and Lucie McFall

Ex-CID man chokes on meal

Retired officer dies in Spain

A FORMER Bolton police officer has died in Spain where he had moved to spend his retirement in the sun.

Philip Hood, who was 53, worked with Bolton police for 18 years.

He died after choking while eating a meal last Thursday at his home in Torrevieja, near Alicante.

A piece of lamb became lodged in his throat.

A funeral service was held by his wife and children in Spain, while friends and former colleagues held a memorial ceremony in his home area of Ainsworth, Bury.

Mr Hood retired from Greater Manchester Police three years ago and emigrated to Spain with his wife Georgina. The couple have three children, Wesley, Alex and Emily.

Officer Barry Coombes, from Bolton Police, was his best man at Mr Hood's wedding.

He said: "He was a good mate and what has happened is tragic. He was great bloke and a great detective.

"It was a huge shock to hear that he had died. He will be sadly missed."

Mr Hood joined Bolton Police as a constable in 1970 and moved to the CID in 1984.

He left the Bolton division in 1988 and worked in various crime squads including the serious crime squad and the regional crime squad.

He retired as a detective sergeant in the CID at Middleton in 2001.

He had an impressive police career and received a judge's commendation, a chief constable's commendation and five divisional commander's commendations.