The death of Brian Roberts
Dec 12 2006 By The Journal
Family, friends, colleagues - and even criminals - mourned the premature death of County Durham detective Brian Roberts.
Recently retired, DC Roberts collapsed and died while socialising with friends in his home town of Seaham, on Friday, December 1. He was aged just 53.
The former detective had recently began working on a cruise liner. A former steel worker in Consett, Mr Roberts served 32 years on the force.
He was born in Leadgate in 1953 and served a structural engineering apprenticeship at Consett steelworks.
At the age of 21 he joined Durham Police and spent nine years in uniform in Derwentside and the east of the county.
He joined the CID in 1983.
He spent the rest of his career in plain clothes, working as a detective in both Peterlee and Seaham. He was seconded to the Regional Crime Squad for six years and also served on the force's major crime team before returning to Peterlee CID.
Superintendent Harry Stephenson, who trained alongside Mr Roberts called him a "real cop's cop." He said: "He was a first class investigator. We worked together on a number of murder investigations and a string of other serious crimes."
Inspector Paul Ewart said Mr Roberts was "without doubt one of the most popular characters that I have had the good fortune to work alongside". He added: "His wife has been overwhelmed by the expressions of condolence and support that have followed Brian's death.
"That even includes members of the criminal fraternity who have taken the trouble to offer their respects."
In the run-up to his retirement, Mr Roberts prepared for a dramatic switch of lifestyle.
He decided his new career would be at sea, spent hundreds of hours learning Turkish, Italian and Spanish and earned a diploma in travel and tourism. He studied for two years at South Shields Marine College before adding internationally- recognised sea-going qualifications to his extensive portfolio.
Earlier this year he landed a prestigious job as chief security officer aboard a luxury 85,000-tonne American cruise liner sailing out of Seattle.
Mr Roberts, a life-long Newcastle United supporter, leaves a wife Val and sister, Kathryn. His funeral service was held last Friday at the church of St Mary Magdalene in Harbour Walk, Seaham, followed by a burial in Leadgate.
