Norfolk Fed attending to remember fallen Norfolk officers at NPMD 2019

26 September 2019

On Sunday 29 September, the Police Family will head to Glasgow to mark National Police Memorial Day to remember fallen colleagues from across the country.
National Police Memorial Day Co-ordinator Canon David Wilbraham said the event will serve as a timely reminder of the sacrifices officers have made, as well as the real threat they face on a day-to-day basis.

Andy Symonds, Norfolk Chair will be attending along with Sam Hawkins Secretary to remember the fallen colleagues, particularly those Norfolk officers. Andy said: "I will be my honour to attend to remember all fallen colleagues and particularly special to pay our tributes to those fallen Norfolk colleagues. I have arranged to meet George McLaren who is the brother of Constable Robert McLaren who died in 1981 aged 42, his patrol car crashed in pursuit of speeding motorcyclists. 

List of Norfolk Constabulary officers who have fallen whilst on duty:

1907- Police Constable Walter Ford, Norfolk Constabulary
Died 30th June 1907. Aged 45. Fatally stabbed by a deranged man he found outside his house at night.

1941- Special Constable Douglas Watson, Norfolk Constabulary
Died 26th April 1941. Aged 56. Killed in an enemy air raid, duty status unknown.

1944- Special Constable Charles Henry Purr, Norfolk Constabulary
Died 1st April 1944. Aged 59. Fatally injured on night duty when knocked down by a cattle float.

1968- Police Constable David Protheroe Davies, Norfolk Constabulary
Died 13th January 1968. Aged 30. Killed when his police car went out of control on icy roads and crashed.


1969- Chief Inspector Victor Shirley, Norfolk Constabulary
Died 1st January 1969. Aged 47. Collapsed and died while on duty at Fakenham Police station.


1981- Police Constable Robert Craig Orr McLaren, Norfolk Constabulary
Died 31st August 1981. Aged 42. Killed when his patrol car crashed in pursuit of speeding motorcyclists.

1986- Police Constable John Ray Barton, Norfolk Constabulary
Died 15th January 1986. Aged 32. Killed when his police patrol car was crushed by a container lorry.

1987- Sergeant David Eveleigh Bowles, Norfolk Constabulary
Died 27th March 1987. Aged 42. Fatally injured clearing a fallen tree from the road when hit by a branch.

1987- Detective Constable Terence George Glister, Norfolk Constabulary
Died 23rd September 1987. Aged 43. Killed in a road accident with DC Last of Suffolk while on RCS duty.

2003- Police Constable Bernard John Brown, Norfolk Constabulary
Died 6th September 2003. Aged 47. Fatally injured when his patrol car crashed in the early hours.

Cannon David Wilbraham said: “I think it’s important to remember them, that we remember officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the course of duty. I’m always mindful that when we do that, other officers who are there and their families will be thinking, ‘it could have been me’. So it’s very poignant for those.”

National Police Memorial Day was founded in 2004 by Joe Holness, a Kent Police officer whose colleague had been killed on duty. More than 4,000 fallen officers are commemorated and remembered every year.

David said the event offers fellow officers, friends and family the opportunity to pay their respects to their colleagues and loved ones.
He added: “There will be ordinary officers there who just want to be there who have lost a colleague, officers who want to support the day because they see it’s important and, increasingly, a good number of officers from overseas.

“We’ll be joined by senior Government ministers, by senior officers from forces across the country, and by members of the service, and most importantly, the real VIPs – the families of those who have died on duty. And in the course of that service we will remember them, call them to mind.”

Despite the solemn nature of the day, David said that the memorial service is a fitting tribute to the officers who have died in the line of duty, but also for the families who have lost a loved one. He said: “Seeing the families and knowing how important it is for them that we do remember, that we acknowledge their loss, that they feel part of the police family because I think when you join the police actually you then have two families.

“You have your own family, those who are closest to you, whose love was the strongest and whose loss is the greatest. But you’re also part of that police family and that goes on in your own force but also across the country. Families knowing they are part of that family is really important.”