Fed member reflects on Police Unity Tour debut

27 August 2024

Sergeant Lorna Clarke was one of a number of first-time riders on the Northamptonshire chapter taking part in the 2024 edition of the Tour, which ran from Friday, 26 July to Sunday, 28 July to commemorate officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The Northamptonshire chapter, led by Sergeant Simon Randall since 2017, departed from Force Headquarters at 7.30am on the Friday and put in a physically demanding effort between rest breaks including a stop at Rushden Lakes to have lunch with team sponsors.

The group then covered more miles in a similar course of events on the Saturday before arriving at the National Memorial Arboretum in Lichfield, Staffordshire for the annual Service of Remembrance held by charity Care of Police Survivors (COPS).

Sergeant Lorna Clarke.

Lorna said: “I have been familiar with the Tour for years, but for some reason, it just seemed to be right in front of me this time around. Combined with the fact I’d got to a point where I needed a new physical challenge, it was enough to sign me up.

“Once I had signed up, I realised it was going to tick a lot of boxes for me, in terms of a physical challenge but also an opportunity to properly honour our late colleagues.”

As with tradition, Lorna cycled in tribute to a specific fallen officer she had herself put forward to be allocated to her. In the build-up to the event, Lorna decided she wanted to honour Police Scotland’s PC Tony Collins, who died in the 2013 Glasgow helicopter crash.

Training

“I only had a loose connection to Tony – I attended an air observer training course alongside him in 2006 – but I know he was passionate about police aviation like myself. It’s not a role that many people do in the Force, but it’s one I have always enjoyed,” she continued.

“Of course, what happened to him and his colleagues in that crash was unbelievably sad. So, I decided my personal tribute would be a nod to him and everyone who lost their lives that day.”

In more emotional developments from the weekend, Lorna described the eye-opening experience of talking to surviving family members of fallen officers about the vital support they receive from COPS.

The charity, founded in 2003, cares for survivors in a variety of ways, including by bringing them together with other grieving families through peer support opportunities and by offering access to counselling and specialist bereavement services.

“The step-father of the late PC Andrew Harper was present during the Tour and told many of us how COPS don’t just look after the immediate next of kin, who may not even strictly be a family member if the officer is married, but the wider family, too,” she said.

“From talking to him, I also got the impression that no one on the outside could ever truly understand the value of peer support. These grieving people are also part of our police family and I think it’s incredible they have that service available to them.

Awareness

“My picture has already changed for next year’s Tour – this year I went into it with more personal reasons, but next year, I already know I’ll be trying to raise as much money and awareness for COPS as possible.”

Lorna revealed that conversations with survivor relatives also gave her a renewed sense of pride towards the Police Force. Hearing stories from people external to the Force about what someone’s family member did during their career, she explained, served as a reminder to her that the work of a police officer is “not normal”.

The sergeant, who revealed she had undertaken a punishing training routine ahead of the PUT, ended by paying tribute to her first experiences of the Annual Service of Remembrance.

“The journey has that massive physical buzz with a huge emotional element at the end. The service was just incredible and it was so touching to be there in unison with officers, survivors and police staff from around the country all there for the exact same reasons.

“I would encourage anyone who is considering taking part in the Tour to do so for the service alone.

“If there is one thing to add to your policing bucket list, it’s that service at that venue.”