Fiercely independent, strong-willed and already a qualified teacher, she decided she wanted the challenge of working in a male-dominated society.

In 1947, the pretty 26-year-old applied to join Aberdeen City Police and was chosen, according to one newspaper article of the time, for her “charm, intelligence, tact, interest in social welfare and her sense of humour”.

That sense of humour prevailed and for many years she routinely answered a knock at her door with the challenge: “Friend or foe?”

Born in Aberdeen’s Claremont Street, the daughter of master

grocer Duncan Davidson and wife Catherine, she was the youngest of three children, with two elder brothers. She attended the city’s Sacred Heart convent school at Queen’s Cross before going to teaching college at Craiglockhart in Edinburgh.

But after teaching at St Joseph’s and St Peter’s Primaries in Aberdeen, Miss Davidson left the profession to pioneer women’s place in the ranks of the police, patrolling city centre streets for the first time as PC44 in November 1947.

There had apparently been much debate about her navy blue uniform’s skirt hemline, which fell 2in below the knee with a single pleat, front and back, and was “neat and practical”. The authorities had also decided they would not discourage the use of “discreetly applied” lipstick.

One of her first “collars” that day was an infringer of the betting laws who was unfortunate enough not only to be nicked but to suffer the ensuing headline: “What a blow to be caught out by a slip of a girl!”

The culprit went quietly, co-operating with Miss Davidson’s simple “Come along with me” request when she found him in the act of pursuing his illegal occupation.

But there was mild embarrassment for the slim and attractive young constable when one of a

gaggle of 10-year-old boys whistled at her in Commerce Street, exclaiming: “I say, what a smasher.”

Miss Davidson’s boss, Chief

Constable M’Connach was also delighted with the addition of women to the force and could not wait for other members of the

“gentle sex” to join up.

One of the women who did, Chief Inspector Ellie Mitchell, has been with Grampian Police for more than 20 years.

She said: “Officers of today owe a debt of gratitude to early female officers such as Ms Davidson and her colleagues. Their bravery and strength of character in entering what was then an exclusively male profession helped pave the way for, and serves as an inspiration to, the modern police service.

“The legacy left by Ms Davidson means that today there are more female officers patrolling the communities of Grampian than ever before. Groundbreaking officers such as Ms Davidson not only opened doors for female officers but also for support staff.”

The young WPC Davidson described her job as “one of the most exciting and varied careers open to women today”, and aspired to achieve the highest standards of service in the job.

However, the draw of teaching proved too much and she left the force after a couple of years to return to what she loved most: education. Her nephew, Brian Davidson, 52, said: “One of the reasons the police appealed to her was she wanted the challenge of something different. She wanted to see if she could help the community as well. However, she always said she missed her kids, as she called them; she missed teaching.

“Her teaching was her life. She was devoted to that and, going through her belongings, there is a lot of children’s work along with the teaching props she used – it’s fascinating.”

Miss Davidson retired from teaching at 60. Her last post was at Maryculter West Primary School, but she remained full of beans.

An attractive woman, she never married but came close to it several times. “She used to say she would not be beholden to a man,” said her nephew. “She was a character, so strong-willed, incredible at times, and was well-liked.”

She had a lifelong association with the Catholic Church, helping with the housekeeping of the residence of the then Bishop of Aberdeen, Mario Conti, now Archbishop of Glasgow.

And, displaying her variety of interests, she attended a Runrig concert at the age of 75, with her niece Marlene Ross, who was the band’s manager.

Miss Davidson spent most of her last few years at the family home, Salmon Cottage, at Blairs outside Aberdeen, where the garden ran down to the River Dee. Before that, her flat in Culter also had a view of the river.

“She had a great affection for the River Dee,” explained Mr Davidson. “She loved Deeside and always said she felt it comforting and always wanted to see the Dee.”

Miss Davidson, who is survived by Brian and his brother Tom, latterly lived in Nazareth House care home in Aberdeen’s Claremont Street and died there – in the same street in which she was born.

Policewoman and teacher;

Born November 8, 1921;

Died October 25, 2009.

ALISON SHAW