Fallen colleagues remembered at COPS Service Of Remembrance

30 July 2018

Police officers who have died on duty – and their surviving family members – were remembered at the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Annual Service of Remembrance.

Family, friends and colleagues joined members of the Police Family at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday 29 July to pay respects to officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The soggy service in Staffordshire was attended by more than 800 people and events took place all weekend for surviving family members.

The service heard from relatives who had lost police officers on duty over the past 50 years.

John Fordham, son of DC John Fordham, who was stabbed to death on duty in 1985, told the service how important the COPS charity is for him.

He said: “My dad’s colleagues at Scotland Yard were as compassionate and helpful as they could have been and for that I will always be grateful. With hindsight I can see they were hurting too. My dad meant an awful lot to them as a colleague, as a professional and as a friend. However, there comes a time when the phone doesn’t ring so much.

“There comes a time when the doorbell no longer rings at unusual times of the day or night. And there comes a time when you’re left alone to pick up the many scattered pieces of your life.

“Care of Police Survivors did not exist in 1985.

“As you look at the person next to you and look around you, you will see that we are lucky people today. Lucky because we have at least one friend if we want. Lucky because we have a shoulder to cry on if we want. And I feel mostly lucky that we have someone to laugh with if we want to.”

Police officers remembered this year were PC John Alcock, of Grampian Police, PC James “Dixie” Dixon, of Thames Valley Police, PC Dave Fields, of South Yorkshire Police, and PC Steve Jenkins, of Gwent Police.

Chief officers from all UK forces, the Home Office and staff associations were among those who took time to pay their respects and lay wreaths. The West Midlands Police band provided accompanying music.

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick said: “COPS is a fantastic charity and this is a very important event. I’ve tried to help and support it as I think it is vital we remember those who have lost their lives and for those of us that are serving to really think about the survivors, the families and their loved ones.”

Before the service, The Blue Knights motorcyclists arrived in procession to pay their respects. They were also joined by more than 300 members of the UK Police Unity Tour who had cycled up in convoy from across the UK.

The cyclists raised a record £200,000+ for the charity.

Ms Dick added: “It’s an incredibly important day in the year and it’s amazing that so much money is raised also through the Unity Ride and other events that allow survivors to have some slight comfort in making contact with other people who have been through a ghastly experience, and to be able to reach out to them and spend some time with these truly inspiring families.”