Alistair Mackenzie Clark, retired police officer; born August 12, 1920, died May 15, 1998

RETIRED Chief Superintendent Alistair Clark of Strathclyde Police has died peacefully in hospital after a long illness.

He was born in Glasgow of Highland parents and educated in Calder Street and Strathbungo schools on the south side. As a young lad he was employed by

the well-known firms of

Paisley's in Jamaica Street and

G & J Weir, Cathcart.

On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Armoured Corps. Prior to this he was a

member of the Highland Light Infantry Unit of the Home Guard, in which service he held the

rank of lieutenant. During his Armoured Corps service he was a member of ''Phantom'' GHQ Liaison Regiment serving in the

European campaign until he was demobilised at the end of the war.

Following his family tradition, he joined City of Glasgow Police in 1946 and served throughout the ranks in most areas of Glasgow until 1974 when he was promoted Chief Superintendent in ''C'' Division where he served until retirement in 1976. His late father served in Glasgow Police for 30 years, his brother Tom is a retired deputy chief constable of Tayside Police, while a nephew, Stewart, is a retired detective chief superintendent of Tayside Police, and a younger nephew, Alistair, is a serving detective sergeant in Northern Constabulary.

On retirement Alistair and Isabel moved to Skye where he had spent a great deal of his younger days and most of his

holidays. They built a house

which was to be their home while they spent what became a most happy period of their retirement until the onset of deteriorating health which decided them to return to Glasgow.

In his boyhood days Alistair had been prominently involved in Boys' Brigade activities and throughout his adult life he was always happy to be involved in motoring, decorating, and perhaps mostly enjoying what he considered the perfect contentment of just living in Skye.

He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and three grandchildren.