Gwent officers are remembered at National Police Memorial Day service
29 September 2025
A Gwent officer whose father died as he cycled home after a tour of duty at Maindee 35 years ago lit a candle to remember all fallen officers from Welsh forces at this year’s National Police Memorial Day.
PC Lowri MacArthur took part in Sunday’s service, held this year in Coventry Cathedral, in honour of her Dad, PC Terry Davies. Terry was just 34 when he died on 23 August 1990 after being struck by a stolen car that failed to stop.
Lowri lit the candle and read the following dedication:
In the harmony of song and strength of community,
In the quiet moments of reflection and shared memory,
In the stories passed down and the lives shaped by service,
We will remember them.
Lowri, who attends the service each year with her family, said: “People sacrifice their lives for day-to-day tasks so to remember people who have unfortunately passed away in the line of duty is extremely important.
Sacrificed
“You don’t forget about people. Every year we all get together, we all remember people that joined, and they’ve sacrificed their lives. It makes them more than just a memory. It makes them still feel real and still feel like they’re here.
Candles were also lit by a family member of a fallen officer from the other three corners of the UK – England, Scotland and Northern Ireland – to honour fallen officers from each country.
Earlier in the service, Gwent Police Federation workplace representative Inspector Jamie Jones read a prayer.
Jamie, who works mainly in response, said the prayer for unity and hope in memory of Gwent colleagues PC Steven Jenkins, aged 43, who died on 6 October 2017 after becoming suddenly unwell at Pillgwenily Police Station; PC Leighton Yhnell who was 51 when he died suddenly at home on 16 February 2018 and PC Rhys Kelleher, 28, who died on 21 August 2019 after a year-long battle with cancer.
Prayers were also read by Daniel Rogers, son of Greater Manchester PC Ian Rodgers who died in 1975, former Royal Ulster Constabulary and Police Service of Northern Ireland officer Yvonne Davidson and Iyona Shaar, an active member of the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers. Daniel’s prayer was for those who mourn, Yvonne’s was for light in darkness and Iyona’s was for peace and leaders.
Lost their lives
During the service, Tiff Lynch, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, read out the names of seven officers who had lost their lives during the past year.
PC Ian Minett, 38, of Gloucestershire Constabulary
PC Michael Bruce, 48, of the Metropolitan Police
PC Frank Hawkins, 52, of the Metropolitan Police
PC Marcus Bennett, 44, of the Civic Nuclear Constabulary
PC Rosie Prior, 45, of North Yorkshire Police
DC Karen Smith, 49, of Humberside Police, and
PC Faizaan Najeeb, 24, of Northamptonshire Police, who died just two days before the service.
Gwent Police Federation chair Matthew Candy was among officers of all ranks from across England, Wales and beyond to attend the service along with politicians, civic leaders, policing stakeholders and, most importantly of all, the families of fallen officers.
He said: “This year’s National Police Memorial Day service provided a fitting tribute to all our fallen colleagues and served to show their families that their loved ones are never forgotten.
Gwent chair Matthew Candy and secretary Dean Lanfear
“Once the candles had been lit to represent the fallen officers of the four nations, the whole congregation joined in saying: as long as we live, they too will live; for they are always a part of us as we remember them.
“That to me was a really important part of the service because it is true that, in paying our respects and remembering those officers who never made it home at the end of their shift, we ensure that we keep their memories alive.”
The Dean of Coventry, The Very Reverend John Wit, and the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Rachel Lancaster, welcomed the congregation to the service which included music from the West Midlands Police Band, The Big Sing Community Choir and the Choir of Coventry Cathedral.
The bidding and opening prayers were led by Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain MBE, associate chaplain of the Jewish Police Association; Imam Mohammad Asad MBE, the West Midlands Police chaplain, and Ashna Tumber, secretary of the National Sikh Police Association.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who is also a West Midlands MP, gave a Bible reading from The Beatitudes, Mathew 5: 1 – 12 while the shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, read from the Colossians 3: 12 – 17.
The service, which was also attended by police minister Sarah Jones, included an address from the Right Reverend Sophie Jelley, the Bishop of Coventry.
This was followed by the presentation of Elizabeth Emblems to the families of five police officers: PC Royston Jerred of Sussex Police, Sergeant Noel Lane of the Metropolitan Police, PC Mark Peers of the Metropolitan Police, PC Ian Rodgers of Greater Manchester Police and PC Dennis Smith QPM of Devon and Cornwall Police. The emblem will be presented to the family of PC Andrew Le Comte of West Midlands Police at a later date.
Roll of honour
The Government announced the introduction of the Elizabeth Emblem, named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, in March last year. The emblem is in recognition of those who lost their lives while undertaking eligible public service, including police officers listed on the roll of honour.
Towards the end of the service, the peace bell was sounded and, during a period of silence, petals of remembrance, representing fallen officers, fell from the gallery. The Last Post was then sounded and, after a short silence, Reveille followed.
After a closing blessing, the service ended with the congregation, which had filled the cathedral, singing the National Anthem.
More than 5,000 police officers have died on duty in the past 180 years but the National Police Memorial Day itself was only initiated in May 2001 by now retired Kent Inspector Joe Holness OBE QPM following the death of his colleague PC Jon Odell in Margate in December the previous year.
The first National Police Memorial Day service was held at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on Sunday 3 October 2004 and since then the services, which rotate around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each year, are held on the nearest Sunday to St Michael’s Day (29 September) as St Michael is the patron saint of police officers.
National Police Memorial Day 2026 will be held at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Sunday 27 September.
