Popular community beat police officer PC Roger Guy retires at the end of April, having spent his last five years with the Wiltshire constabulary covering North Swindon. Refusing to let him retire quietly, Link reporter Tanya Parkinson caught up with him as he reflected on his 30 years in the service.

Having joined the force straight from school, PC Guy has spent all his working life as a policeman. His entire career has involved close contact with the people he has met on his beats, which have covered Cricklade, Highworth and most recently the Northern Development. He said, "I joined the service to work with the public on a daily basis and I've been lucky enough to have done that throughout."

Roger has witnessed many dramatic changes: jobs are no longer for life and the old industries in Swindon have gone. "People are much busier and established community life has been eroded," he observed. He described the public as 'more challenging' and less inclined to accept things at face value. "You used to be able to tell somebody not to do something and they would stop," he mused.

One of the best aspects of his job has been made possible by the continuity of having always served on the northern side of Swindon. "I now meet people I spoke to and knew as youngsters who have grown up and started families of their own. They don't often recognise me, but it often brings a smile when I relate back."

Being a middle of the road man, Roger has sometimes been frustrated by his inability to prevent things happening. "People often become polarised, taking things out of all proportion, when being flexible and able to mediate may have resolved a situation before it got out of hand."

He describes his time as beat officer in North Swindon as one big learning curve. "It has been an eye opener looking at planning issues and very interesting watching the area become established."

His final day on 23 April will be tinged with sadness. "It is a good time to leave as the first phase of the northern development around Abbey Meads is almost complete. But I will miss the uniform and the job that goes with it."

PC Guy is married to Anne and has four children. He intends to spend more time with them, especially over the summer. "I have no long-term plans and will spend my retirement doing whatever the wife tells me, although I do intend to tackle our back garden and spend more time fishing."

North Swindon residents will no doubt wish PC Guy all the best in his retirement and thank him for his efforts in making the growing area a safe place to live. His cheery smile and his much appreciated traditional approach to policing in the community will be much missed.