AFTER 14 years of working in Otley, Horsforth and Aireborough, Police Sergeant Andy Oddy is to be promoted to the rank of inspector and transferred to Pudsey.

This week, Sgt Oddy, community safety officer, told the 'Wharfedale' of his experiences while working in the area - the high and low points.

He said: "I think the thing that struck me when I came to Otley was the friendliness. For example, when a few days before Christmas a little old lady came in with a box of biscuits for us."

And perhaps one of the most troublesome times was when a group of 'new age travellers' took up residence at Knotford Nook.

Sgt Oddy said: "It caused problems not just for us, but also the people of Otley. There was a lot of poaching of fish out of the river and things like that.

"They had no respect for the local people or shopkeepers and caused devastation for the period they were with us. After a lot of work with the council, we eventually managed to get them evicted."

Sgt Oddy said that the memories that stood out among others were those of the great community events, and also the way that people came together in times of trouble.

He said: "I think the high points have been the carnivals and the Otley Show.

"These things are absolutely marvellous and you feel proud to be part of it, with all the different schools taking part and things. It is just tremendous.

"The low points have been the number of tragedies I have been involved with, but the positive side of it is the way people have come together to face it."

Although he is to work in Pudsey, the soon-to-be Inspector Oddy will still be a familiar face in Wharfedale.

He said: "I am still going to keep my ties in the area. I still live within the community and I still have a lot of friends and contacts. I will still be helping as and where I can and I will be keeping an overview in Aireborough until somebody is appointed to replace me.

"I have found it a pleasure to do the work and hopefully it is not too late for me to come back at some point in the future."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.