Former Devizes policeman Ian Parry, who lived in Hankerton near Malmesbury, died on Sunday in a car crash in Trinidad.

The 47-year-old moved to the Caribbean in December 2008 to help train local police officers. He had earlier been seconded there by Wiltshire Police and returned after he retired from the force.

Born in Dorset, he went to Taunton School, where he began his lifelong love affair with rugby, and initially went into engineering before joining the police.

His brother Guy Parry said: “He wanted to do something more active and get into community life.”

The youngest of three, Mr Parry was married for a short time in his 20s but it ended in divorce. He had no children but was very close to his nieces and nephew.

While stationed at the Devizes Police HQ, Mr Parry had served across the UK with the National Crime Squad and further afield on a secondment with the UN in Sarajevo.

A former colleague in the tactical firearms department, Pete Bowerbank, said: “He was a fantastic bloke to have at your shoulder.

“He was the kind of chap you could always rely on. The saddest thing about his death was he had just found his perfect life. He was so happy out there.”

Following a funeral in Trinidad, a memorial service will be held in Malmesbury Abbey on February 11.