'Huge void' left by death of top cop; TRIBUTE: Farewell to popular former police chief who helped good causes.

Byline: By Steve Johnson

OFFICERS formed a guard of honour when a "larger than life" former Black Country police chief who "touched many lives" was laid to rest.

Hundreds of colleagues, friends and family packed into Holy Trinity Church, at Old Hill, yesterday for an emotional farewell to Mike Holder.

Mr Holder, who died aged 64 in Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley on October 5, worked in Sandwell and Dudley and was chief superintendent at Dudley when he retired in 1993.

His coffin, draped in the West Midlands Police banner, was led into the church past a line-up of uniformed police to the theme tune of TV police series Heartbeat.

More than 500 mourners were told that Mr Holder, a father of two and grandfather who lives at Stourbridge, knew at an early age that he wanted to join the police force.

Lifelong friend and former detective superintendent Mac Griffiths said that Mr Holder, born and bred in Quarry Bank, had an effect on many lives and always had a strong affinity to the people of the Black Country.

He said he was well respected by colleagues and had a distinguished police career.

"There is not a police officer here today who has not had a slap on the back of the head or punch in the arm from him. That greeting made Mike a friend for life for us all," he said.

"He was also well known for his blags and stories and once when he was based at Smethwick he sent officers to look for Shergar at a local circus."

After retirement, Mr Holder launched Cladey Heath based security firm Cougar Monitoring and became president of the Dudley Chamber of Commerce. He was a driving force in the formation of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Holder was also involved with the Dudley Council Crime Initiative, Home Office projects and served as a director on the board of Dudley zoo.

Mr Griffiths added: "Mike raised thousands of pounds for charities and good causes.

His death leaves a huge void for many people" Mr Holder leaves a widow Lil, daughter Nicola and son Andrew, who followed him into the police force.

Mike's many friends plan to raise pounds 8,000 in his memory to equip a dayroom at Russell Hall, Dudley.

CAPTION(S):

REMEMBERED... police officers stand outside Holy Trinity Church in Old Hill, Halesowen, at the funeral service of Mike Holder. Picture: Sam Bagnall; HONOUR... Mike Holder.