The Fife mine canary boy who became a police officer

At 14, Adam Berwick went to work as a canary boy in a Fife coal mine. It was an important job as canaries alerted the miners to methane levels underground.

Adam, who died aged 98, was painfully aware of the importance of his role, because he lost family members to a mine explosion.

That first job in 1937 was the start of a career that took Adam to the RAF, the police and the insurance industry in Perth.

Adam was born in Cupar on November 28 1922 to George and Georgina Berwick. He was one of six children, with brothers, Bob, George and Jim and sisters, Nettie and Margaret.

When the Second World War broke out, Adam was still young but determined to join up. Even after he turned 18, being in mining, which was a reserved occupation, made joining up difficult.

He eventually got his way, joined the RAF and was stationed in Liverpool.

It was 1944 by this time and Adam complained that the only real action he saw was a single bomb that blew in the windows of his barracks.

It was around this time that he met his first wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Kerr. They married in 1945 and had two sons, Adam and Bob. Adam died in 2002, a loss that Adam Sr felt acutely.

After the war, Adam did not want to return to the mines in Fife and joined the police in 1947, moving to Perth to live in police accommodation.

His family said he was incredibly proud to be a police officer and often shared his memories of his time in the service.

Adam walked the beat for many years and could recall the many changes in the city over time, as well as the many places he could grab a coffee on night shift.

In later years he became a traffic officer and retained sharp driving skills throughout his life.

Adam retired from the then Tayside Police in 1976 and became a member of the Retired Police Officers’ Association.

After his death on Sunday March 28 his family received a letter from the association informing them that Adam had been its oldest member.

After he retired, Adam worked as a stock controller in a garage before spending six years at General Accident’s Islabank premises in Bridgend, Perth.

When his wife Betty retired, the couple moved to Guildtown. Betty died in 1987 aged 66.

Adam was devastated by the loss but took comfort with his family and his garden.

A few years later, he met his second wife, also Betty, whose father was Adam’s mentor in the police.

After a short time living at Betty’s home in Craigie, the couple moved to Forgandenny.

He and Betty shared many interests and it was through her membership of a ramblers’ organisation that Adam discovered a love of walking.

The couple also escorted children with additional needs on holidays, often to Blackpool, and it was through this work they were invited to a royal garden party in 1996. Betty died in 2003. A Courier reader all his life, Adam he enjoyed crosswords and television shows. He retained his independence, lived on his own, cooked for himself and only gave up driving about a year ago.

His funeral will take place at Perth Crematorium today.

INDEPENDENT: Former police officer Adam Berwick was the oldest member of the Retired Police Officers’ Association when he died at the age of 98.