After 30 years as a police officer, Neil has earned his licence to chill

Published on Friday 29 May 2009 09:57

Haddington community policeman Neil Forbes has retired after 30 years of service.

Mr Forbes, 49, joined the police in 1979 and was posted to Tranent, Musselburgh and Haddington, before joining the divisional crime patrol.

For the last five years he has worked as the joint agency antisocial behaviour and housing officer for East Lothian.

East Lothian Police Commander, Superintendent Murdo Maciver, paid tribute and said: "In this role, Neil has contributed to many successful community partnerships and police liaison training with the East Lothian Council community wardens.

"Throughout this period he has been a good ambassador for Lothian and Borders Police, responsible for forging many strong associations with East Lothian Council and local community groups."

Mr Forbes recently married his partner Trish, and they are now the licensees of the Tyneside Tavern in Haddington. On 4 June, he will join his former police colleagues for a farewell celebration at his pub.

Tributes have been paid to Brian Pollock, principal teacher of chemistry at Bathgate Academy, who has died aged 56.

Mr Pollock was raised and educated in Armadale, and graduated from Edinburgh University with honours in biochemistry in 1974. He took a year out before opting to become a teacher. He trained at Moray House in Edinburgh, qualifying in 1976.

He returned to his home town for his first job, teaching chemistry and biology.

While there he was heavily involved in football after school. He was also in the Armadale rafting team that competed on the Tay in the 1982 and 1983 world championships.

He became principal teacher of chemistry before moving to Bathgate Academy to take up the same position. After marriage, he and wife Margaret settled in Bathgate, moving from there to Broxburn and then to Livingston.

He is thought to have had a heart attack at the wheel of his car while driving home from work on the M8 on 26 March.

Bathgate Academy held a reflective assembly for the popular teacher.

His friend, former head of PE at Armadale Academy, Donald Naysmith, said: "He was very individual man, a man that lived his life to the full – he really did enjoy life. He had a unique way of teaching. It really made people think."