Sergeant remembered at National Memorial Day

1 October 2024

Hertfordshire Police Sergeant Reece Buckenham was among those remembered at the National Police Memorial Day.

Federation rep Terasa Holden described the service as ‘an emotional, moving and poignant’ occasion, coming just three months after the death of Reece.

Father of two, Reece, who was 36, was riding a motorcycle on the A10 between Rush Green and Great Amwell, having finished a night shift on 29 June, when he was involved in a road accident.

Terasa said it was ‘an honour’ to represent the branch, standing alongside fellow representatives of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), police chiefs, senior politicians, religious leaders and families of fallen officers.

Sergeant Reece Buckenham remembered at the memorial service.

She said: “It was a really moving and poignant day, coming three months after we lost Reece.

“The service was a chance for us to pay our respects to him and to those officers who have died in service, and to show support for the families, friends, colleagues.

“It’s a really emotional occasion, bringing together the policing family to pay tribute.

Tribute

“It was an honour to represent Hertfordshire Police Federation and our members.”

This year’s NPMD service, now in its 21st year, was held at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on Sunday.

Representing the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) was acting national chair Tiff Lynch.

She was joined by the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, policing minister Dame Diana Johnson and Angela Constance, the cabinet secretary for justice and home affairs.

The service opened with a processional march, which included flag bearers from a number of forces from across England and Wales. This was followed by music from the Police Scotland and Scottish Federation Pipe Band.

The Reverend Matt Hopley, the National Police Chaplain, opened the service.

Federation representative Terasa Holden.

The First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, then welcomed the congregation, saying it was a ‘huge privilege’ for Scotland to be hosting such an event.

A reading was then shared by Khaldoun Kabbani, vice president of the National Associations of Muslim Police and the secretary general of the Scottish Police Muslim Association.

Ms Cooper and Ms Constance also gave a reading. In a snippet from John 15: 12-17, from the Bible, Ms Cooper said: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Ms Constance read a powerful poem titled ‘Grief Told Me Its Name’, which begins: “I sat with my grief and it told me its name; It said, “I am love, just turned into pain”’. The verse ended with: “Grief then said, “They are still with you, although their body you can’t see; their love never left you. Please believe me.”’

Each year, relatives representing Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales light a candle to commemorate police lives lost in each of the four nations.

This year, lighting the candle for Scotland was Margaret Collins, mother, and Helen Cruddis, sister of Police Constable Anthony (Tony) Collins, 43 years, Police Service of Scotland, who died on 29 November 2013 when a police helicopter crashed into the roof of the Clutha bar in Glasgow.

Service

Representing England was Luke Ratana, son of Police Sergeant Matiu (Matt) Ratana, 54 years, Metropolitan Police, who died on 25 September 2020 after being fatally shot in Croydon Custody Centre. Luke is a serving police officer in Australia.

For Northern Ireland, Jill Davidson, the wife of Detective Superintendent Philip Davidson, 45 years, of Royal Ulster Constabulary GC, who died on 2 June 1994 when an RAF Chinook helicopter crashed on the Mull of Kintyre.

For Wales, Rob Jones, brother, and Chris Milne-Jones, sister of Police Constable Ralph Jones, 34 years, North Wales Police, who died on 13 July 1999 as the result of a road traffic incident while on a training course.

The names of officers who have died in the last 12 months were then read, with a tribute shown on the screen at the front.

This year’s Roll of Honour included:

Sergeant Reece Buckenham, Hertfordshire Constabulary

Sergeant Paul Frear, West Midlands Police

Sergeant Graham Saville, Nottinghamshire Police

Police Constable Jack Cummings, West Yorkshire Police

The congregation stood during The Last Post, while silence was kept as green and blue petals fell in remembrance of lives lost.

Recessional Music was played by the Police Scotland and Scottish Police Federation Pipe Band to mark the end of the service.

Ahead of the service, a parade - led by the pipe band - made its way to the Royal Concert Hall from Glasgow’s George Square before a Police Scotland flypast took place.

There is an online tribute wall that loved ones can post on. This can be accessed here and will remain active for 30 days following this year’s memorial weekend.

For those who are unable to attend, an online service featuring highlights will be posted on the NPMD website.

Next year’s National Police Memorial Day will be held on 28 September at Coventry Cathedral.