TRIBUTES have been paid to a “completely dedicated” community volunteer who died just before Christmas from a short illness.

Michael Holden, 74, worked as a volunteer with Herts Constabulary for more than 20 years.

The grandfather-of-two, who lived with wife Edwina in Breachwood Green, was a North Herts community coordinator for Neighbourhood Watch and a church warden at St Mary’s in Kings Walden.

Paying tribute to her husband, Mrs Holden said: “He was completely dedicated to the community, being called out in the night was never a problem, he just wanted to stop crime in the rural areas.

“He would be completely overwhelmed and humbled by the wonderful tributes.

“He loved his grandchildren, and if he was here now, he would be building snowmen with them.

“He was a wonderful man.”

Mr Holden, who oversaw 800 watch groups and 6,000 people across numerous schemes, was honoured at a celebration of his life at St Mary’s.

More than 300 people turned out to pay their respects.

Speaking about the stalwart, neighbourhood officer Pc Matt Jenkins – who first met Mr Holden in 2006 – said: “From my very first meeting with him, it became apparent that he was very hands-on and was well known and highly regarded within the community for the work he did in relation to assisting victims of crime.

“Michael dedicated many hours of his time to Neighbourhood Watch. He was always extremely supportive of any initiative the rural policing team and I came up with to improve policing in this area and he was a key member of my community engagement panel, a group that meets up every three months to discuss and agree local policing priorities.

“I would really like to acknowledge the sterling work that Michael did for Neighbourhood Watch – an organisation he cherished and dedicated so much of his time and effort to over many years, and secondly to give my personal thanks to Michael for all the support he gave me over the seven years I have known him. He will be incredibly missed.”