Flags are flying at half mast at the island’s police stations following the death of former deputy chief constable John Platt.

The current chief constable, Gary Roberts, paid tribute.

’We learned with great sadness of the death of John Platt, a former Deputy Chief Constable, who passed away during the recent lockdown period,’ he said.

’He served in the Isle of Man Constabulary from 1961 until his retirement in December 1996, spending his last three years as deputy to Chief Constable Robin Oake.

’Prior to joining the police he served in the Brigade of Guards and the influence of his military service could be seen in his bearing, his great focus on standards and discipline, and in the rigour with which he discharged his duties.

’We are unlikely to see anyone quite like him again. He inspired great loyalty in those who worked closely with him. Everyone in the constabulary sends their deepest condolences to his wife, Kay, and her family.’

When he was a young man Mr Platt served in the Guards, and was immensely proud of his service, particularly his times ’guarding the Queen’ at Buckingham Palace.

He moved to the island and served on the beat in Douglas and had a summer season in the south, attached to Port Erin and Port St Mary stations.

After more years on the beat he was made a detective constable in CID in the late sixties, and was moved to be part of the newly formed port unit, set up to counter the Irish terrorism of the early seventies.

He was promoted to be detective sergeant in charge of the port unit and eventually transferred back into CID.

He was promoted to detective inspector and then for a while detective chief inspector.

He also spent time as chief inspector in charge of all uniform operations before eventually becoming deputy chief constable under Robin Oake.

Former detective chief inspector Dudley Butt said: ’I worked closely with John for many of those years. ’As young constables we were in the same section on adjoining beats in Douglas during the mid sixties. ’In the winters, long hours of conversation, often under starry skies above - and in those times of very busy summers we had many adventures together with our section.

’Hand-to-hand fighting with crowds in big singing rooms, and sometimes in the streets were occasions when it was good to have people like John on your side.

’He also played sport and was a good cricketer.

’A fast bowler, he could drop the ball on a sixpence and as a batsman had the eye and strength to stride into hitting the odd six, seemingly without effort.

’John was always keen and hardworking and always good company.’

Mr Butt added that Mr Platt joined CID quite early in his career because of his promise, and the partnership between him and George Davies, who also became deputy chief constable, was one of the classic effective ’CID double acts’.

’They both set examples for us younger officers to follow,’ he said.

’Working in CID with John we had some good jobs together, and some tragic and very difficult ones, and he dealt with all things in his usual positive and upbeat manner.

’A sense of humour was essential in those times, and John always had a sense of humour which buoyed up those around him.

’He was very supportive of me during difficult times and jobs.

’There was one particularly difficult job which John, George and I did together which we know scarred us, but John’s perpetual optimism and enthusiasm kept us going.

’I have happy memories in later years of being in the hills with him above Ard Whallian and roughing it as we put potential recruits through very challenging paces in mid winter recruit weekends

’Yomping at pace up hills, outpacing people 30+ years younger than him and then challenging them later in classroom situations, John still had that gleam in his eye and was as excited and as enthusiastic as he had been at the start of his career.’