Son's tribute to '˜wonderful' former Bexhill police officer

Tom Cranmer served in the RAF during World War Two and was a policeman for most of his life before dying at the age of 91 at the end of January following a short stay in hospital.

The great-grandfather also worked as an enforcement officer for Rother District Council.

His son Graham Cranmer said he will be sorely missed by many after a life of community involvement.

“Dad was a wonderful man who was very helpful and always full of good advice,” he said.

“He took pride in doing his job as a policeman which he loved. He was a very busy and well organised person and very popular. There were a lot of people at the cremation which proves that point.”

Tom leaves behind two children, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild, plus his wife Ilse of 69 years.

Their ‘love affair’ began with a picture of Ilse in the Brighton & Hove Gazette in 1944 which made its way to Tom while serving in the RAF in Italy.

They began writing to each other every day until they finally met under the clock at Brighton railway station and married in 1946.

Mr Cranmer was also a Freemason and a parish councillor for Willingdon, before becoming a professional toastmaster after he retired.

Ilse thanked everyone for their support and for attending Toms’ funeral at Eastbourne Crematorium on February 19.

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