Born in Ripon, Mr Taylor attended the city's grammar school and was an enthusiastic member of the school's rugby union team, retaining a passion for the game for the rest of his life. He played for the school XV, represented Ripon RUFC and was later a playing member of the Bingley club.

On leaving school he was employed as an apprentice by an engineering company in Ripon before enlisted in the Army in September 1953 on a three-year term. He became a member of the Parachute Regiment and his Army career was extended due to the outbreak of hostilities which followed the takeover of the Suez Canal by Egypt's president Nasser in 1956.

On demobilisation, Mr Taylor returned to Ripon and in 1958 joined the West Yorkshire Constabulary. He was a member of the CID at Keighley and Bingley before joining the drug squad in Bradford as an inspector.

Among his responsibilities was the setting up and smooth running of incident rooms whenever major crimes occurred in the area. He retired from the force in 1983.

Mr Taylor enjoyed walking, particularly in Scotland and the Lake District, cooking and classical music and was proud of the garden at his home in Keighley.

His love of rugby was matched by his affection for golf and he joined the Bingley St Ives club in 1962. He was twice captain of the club and also served as president and director, roles which enabled him to imbue in others his appreciation of golf's standards and etiquette which he saw as being crucial to the continued success of the game and the club.

His domino table was the focal point of the 19th hole at the St Ives and his many friends from the golf club joined former Army and police colleagues at his funeral yesterday. Mr Taylor is survived by his wife Joan.