Fed chair reflects on first time cycling in Police Unity Tour as fallen officers remembered at Arboretum
12 August 2026
Federation chair Delme Rees was among those honouring fallen officers over the weekend as the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Service of Remembrance took place to cap off the 2026 Police Unity Tour (PUT).
The annual service was held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, the end destination for all PUT participants cycling in from across England and Wales after a three-day bike ride in memory of officers who have died on duty.
The ride itself also raises money for COPS, the charity for family members of these late individuals to connect with each other and share their experiences of losing a loved one in the police.
After twice being part of the support staff for the event’s Wales chapter, branch chair Delme was involved as a rider for the first time in this year’s PUT, which was held from Friday 7 August to Sunday 9 August.
The Dyfed Powys Police team gather at their Force's memorial tree at
the National Memorial Arboretum with Delme (fifth right)
Speaking at the arboretum, he said: “It’s been an emotional weekend, but also really impressive to meet up with all the other chapters here today, because you can see how big this event is for policing.
“It’s my first time doing this [as a rider], and it’s been a good challenge.
“We’ve cycled from Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury – once we got out of the Welsh mountains, it wasn’t too bad – and then Shrewsbury to Telford, followed by Tamworth and at that point, we were in Staffordshire for the final leg of the journey to the Arboretum.
“It was all absolutely worth it to honour our fallen colleagues, and to show their families and friends that we will never forget about them in this profession.”
Branch members
Delme added that he would like to see more branch members get involved in the event and experience such a special highlight in the policing calendar for themselves.
“I’d encourage serving officers to join us – we’ve got a number of retired officers who’ve done it since they were in service, and now I think it’s time to generate some interest in terms of getting some operational officers, from Dyfed Powys at least, involved in some capacity.
“It’s always a very poignant and touching few days, and it represents an opportunity to take a pause from work and really reflect on the colleagues who once stood beside us, before they made the ultimate sacrifice.
“This service at the end also allows you to mark their lives in a very honourable way, joined by others from across the country who have also cycled all those miles in their memory.”
Once the entire PUT procession had reached the Arboretum, the Service of Remembrance got underway, being opened by COPS president Gill Marshall.
After this came a reading from Katie Hull, the daughter of Hertfordshire Police Constable Ronald Hull, who was killed by a speeding car on this day in 1989.
Line of duty
Joanne Woodward, sister of South Wales Police Sergeant Mark Woodward, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2002, also shared her story.
The Roll of Honour was then read out, featuring the names of all officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty over the past year:
- Police Constable Marcus Bennett, of Civil Nuclear Constabulary, who died on 30 January 2025
- Police Constable Francis Hawkins, of Metropolitan Police, who died on 11 February 2025
- Police Constable Ian Minett, of Gloucestershire Constabulary, who died on 21 June 2025
- Police Constable Faizaan Najeeb, of Northamptonshire Police, who died on 26 September 2025
- Police Constable Mathew Parker, of Essex Police, who died on 19 November 2025
- Police Constable Bradley Corke, of Kent Police, who died on 21 March 2026
- Police Constable Mark Chester, of Ministry of Defence Police, who died on 2 May 2026
- Police Constable Jess Turnbull, of Northumbria Police, who died on 10 June 2026
- Police Constable Alice Slominska, of Bedfordshire Police, who died on 17 July 2026
Following this, a minute’s silence was conducted and wreaths were laid 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 of the service was delivered by Ella Dent, the stepdaughter of Metropolitan Police Constable Chris Dent, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2009.
Attendees then heard music performed by the West Midlands Police Brass Band and West Midlands Superintendent Sam Batey.
Chief Constable Sir John Robins QPM DL, from the COPS Chair of Trustees, closed the service. Families and guests then made their way to The Beat, an avenue of trees dedicated to individual forces and officers, to lay wreaths and single red roses.
READ MORE: Branch chair ready to take on Police Unity Tour.
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