TRIBUTES have been paid to a court usher and former Worcestershire policeman who has died suddenly.

Barrie March, who was based at Worcester and lately Droitwich Magistrates courts, is believed to have suffered a heart attack while on holiday in Oxfordshire last week.

The 55-year-old had been with the courts for around 12 months but had a background in the police and the military.

He was born in Yorkshire in December 1945, and was a keen footballer, representing Yorkshire Boys.

At the age of 15 he became a boy soldier with the Green Howards and later transferred to the parachute regiment, reaching the rank of sergeant and seeing action in many parts of the world.

In 1969 he joined Cleveland Police Force at Middlesbrough and married his first wife Margaret.

They had a daughter, Sarah, and moved to Kidderminster in 1977 where Mr March took up a position with West Mercia police.

He also enjoyed stints at Stourport-on-Severn and Bewdley and for 12 years was a Police Federation representative.

Integrity

"Both as a friend and a colleague, you couldn't ask for anyone better than Barrie March," said former superintendent Peter Picken.

"Keen, committed, caring and a man of the highest integrity."

He became a football referee in local league but in the mid-1980s had by-pass surgery from which he made a good recovery.

In 1992 Margaret died and in 1995, Mr March, of Long Bank, Bewdley, married Pat - a clerical worker at Kidderminster police station.

"He had obviously seen a lot of life," said John Stephenson, clerk to the justices for south Worcestershire and area legal manager.

"He had a Geordie accent and a glint in his eye. He was always doing his very best for court users.

"We were all shocked and devastated and our thoughts go out to his wife and family at this difficult time.

"He'd been looking forward to his break after all the recent changes at the court."

Fellow usher John Preece, who also worked with Mr March at Kidderminster police, described him as a "hell of a nice guy".

His funeral will be at St Anne's Church, Bewdley, tomorrow at 1.30pm.