A TALENTED young police inspector whose life was cut short by cancer has been honoured for his service to Fife Constabulary.

Chris Mutter was awarded a Certificate of Service following 14 years in the police force.

He had passed the grade to be promoted to inspector shortly before his diagnosis in October, and died on June 29 at just 34 after an eight-month battle with oesophageal cancer, leaving behind his devoted wife and two young children.

Chris was highly thought of in the policing world and hundreds of friends and colleagues lined the streets from his home in Duloch to Dunfermline Crematorium in July to pay tribute to him.

His wife, Maxine, and grandmother, Rena, received the award from Divisional Commander Chief Supt Derek McEwan and Chief Inspector Adrian Annandale in a ceremony earlier this month.

“We were not expecting the award but it was so nice to collect an award for Chris and see him being recognised,” Maxine, 29, told the Press.

“Although it was upsetting, I know that he was appreciated by his policing family and for his work within Fife.

“He was so dedicated to his job! Most days he was late home but I knew how much he loved it – it was all he ever wanted to do since he was a boy.

“I felt very honoured and proud of him – it’s just such a shame that he did not get this at retirement and at the end of a long career.”

Chris was first told that he had an acid reflux problem last summer but after undergoing an endoscopy in late October, he was told that his health problems were much more sinister and he was diagnosed with stage three oesophageal cancer.

Doctors were hopeful that Chris could survive and he went through rounds of chemotherapy until they prepared for surgery in March.

But when surgeons opened him up, they realised there was nothing more they could do for him and he wouldn’t survive.

His son, Ethan, was aged three and his baby daughter, Eden, just one-year-old.

Maxine said: “Chris actually died in service because he was expecting to be able to go back to work after his operation. But within a few short few months of being told it was terminal, he had passed.

“It’s tough and I’m finding it more of a struggle now.

“I was really busy before but now I have more time on my hands, I think about things.

“Once the kids go to bed, I’m by myself and the nights are difficult. It’s not a nice feeling.

“Eden is now realising that he is gone and she will walk around with a photo of him and cry.

“That is why I have lots of photos of him around the house and we’ll put this award up so the kids can see what he had done.

“It was also so lovely to have Chris’ gran with me at the ceremony who brought him up along with his grandad.

“She was so proud of Chris and he would not have been the man he was without them.”

Maxine has been overwhelmed by the support of the community and will be passing on £3,000 to the Maggie’s Centre and St George’s Police Children Trust after funds raised smashed the original target of £300.

“Everyone has been offering their help,” Maxine added.

“Chris’ colleagues came to put some lights up in the kids’ bedrooms and our neighbours have just been amazing even though we’ve only lived here a year, dropping off meals and even just going for a walk with me.

“I have good support from my friends and family and it shows how much Chris was loved.

“He was a brilliant man and we miss him very much.”