IN his 41-year career, York policeman Jerry Holland has done it all.

He's policed Royal visits, football matches and even the Pope's visit to York. And in 1989 he led a team of officers who cordoned off the Penguin bookshop in York after a bomb had exploded.

Many police officers have had such experiences, of course. What makes Jerry special is that he was – well, a Special.

At 65, North Yorkshire's most senior Special Constable is hanging up his hat. As North Yorkshire's special constabulary chief officer, Jerry was responsible for 170 volunteer officers. His contribution to the force has been immense, said chief constable Dave Jones.

It takes a special kind of person to put themselves on the front line out of nothing more than a sense of duty. Jerry has earned his retirement. But he'll be very much missed.