Late sergeant to be remembered as cyclists gear up for Police Unity Tour

31 July 2025

Late Hertfordshire officer Reece Buckenham is set to be remembered a year on from his death at the 2025 Police Unity Tour (PUT).

Sergeant Reece lost his life on 29 June 2024 in a road accident on the A10 between Rush Green and Great Amwell. Shortly after finishing a night shift, his motorcycle collided with a car.

He will be honoured by the joint Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Chapter at the annual bike ride held in memory of fallen police officers, which takes place from this Friday until Sunday.

One cyclist within the chapter is Bedfordshire Constabulary’s PC Sam Sparkes, who will dedicate her ride to Reece by sporting a wristband engraved with his name.

PC Sam Sparkes.

In traditional PUT style, Sam will also meet with Reece’s relatives – known as ‘survivors’ in keeping with the event’s associated charity, the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) – along the chapter’s journey to the National Memorial Arboretum in Lichfield, Staffordshire.

Sam explained the background behind her decision to ride in memory of the late father-of-two.

“My main role is in the Beds, Cambs and Herts roads policing unit, but I have also been a family liaison officer (FLO) in the police for 21 years,” she said.

“I was the FLO for Reece’s family when he passed away. I may have been doing these duties for a long time, but it never gets any easier – not least when it concerns the death of another police officer.

Family man

“Although I never knew Reece personally, I’ve worked closely with his loved ones over this past year and I’ve obviously learnt so much about him. He sounded like he was an all-around great guy, who was everyone’s friend in policing and an amazing family man outside of it.

“It will be an absolute privilege to ride in his name, and I hope I can do his lovely relatives proud over the course of the weekend.”

Experienced cop Sam also acted as an FLO for the tragic passing of Hertfordshire’s PC Bruce Lister, whose death in January 2023 has been at centre of PUT tributes in the two years since.

The 2025 edition of the event will be Sam’s fifth, and she says she is ready for another ‘difficult but rewarding few days’.

Chapter

“We have one of the longest routes out of all chapters to Staffordshire, so it is never easy – but we always get there in the end, by sticking together and supporting each other.

“And when you get to the end, seeing all the survivor families as you ride into the arboretum is a very emotional and beautiful moment.

“It’s a big part of why I keep coming back to the Tour, because I know how much it means to them.”

Since getting involved with the PUT, Sam has individually raised over £10,500 for COPs through various fundraising efforts.

Raise money

Rounding off by heaping praise on the charity’s work, she said: “Simply, they are there for the people left behind by the death of a police officer, and that is invaluable.

“When lives are suddenly turned upside down, they are always there – that should never be forgotten.

“I feel honoured to raise money for their mission, and I’m thrilled about the total I’ve raised so far. I must say thank you to all the Federation members who have ever supported me with their donations.

“This allows some absolutely incredible work to be done for the loved ones of Reece, Bruce, and plenty more officers for the years to come, so I’m feeling very grateful as I gear up for the PUT once more.”

You can donate to Sam’s 2025 Police Unity Tour fundraiser by visiting her JustGiving page.