RETIRED Chief Inspector Michael John Clist, who dedicated 30 years of his life to policing the roads of Oxfordshire, has died of pneumonia at the age of 79.

An enthusiastic bird watcher and nature lover, Mr Clist had fought a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Born on December 8, 1931, he went to school in Lower Heyford and Steeple Aston before working on the railways.

After completing National Service, he married fiancée Elsie Walton. Together they had two sons, Terry, who was killed in an accident 30 years ago, and Martin.

In 1956 Mr Clist joined the Oxfordshire constabulary, which would later become Thames Valley Police.

John Poole, who worked closely with Mr Clist, said: “He retired in 1986 and for the last four years he was the Chief Inspector of the north west traffic area, which roughly covered Oxfordshire and Oxford city.

“He was an excellent supervisory officer – a quiet unassuming bloke with a wry sense of humour who never lost his temper and whose door was always open to junior officers.”

Outside the force Mr Clist, who lived in Steeple Aston, was a committed member of the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) and pursued a passion for butterfly conservation.

Mr Clist also served the community as a parish councillor in Steeple Aston and as a governor at the village primary school.

He died on October 21 at Witney Community Hospital and is survived by his wife and son.