HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a former Furness police officer who once helped rescue Princess Anne from a tree.

Ralph Pearson has died aged 81 after battling Alzheimers.

The great-grandad and dad-of-three grew up in Dalton and worked as a police officer in Barrow before being headhunted by the Metropolitan police in London.

His son, Colin Pearson, described him as 'a loving father' and 'a true gentleman'.

He said: "He was the kind of person who would give you his shirt of his back. He was very generous, caring and kind.

"Even though he left Barrow in his 20s, he had very fond memories of his time there."

Mr Pearson attended Dowdales School alongside his wife Marie, who died 13 months ago.

He also played rugby for Barrow and played the guitar semi professionally for over 60 years.

After working in Barrow as a police officer in the early 1960s, he moved to London with his family and ended his career patrolling Buckingham Palace.

"He was full of stories about his time in the force," Mr Pearson said.

"He would tell a story about working in Buckingham Palace and Princess Anne once got stuck up a tree and he had to help her get down.

"He also told a story about him and his partner walking the palace grounds and one of the corgi's started peeing on his boots. He gave it a kick. Apparently Her Majesty the Queen told him to give the corgi a kick if it was annoying him.

"He used to attend palace staff parties and bring us all presents which was very special growing up."

The family often spent summers in Barrow which Mr Pearson described as some 'amazing times'.

"Barrow always held a fond place in his heart," he said.

"He still has family living there and always spoke very fondly of Cumbria. I consider myself a northerner because I was born there but raised in London.

"He always had lots of stories which he loved to tell and a great sense of humour.

"Dad was the life of a party and will be sorely missed."