Fed chair sings praises of PUT riders

1 August 2024

Force cyclists who joined the Police Unity Tour at the weekend to honour the memory of fallen colleagues have been praised by Dyfed Powys Police Federation chair Gareth Jones.

Gareth, who retired from the Force yesterday (31 July), spent the weekend following the riders in the Dyfed Powys Police Federation welfare van and offering support and refreshments as they made their way from Wales to the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire ahead of the annual Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Service of Remembrance on Sunday.

The Dyfed Powys Police cyclists who took part as part of the Welsh Chapter were Sarah Evans, Gareth Evans, Emily Davies, Steve Cockwell, Jonny Griffiths, Huw Davies, Jon Rees, Jon Halliday, Theo Earp, Matt Scrase and Andy Smart.

Theo, the eldest son of Dyfed Powys Inspector Gareth Earp who died in June last year, won an award for the chapter’s rider of the tour.

Arboretum

Speaking at the end of the weekend, Gareth Jones said: “It was amazing to be able support the cyclists as they took part in the tour and completed this ride to the arboretum.

“The ride was definitely not for the faint-hearted and I am full of admiration for those who took it on to raise awareness of fallen officers and also raise money for the incredible work COPS does in supporting their families.

“There were some emotional moments along the route and the service at the arboretum was very moving, bringing home just how critical the peer support offered by COPS is to families.

 

COPS cyclists carry the Welsh flag on their ride.

 

“It seemed a fitting way to end my police career too, acknowledging the fact that during my service, many officers have lost their lives in the course of their duties, but also seeing how the police family pulls together to keep their memories alive and support their families.”

The Police Unity Tour is an annual sponsored cycle ride by officers, staff and supporters from forces across England and Wales.

The Dyfed Powys riders set off from Aberystwyth on Friday morning, joining the other Welsh riders en route and then making their way over the two days to Drayton Manor in Staffordshire on the Saturday evening.

Each rider in the tour wears a band inscribed with the name of a fallen officer and, where possible, this is presented to the officer’s family at the end of the ride.

They joined other chapters on the Sunday morning to ride into the arboretum en masse to be greeted by fallen officers’ families and other guests attending the service of remembrance.

They were led by the Blue Knights - the world’s largest law enforcement motorcycle club - for the last leg of their journey.

Remembrance

The cyclists then joined the families, chief officers, Federation officials, representatives of other policing organisations and civic dignitaries at the annual Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Service of Remembrance.

Gill Marshall, COPS president, opened the service. A police widow herself, she recalled her daughters were just two and four when her husband, Alan, died and explained that she knew first-hand the value of COPS, which she called a fantastic charity.

Sarah Doyle, whose husband Merseyside PC Neil Doyle died 10 years ago, recalled how the couple had only been married a short time when he died after being assaulted while off duty. She said she immediately knew life would never be the same again, admitting that part of her heart had died with Neil.

While it had taken her a few years to get involved with COPS, she spoke movingly of how the friendship of other police widows had helped her and urged police survivors to seek the charity’s support.

“You will never look back. They help you to rebuild your shattered life,” she said.

Friday would have been the couple’s 10^th wedding anniversary and Sarah had decided to mark the poignant date by joining the PUT.

Charlotte Kellaway, daughter of DI Ian Kellaway who died of Covid in April 2020 having contracted the virus while on duty, shared her story of grieving for her father and also praised the way in which COPS had helped.

After Charlotte’s reading, Gill Marshall read the roll of honour featuring the names of officers who had died since last year’s COPS service. They were:

Sergeant Graham Saville of Nottinghamshire Police who died on 29 August 2023

Sergeant Paul Frear of West Midlands Police who died on 22 September 2023

PC Jack Cummings of West Yorkshire Police who died on 19 May 2024, and

Acting Sergeant Reece Buckenham of Hertfordshire Constabulary who died on 29 June 2024.

The roll of honour also included British Transport Police Property Officer Mark Birch who died on 12 October 2020.

Minute's silence

A minute’s silence followed and then wreaths were laid by for the Office of the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, the High Sheriff’s Office, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing, the Blue Knights, the Police Unity Tour, the National Memorial Arboretum and COPS. 

The final reading was by Greg Briggs, brother of Merseyside PC Paul Briggs, who died in 2017. He talked about his brother’s life of service, first to the Army and then to policing and welcomed the unwavering dedication of COPS to look after police survivors, saying he would be forever grateful to the charity.

Sir Peter Fahy, chair of COPS, closed the service, acknowledging that every year police officers will lose their lives on duty.

“COPS is there to support their families, not just in the immediate aftermath but in the years and years ahead,” said Sir Peter.

The service included music from the West Midlands Police Brass Band and, for the first time, vocal performances by Superintendent Sam Batey, a band member.

After the service, families and other guests made their way to The Beat, an avenue of trees dedicated to individual forces and officers to lay wreaths and single red roses.

Sponsor the Dyfed Powys PUT cyclists.

READ MORE: Pedal power will help boost COPS fund.