Worcester Park policeman seen out in style in motorcycle procession (From Surrey Comet)

Worcester Park policeman seen out in style in motorcycle procession

6:40am Wednesday 8th July 2009 in

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A retired police officer from Worcester Park funeral procession had a historic police car and a vintage police motorcycle last used at Princess Diana’s funeral.

Sergeant John Arle, 82, known as Alan, who used to serve in Epsom and Sutton, died last week, and one of the motorcycles used in his funeral cortege, a 21-year-old BMW police bike last used at Princess Diana’s funeral, was loaned along with a vintage Rover police car by the Metropolitan Police Historical Museum, especially for the occasion.

His funeral procession went through Central Road, in Worcester Park, where it slowed down briefly as it went past the British Legion building so friends could pay their respect. It was then slowly led by the undertaker until Worcester Park.

Paul Foster, who is married to Sgt Arle’s cousin, said: “He was a person who always saw the funny side of things. He would turn everything into a joke and make people laugh wherever he went.

“He lost a lot of his friends in the last few years and he used to say all his friends were dying, which was quite sad.

“But he knew a lot of people from many different places and one of his memorial messages said ‘remembering a fine gentleman from an old school of courtesy’.”

After serving in the RAF from 1945 until 1948, Sgt Arle joined the Metropolitan Police and during his career, was based in London, Chelsea, Wimbledon, Banstead, Epsom and Sutton. He served the force for 22 years.

According to Mr Foster, 60 to 70 people attended Sgt Arle’s funeral, among them old friends from the RAF times and from the years he served as a police officer.

The sergeant and his wife Alma, 72, had been living in Worcester Park for 35 years. The couple had no children.

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