A FORMER police chief from Bolton has died at the age of 72.

Robert “Bob” Goslin passed away on August 20 following a short illness.

Mr Goslin was the son of the late Harry Goslin, a former captain of Bolton Wanderers.

The former Canon Slade School pupil rose through the ranks in the police force after joining at 16-years-old.

Mr Goslin, from Chapeltown, began his career as a cadet in London in 1952.

After National Service he joined the old Bolton borough force in 1956. He became head of the borough’s Astley Bridge sub-division in November 1976 and in 1979 as Chief Superintendent in Charge of Greater Manchester Police’s Inspectorate and Operations Department before being appointed assistant chief constable with South Yorkshire Police 1980.

In 1983 he was appointed Deputy Chief Constable of the Cambridgeshire force. During his time in Bolton, he was captain of Egerton Cricket Club.

He became well known for the book he wrote on the history of the old Bolton Borough police entitled Duty Bound.

Mr Goslin, who lived in Serlby, Nottinghamshire, was married to May, and had two sons, Mark and Iain. His funeral service will take place tomorrow at St Mary and St Martin’s Church, Blyth at 11.15am.