Tributes to former police traffic chief Ron Knowles

RON Knowles, who drove the police car that escorted the Queen Mother at the opening of the Tay Road Bridge, has died aged 94.

He was a chief inspector in charge of traffic in Dundee City Police and, latterly, Tayside Police.

Ron was also a keen runner who completed the London, New York and Paris marathons as well as the Great North Run.

Ron had a love of hillwalking and completed the Three Peaks Challenge – climbing Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis in 24 hours.

Ron was born in Perth in 1927. He was educated locally and had a spell working with a haulage company on leaving school, before joining the Royal Navy.

Ron was based in Trieste and developed a love of Italy. In later life he learned the language and spent holidays there.

It was while on home leave that he met his future wife, Anne Macgregor, a conductress on the Coupar Angus to Blairgowrie bus.

They married at the Angus Hotel, Blairgowrie, in 1948 and had two children, Tony and Yvonne.

Ron had joined the then Dundee City Police a year before and, when they were married, the couple moved to Dundee, eventually settling on Albany Road.

Over the years Ron progressed through the ranks, undertook driver training at Tulliallan police college and became a chief inspector.

In his 50s, Ron took up running. He would cover 80 miles a week and entered marathons across the UK and abroad.

He was also a swimmer and went to the gym several times a week.

Both Ron and Anne used to take great joy in ballroom dancing.

Ron, who was a grandfather to six and great-grandfather to 11, took immense pride in his garden and enjoyed working in his greenhouse.

His daughter Yvonne Miskell said: “Dad had a great send-off.

“We were particularly touched by the presence of traffic cars at the entrance of the cemetery... in recognition of his service in the police.”

Ron Knowles