FLORIST Carola Wilson has a very special arrangement to work on this week. 'Loads' of red roses for her husband Bob's funeral, writes BILL TANNER.

Bob loved Carola and all she did, but he was never really one for flowers - even though their life together stemmed from them.

They met outside the flower shop in Leominster where she worked when he was a young policeman.

That first date was a disco at the town's Talbot Hotel. Bob was, says Carola, as handsome then as, to her, he always would be.

Carola 'did' the flowers for their wedding at St Michael the Archangel church, Felton, where Bob will be buried.

She will 'do' the flowers for Bob's full police funeral at Hereford Cathedral on Thursday, December 18, at 11am.

There will be many, many flowers on the day, some as closely wrapped as the emotions behind them.

Cancer claimed Bob last week just six months since he went to his doctor with 'wheezy' breathing.

The cancer had riddled his lungs and advanced on his spine. There was little time. This non-smoking, non-drinking, police officer in his prime had a year at best.

At 46 and two years off retirement Bob was not going to see his cherished daughters Jennifer and Victoria marry, put the polish on his own silver anniversary, enjoy grandchildren.

Ever the pragmatist Bob kept fear at bay by making plans, sorting his affairs and settling on the send-off he wanted. And when the fear caught up there were tears. Sometimes he cried with Carola, sometimes with his girls and sometimes alone.

Then with those tears spent he - and they - went on. See, says Carola, Bob had this hard to resist half-smile that always hinted at 'fun' not too far away.

Those who Bob served with speak of that smile too. He spent his 28-year police career in the county, based at every station.

To each he brought a genuine love of the job, its insights and expectations. In turn it gave him commendations - for saving lives, for sterling professionalism - and the real respect of colleagues and communities.

Bob had honed his skills in the old school where 'ways and means' saw you along and a quip could work as well as cuffs.

First and foremost a police officer, Bob never claimed or wanted to be a 'politician' and though proud of promotion to Inspector found frustration in an environment where talk of targets and statistics had come to mean more than experience.

Bob's escape was the outdoors. Latterly he had been heavily involved in Longtown Mountain Rescue, a role that earned him his latest commendation last month.

Carola has a 'Bob Box' cram full of anecdotes and achievements attributed to her husband by those he worked with to see her through the first few months without him.

Long term she has his own account of his life, begun once he knew it was ending and stopping just short of the day it did.

She will fill in the final entries herself.