A PRESTATYN man who laid claim to a unique fire service career has died at the age of 85.

Clive Halliday is believed to be the only officer to have served Brigades covered by the Home Office, Scottish Office and Northern Ireland Office and the only one to have served in county, metropolitan, regional and national Brigades.

Born and bred in Prestatyn, he had a twin brother Brian and joined the Royal Navy at the age of 14. It was while at home on leave that he met the love of his life, Morwena. They married in 1958 and celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary two years ago.

After leaving the Navy he spotted an advert for firemen in Manchester and was successful in his application . While there he had various part-time jobs including window-cleaner and scenery shifter at the Palace Theatre.

Clive worked his way up through the ranks until in 1978 was appointed Assistant Chief Fire Officer in Staffordshire. Three years later he became Deputy Chief and then became Chief Fire Officer for Northern Ireland – and that at the height of the Troubles.

“Of course we were worried, but we enjoyed our time there,” said Morwena.

In 1984 they moved again, this time to Strathclyde, where he was Firemaster – the equivalent of Chief Officer – and they stayed there until his retirement in 1991, when they returned to Prestatyn.

He received the Queen’s Fire Service Medal while in Strathclyde.

The couple have a son, Kevin, and daughter, Karen, and Karen said that retirement was not a time to sit back and relax for her father.

He helped establish the local Citizens Advice Bureau and remained a volunteer until quite recently. He also joined Flint Male Voice Choir and was secretary of Bryn Newydd Bowling Club for 10 years. A keen member of the town’s Rotary Club, he became a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his contribution to the organisation, and was Father Christmas on the club’s Christmas float for many years.

For several years he served as Prestatyn Town Council’s Standards Officer and chaired Denbighshire County Council’s standards committee.

He was an avid supporter of the GEM Appeal launched in 1994 by his daughter Karen whose two sons were born with genetic disorders. To date the charity has raised £3.5m towards research and to build a unit at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, and has won numerous awards including the Pride of Britain award.

With Clive’s encouragement Bryn Newydd Bowling Club and the Rotary club have held numerous fundraising events.

Karen, who spoke at her father’s funeral service, said: “My dad had a lovely sense of humour and was very, very popular.

“The dozens and dozens of cards that we have received say some absolutely amazing, wonderful things about this gorgeous man, which doesn’t surprise me at all.”

Among the tributes was one from Prestatyn Town Clerk Nigel Acott, who referred to his “very distinguished public service career” and his work as a Standards Officer.

“Clive always had a good listening ear and was fair-minded in his approach to difficult councillor/personnel issues,” he said.

A spokesperson for North Wales Fire and Rescue service said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of retired Chief Fire Officer Clive Halliday who has recently passed away.

"Mr Halliday was a Chief Fire Officer for Northern Ireland and a Firemaster in Scotland before his retirement."