TRIBUTES have been paid to a former senior Teignbridge police officer who has died at the age of 94.

Peter Wheeler was a superintendent based at Newton Abbot police station in charge of Teignbridge until 1975.

He retired from the police in 1977 having spent the last two years of his 30-year career investigating complaints against the police.

He was then employed as head of administration at Seale-Hayne Agricultural College for 10 years until his retirement.

Off duty, he was a keen and talented bowler who was at the helm of the campaign to establish an indoor bowls centre for Teignbridge and served as president of Devon County Bowls Association among a raft of other roles in the sport.

His widow Heather described him as a ‘marvellous man’, a good husband and father.

She said: ‘Whatever he did, he put in 100 per cent and was very well respected.’

Born in Buckland-in-the-Moor, he attended Ashburton School before joining the RAF at the outbreak of the Second World War.

During his service with the RAF he met his first wife and the couple moved to Liverpool.

It was here he joined the police force.

His final report from police college in 1962 said: ‘Sergeant Wheeler is a very capable officer of lively and buoyant temperament.

‘He has plenty of common sense and his firm, quiet and friendly manner compels both liking and respect.

‘Sgt Wheeler is an able and efficient officer of good professional quality, very well fitted for advancement.’

Moving back to his home county of Devon after 20 years serving as an officer in Liverpool, he transferred to Plymouth City Police in 1966 and continued to serve when the force amalgamated in 1967.

He moved to Newton Abbot in 1969 where he acted as superintendent until 1975.

In the early 1970s, he was responsible for putting a team of police bell ringers together who were trained to ring the bells at Newton Abbot clock tower.

On his retirement in 1977, the then chief constable described his conduct as ‘exemplary’.

The last two years had been spent working in the investigation of complaints, a role which required a ‘particular brand of expertise’.

His bowling career began back in 1960 when he was a member of the Police Championship Crown Green Bowls team.

He held a long list of roles in the county bowls world.

He was captain of Newton Abbot Bowls Club from 1980 to 1982.

For 10 years from 1980 to 1990, he was involved with creation of the Teignbridge Indoor Bowls Centre, spearheading the campaign to establish the centre which opened in 1990 at a cost of £1.2 million.

In 1987, he created the Over-55s’ Triples League which began in Teignbridge and then expanded into Torbay.

He was elected president of Devon County Bowls Association in 1992 and went on to become a life member of the Devon County Outdoor Bowls Association, Newton Abbot Bowls Club and Devon County Indoor Bowls Association and a member of the county executive committee.

His eldest son Brian died three years ago.

His children, Angela Yelf and Philip, live locally and he had six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He died in Torbay Hospital on Boxing Day. His funeral will take place on Friday, January 13 at Torquay Crematorium at 2pm.