Fallen officers honoured as Police Unity Tour closed with COPS Service of Remembrance

11 August 2026

The sister of late Suffolk PC Cheryl Lloyd has paid tribute to the Police Unity Tour (PUT) for ‘keeping her memory alive’ as the 2026 ride was rounded off with this year’s Service of Remembrance.

The annual event, organised by the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) – a charity which supports and connects the families left behind by officers who have died on duty – took place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

It was attended by many of these bereaved relatives, including Sue Brace MBE, whose sister Cheryl died in the line of duty in June 2005. 

Sue told the Federation of her pride and gratitude at seeing her sibling’s life and sacrifice commemorated more than two decades after her death.

 

PC Jo Reynolds, Sue Brace MBE, Chief Constable Rachel Kearton
and Sue's husband Simon

 

She said: “I am so thankful. Coming here [to the arboretum] for the ‘survivors’, it is another family you’re joined with. We’ve cried, we’ve laughed, and we’ve had fun, but mostly, it’s about remembering our loved ones who have died.

“It’s not just Cheryl, but everyone in policing who we’ve lost - you’re remembering every officer.”

Speaking about the support her family has received from COPS, Sue said she believes her family ‘wouldn’t exist without the charity’.

She said: “Without COPS, I don’t think we would exist as that family. It’s talking to somebody who knows exactly how you feel that has helped so much, and I don’t think we would have come so far together without it.

Grief

“If I hadn’t been in this group, I don’t know what I would have done. Everyone will lose someone in their life and go through grief, but only we know what it’s like to lose someone in the police.”

As always, the popular PUT bike ride was held to raise money and awareness for this important work delivered by COPS.

Two Suffolk-based participants were involved in the 2026 event, completing over 180 miles of cycling across three days and ending their journeys in traditional style by riding into the arboretum ahead of the service.

This included Federation member PC Jo Reynolds, who rode as part of the PUT’s Thames Valley and Hampshire chapter.

Jo said: “It’s massively important to remember fallen colleagues. We represent a home from home to each other, probably spending more time with each other than we do at our actual homes, so if we lose someone within that, it has a real impact.

“I rode for Suffolk Constabulary’s DC Clive Barratt, who died on duty in July 1999. Coincidentally, he shares the same name as my father, which touched me that little bit more when I found out my engraved wristband was assigned to him.

Meanwhile, the Force’s Chief Constable Rachel Kearton joined up with the Norfolk chapter as she took on one final personal challenge before retirement.

Arboretum

Speaking to the Federation at the arboretum, PUT debutant Rachel said: “It’s been tough, with a lot of hard work and challenges, but it’s also been amazing.

“It’s really brought home to me the camaraderie and network of support we have within policing and reminded me of why I joined in the first place – what a thing to do in my last few weeks and months in the job.

“This spirit lives on for the survivor families who are left behind when we lose their loved ones on duty.

“With the money raised by every cyclist, COPS can continue providing essential services for them, with grief counselling and all sorts of welfare support.”

After riders from across the country had reached the Arboretum as their end destination, the Service of Remembrance got underway, being opened by COPS president Gill Marshall.

A reading then followed from Katie Hull, the daughter of Hertfordshire Police Constable Ronald Hull, who was killed by a speeding car on this day in 1989.

Joanne Woodward, sister of South Wales Police Sergeant Mark Woodward, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2002, also shared her story. 

Roll of Honour

The Roll of Honour was then read out, featuring the names of all officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty since last year’s service:

• Police Constable Marcus Bennett, of Civil Nuclear Constabulary, who died on 30 January 2025

• Police Constable Francis Hawkins, of Metropolitan Police, who died on 11 February 2025

• Police Constable Ian Minett, of Gloucestershire Constabulary, who died on 21 June 2025

• Police Constable Faizaan Najeeb, of Northamptonshire Police, who died on 26 September 2025

• Police Constable Mathew Parker, of Essex Police, who died on 19 November 2025

• Police Constable Bradley Corke, of Kent Police, who died on 21 March 2026

• Police Constable Mark Chester, of Ministry of Defence Police, who died on 2 May 2026

• Police Constable Jess Turnbull, of Northumbria Police, who died on 10 June 2026

• Police Constable Alice Slominska, of Bedfordshire Police, who died on 17 July 2026.

A minute’s silence was also observed before wreaths were laid for the Office of the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, the High Sheriff’s Office, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing, the Blue Knights, the Police Unity Tour, the National Memorial Arboretum and COPS.

The final reading of the service was delivered by Ella Dent, the stepdaughter of Metropolitan Police Constable Chris Dent, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2009.

Attendees then heard music performed by the West Midlands Police Brass Band and West Midlands Superintendent Sam Batey.

Chief Constable Sir John Robins QPM DL, from the COPS Chair of Trustees, closed the service. Families and guests then made their way to The Beat, an avenue of trees dedicated to individual forces and officers, to lay wreaths and single red roses.

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