George Terry

Sir George Walter Roberts Terry (29 May 1921 – 18 August 1995) was a senior British police officer, who served as Chief Constable of Pembrokeshire, East Sussex, Lincolnshire and Sussex Police Forces, and as president of the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Early life Terry was born on 29 May 1921, the son of Walter George Tygh Terry and his wife Constance Elizabeth Terry. After schooling in Peterborough, He served with the Northamptonshire Regiment in Italy from 1942 to 1946, rising to the rank of Staff Captain.

In addition to his operational work, Terry was an expert on traffic management and Chairman of the Traffic Committee (1976–79). He was also president of the Association of Chief Police Officers for the year 1980–81. Afterwards, he worked as a director for Terrafix Ltd from 1984 and a trustee of the Disabled Housing Trust from 1985. He was a keen gardener, and particularly enjoyed tending to his chrysanthemums and carnations.

Honours In 1967, Terry was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM). He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1976 and knighted in 1982. As well as being Commander of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, he was a Deputy Lieutenant for East Sussex from 1983.

Death and legacy

Terry had married Charlotte Elizabeth Kresina in 1942 and had a son with her. Terry died on 18 August 1995. He was, according to The Telegraph, "one of the most respected policemen of his generation ... a tall, handsome man of enormous vitality, he rejuvenated each command with ruthless perfectionism, and won a reputation as an outstanding innovator". Averse to dogma and excessive bureaucracy, Terry was outspoken and devoted to his officers; "suspicious of teetotallers", he enjoyed drinking with those he found amicable, honest and ready to admit their mistakes.