Tributes paid to former police officer and neighbourhood watch champion
Tributes have been paid to an award-winning neighbourhood watch member and former police officer.
Michael Styles was a founder member of Rushall, Shelfield, Pelsall and Brownhills Neighbourhood Watch around 28 years ago and in the days before he died was given the Chief Constable’s Community Service Award for his work.
Mr Styles served in the RAF after leaving school and then joined the police force.
It was then that he worked his way up to sergeant and trained other officers.
Friend and fellow neighbourhood watch member, Edwin Venables, said: “I was one of the founder members of the neighbourhood watch branch about 28 years ago.
“He also served as vice-chairman of the Walsall Neighbourhood Watch branch and was a police officer for many years in Birmingham. He was a great leader for all his colleagues in the neighbourhood watch including myself. Everyone you see has huge regard and respect for him, he will be sadly missed. He’ll never be forgotten. He was active right up until the summer.”
A spokesman for the neighbourhood watch branch said: “Michael’s voluntary commitment to Neighbourhood Watch in our area goes back over several decades and, along with the late John Williams, he played a pivotal part in the running of our branch both as a treasurer and membership secretary.
“He has left our community an important legacy and the remaining committee members owe it to his memory to continue to promote the cause he gave so much to.
“We have lost not only a valued colleague but also a dear friend. We offer our deepest and most sincere condolences to Michael’s widow, Maureen, and his three grown up children. May he rest in peace.”
Mr Styles, of Green Lane, Shelfield, died on December 28 aged 82, and his funeral will be held on January 18 at Streetly Crematorium’s East Chapel at 3pm.
