THE last surviving member of the Guildford Borough Police and D-Day veteran Jack Woodford has died at the age of 97.

Jack, who retired to Wrecclesham Hill in Farnham with his wife, Iris, in 1985, succumbed to pneumonia at Frimley Park Hospital on February 25, 2016.

He was very much a typical ‘old-time’ policeman. He had joined the force in 1939, at the age of 20, just when the Second World War broke out and he remained in this ‘reserved occupation’ until 1942 when he received call-up papers to join the Royal Tank Regiment.

Jack spent nearly two years in training before he drove his tank off the landing craft on to Normandy Beach on D-Day.

In 1946 Jack returned to Surrey and rejoined Guildford Borough Police, which was quickly incorporated into Surrey Constabulary.

He retired in September, 1969, and joined his wife in running Adams Antiques at Farncombe in Godalming. His antique-dealing was successful, and they finally retired in 1985 to Wrecclesham Hill.

He and Iris later moved to Aldershot with daughter Deci and son Clinton.

Jack continued to drive himself about right up to age 96, when his grandsons persuaded him that he might like to stop driving, and they could stop worrying.

He led a full and eventful life, and did more than his share of public service. This world is a sorrier place without him.

His funeral is to be held at Aldershot Crematorium at 12.15pm on Thursday, March 17.