A WAR veteran who went on to serve three decades with North Yorkshire Police before retiring as Chief Inspector at Richmond has died aged 95.

Ronald Cussons was born in Helmsley in 1926, the youngest of eight siblings.

He left school at 15 to join Pearsons solicitors in Helmsley as a clerk but volunteered for military service three years later in 1944 when he was just 18.

During his military career, Mr Cussons was part of the 6th Airborne Division, where he trained for glider landing operations and fought in the largest airborne operation in history, Operation Varsity on March 24, 1945.

This attack established a bridgehead across the Rhine into Germany and more than 1,300 gliders were deployed.

Battle casualties were high at about 40 per cent but Mr Cussons made it through unharmed.

He then fought 350 miles across northern Germany on foot to the Baltic coast, where his battalion met up with Russian troops at Wismar, and spent VE Day there in May 1945.

The Japanese surrender meant that he avoided being sent to fight in the Far East and after peace-keeping in Palestine, Mr Cussons left the Army in 1948.

He returned to Pearsons as a trainee solicitor but soon decided to join the then North Riding Police force.

He married his sweetheart Betty in 1951 and started his police service as a constable patrolling the streets of Whitby before the couple moved to Northallerton where their only child Stephen was born.

 

Ronald Cussons pictured with his wife Betty in 1965

Ronald Cussons pictured with his wife Betty in 1965

 

In 1958, Mr Cussons spent seven years as a Middleham beat bobby, patrolling the whole Middleham and Coverdale area on his bicycle.

Son Stephen recalls him often returning home "frozen to the bone" and eventually he was given an underpowered BMW motorbike to carry out his patrols.

After policing periods in Strensall near York, Redcar and Northallerton, Mr Cussons rose through the ranks and was promoted to Chief Inspector at Richmond in 1969.

He stayed at Richmond for the rest of his service and retired aged 55 in 1981 after 30 years with the force.

Sadly his wife Betty died suddenly aged 54 in 1983, only two years after he retired.

Stephen said his dad was committed to living a healthy lifestyle in his older years, walking at least five miles each day, eating only fresh home-cooked food and swearing by porridge for breakfast.

He started even weight training at the age of 70.

Stephen said: "His healthy lifestyle obviously worked. Until this summer he was able to walk without a stick and was still driving.

 

Ronald and Stephen Cussons pictured outside the family home in Helmsley

Ronald and Stephen Cussons pictured outside the family home in Helmsley

 

"He was fiercely independent and sought no help with housework, gardening and other chores.

"He loved exploring the wide open spaces of the Dales. I fondly remember our many Dales tours and hill climbing.

"He was still able to walk to the top of hills like Roseberry Topping at 82."

And Stephen said his dad was quick to embrace modern technology, spending his afternoons using his computer to browse the newspapers and play games.

Stephen said his dad was very happy in his retirement, living in Richmond where he was well-known in the town and where people would often chat to him in the street.

He added: "He experienced great achievements and tragedies in his long life but always displayed fortitude, independence, cheerfulness and a caring manner to all.

"He was an incredible role model to me and provided endless encouragement to succeed.

"He will leave a huge hole in my life which I will struggle to fill and will be missed by all who knew him."

Mr Cussons died on Christmas Eve and his funeral is being held on January 25 at 11am at the West Cemetery Chapel, Darlington Crematorium.