Enniskillen Presbyterian Church on May 13, 2015, was conducted by the Rev. David Cupples. Bertie’s daughter Elizabeth delivered a tribute to him. Burial took place at Cross Cemetery, Enniskillen.

Bertie is survived by his wife, Dorothy, children Elizabeth, John and Cathy, daughter-in-law Anna, son-in-law Ted, grandchildren Chris and Michael and great-grandchildren, Emma, Daniel and Amy.

The funeral arrangements were by Funeral Directors, Austen Stinson, W.T. Morrison, Darling Street, Enniskillen. Donations in lieu of flowers, if desired, are to The Cardiac Department, Altnagelvin Hospital, c/o W. T. Morrison.