AFTER almost 42 and a half years, Chief Inspector Roy Robinson will retire from the PSNI at the end of the month.

It has been a career that has seen some memorable highs and devastating lows, but as he comes to the end of a career that has spanned four decades, he admits it has gone by very quickly.

Talking to The Impartial Reporter, he said: “It’s a bit like a ground-rush. I did a parachute jump one time, and I thought, ‘The ground is coming up quicker and the finish line is coming quicker than I thought’.

“Life is the same – it is a serious rush,” said 60-year-old Roy.

In his personal and professional life, Roy has had many close calls with death, and it has made him appreciate the preciousness of life all the more, and this was a philosophy that he brought into his policing: the will to make Fermanagh a better and safer place for its people.

Three battles with cancer, a heart attack and motorcycle accidents – to name but a few of his personal brushes with mortality – could not keep the well-known policeman from carrying out his duties.

He is eternally grateful to the health service for saving his life on these occasions.

These personal battles have given him a philosophical and optimistic way of looking at the world.

He said: “We are only here a short time. We are only passing this way once, and you know to make our mark for good and, thankfully, the vast majority of people realise we are only here for a short while.

“As the Lord Jesus said, ‘Love thy neighbour as thyself’, and that’s what I try to be to all those that I come across in life.”

And while he had brushes with death in his personal life, he also has a career during some of the most violent days on the island of Ireland.

Roy remembers shooting incidents, as well as one time shaking a car in Enniskillen that ended up containing a 250-300lb bomb which exploded as Army Technical Officers were dealing with it.

But amongst all this he reflected on moments of positivity, too, like helping to change a tyre for two nuns, who invited him for a cup of tea.

In later years, Roy would go on to sit on a promotions board, which promoted the relative of one of those nuns.

He added: “It was lovely to get that email from the officer. This is how these acquaintances can happen. You never know when you do somebody a good turn in life how these things turn out.”

Other memorable moments include the Queen’s visit to Enniskillen in 2012, and the G8 Summit that was held in the Lough Erne Hotel in 2013.

“I was in charge of the protestors, and I loved that, and I made many friends with the protestors and that was an amazing journey. Those were special duties I look back in fondness, and can say I was there,” said Roy.

But there were also darker days, such as the Enniskillen Bomb in 1987, and the Omagh Bomb in 1998.

Roy came on the scene of the Enniskillen Bomb from Church and secured the scene as the rubble was taken away for forensic examination.

Some of the victims he knew, such as Samuel Gault, Edward Armstrong, Johnny Megaw and his former headmaster, Ronnie Hill, who died 13 years later.

Reflecting on the Omagh bombing, Roy said: “The terrible tragedy of the Omagh bomb was shocking, and will live long into my memories, coming on duty and the devastation that day.

“I came on duty that day, late. We dealt with all those who were coming to the family reunion centre to find out if their loved ones were in a hospital, or if they were in the mortuary.”

Roy said you could tell whose loved ones were in the mortuary, because of the tears and sadness of the people.

“That was such a sad day in life, and a terrible atmosphere,” added Roy, who attended many of the funerals and visited the families of the three young boys from Buncrana – Oran Doherty (8), Sean McLaughlin (12), and James Barker (12) – who were killed in the blast.

Despite it being a dangerous profession, Roy is grateful for the career that being a police officer has given him, including a law degree in 2004.

But, as he says himself, 42 and a half years is enough time with one company, and it’s time for a new chapter.

He is grateful for all the friends he has made from all walks of life, and is gladdened by the diversity he is seeing within the PSNI.

And while his days of helping out in uniform are coming to an end, Roy won’t be stopping there. “I have survived so many things in and outside the job. God looked out, and said ‘Not just yet, Roy’!

“It’s good to be still around, and I’ll do whatever I can do to help those in need, and make Fermanagh a pleasant a place to live and enjoy, because we are only passing this way once.

“God has provided all the things in my life, and I look forward to another chapter in my life,” added Roy.