A POLICEMAN whose rapport with travellers gave him the moniker ‘Gypsy Lee’ has died at the age of 76.

Alfred Lee was given the nickname because he was the only officer that travellers at The Slade Camp, Headington, Oxford, would welcome on to their site.

Mr Lee, who lived in The Grates, Cowley, died on January 25 after a battle with motor neurone disease.

He was born in Wiltshire in 1934 and moved to Somerset in 1939 after the outbreak of the Second World War because his father was in the RAF.

The family moved to Oxford after the war ended in 1945, when his father took on a job at Magdalen College.

Mr Lee then started an apprenticeship at an electrical firm and worked evening shifts at the New Theatre, in George Street.

He spent three years in the RAF as part of his National Service. It was there he met wife Joan and they married in March 1958.

After completing his service, Mr Lee fulfilled his ambition to join the police and signed up as a community police officer with the City of Oxford force.

He was an officer when Thames Valley Police was created following the amalgamation of forces in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxford, Oxfordshire and Reading.

Mr Lee then became a gypsy liaison officer, developing a close working relationship with travellers.

A keen sportsman, Mr Lee played bowls, cricket, rugby and football for police teams.

He spent 30 years in uniform before taking up an administrative role for a further 11 years.

After retiring, the couple indulged their love of travelling and made trips to the USA and Australia.

Mr Lee suffered a heart attack in January 2004 and was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in November last year.

More than 150 people attended his funeral at St James’s Church, Cowley, on February 7.

Mr Lee is survived by his wife, children Jenny and Kevin, and grandchildren Nicki, Annise, Nathan and Aisha.

The family has asked for any donations to be made to the MND Association.

Call 08456 044295 or send a cheque, payable to MND Association, to the association at David Niven House, 10-15 Notre Dame Mews, Northampton NN1 2BG.