Death a retired Police Officer : DC 739 Stephen Wintrell

It is with regret that we have to inform you of the death a retired Police Officer (And serving member of Police staff) :  DC 739  Stephen Wintrell, who died on 26^th March 2016 aged 58 years.
Steve initially joined Durham Constabulary on 28^th August 1973 as a Cadet then went on to serve as a police officer from 8^th March 1976.  From HQ Training he served at Sedgefield working in uniform on operational duties and in 1980 he spent 4 months working with Special Branch.  He returned to Sedgefield and worked both in uniform and temporarily in CID before transferring to Special Branch in November 1983.  From April 1984 he spent 5 years working in CID at Spennymoor moving on to Sedgefield/Aycliffe CID.  In 1990 he returned to uniform duties and in 1992 joined ASU.  He remained in that role until April 1997 when he moved into Telephone Investigations on Crime Desk then from January 1999 he took on the role of Field Intelligence Officer at Aycliffe and Spennymoor until his retirement on 11^th October 2009.  On 12^th October 2009 Steve was appointed as an Information Officer and he has continued to work in this role in Intelligence.
Steve leaves a widow Val, son Karl and daughter Debbie and their families, and also a brother Paul.

The funeral service will take place on Tuesday 5^th April 2016 at 10.15am at Wear Valley Crematorium, Coundon. Friends are asked to meet at the Crematorium please.
The family have requested that there is no guard of honour formed but are very happy for colleagues and friends to attend the service and they extend an open invitation to all who wish to join them afterwards for refreshments at Woodham Golf Club.
There will be family flowers only by request however donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Cancer Research if so desired and there will be a collection plate available at the Crematorium.
 
A book of remembrance will be taken to the Golf Club and all are invited to record any messages they wish to leave for the family in the book. 
For those who are unable to attend the Golf Club if you can send any messages you would wish to have included to the WELFARE email address ( welfare.office@durham.pnn.police.uk) then they will ensure all messages are incorporated. 
Ideally they would like to have all messages by no later than Thursday 7^th April so that these can be passed over to the Wintrell family promptly.
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.