Police Unity Tour: Widow of Andy Boardman prepares to attend Memorial Service as riders wear black armband for officer

28 July 2023

A group of cyclists representing West Mercia Police Force is setting off on the Police Unity Tour today, an event that will be particularly poignant this year, with riders wearing a black armband in memory of officer Andy Boardman, who collapsed and died while on duty in April.

The 200-mile event, which begins today (Friday 28) and ends on Sunday (30) at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire with this year’s Memorial Service, raises money for the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) charity.

During the event, not only will West Mercia participants wear a wristband specifically dedicated to a fallen officer they will also be wearing a black armband in memory of their colleague, 43-year-old Andy.

Ahead of this year’s ride, Andy’s wife and fellow West Mercia officer Luci, along with his colleague and good friend, Fed rep Rob Seewoosaha has paid tribute to the father-of-two.

Rob, Lawrence and Andy enjoying time together

“The mood was always lighter when Andy was around,” said Luci, who will be attending this year’s Memorial Service on Sunday.

“He was so kind and caring, we miss him incredibly. He has left a massive hole in our hearts and in our lives.”

Luci told how she and the couple’s two daughters, talk about Andy ‘all of the time’.

“I want it to be as normal as possible for the girls, talking about their dad,” she continued.

“He was always a really hands-on dad. Because I’m a police officer too, we couldn’t always get time off together, so he would take the girls away on his own in the caravan - he loved spending quality time with them.”

Andy had completed his public order training, as well as evidence-gathering training, which is where he met colleague come good friend, Rob, a Fed rep with West Mercia Police Federation.

“I first met Andy in 2017 and quickly, we became more than colleagues, we became good friends,” said 48-year-old Rob.

Rob continued to explain how he, Andy and detective constable Lawrence Smith soon formed an ‘unbreakable trio’.

“It sounds bizarre but they felt like brothers to me,” said Rob.

“We respected each other so much. There was a sense of camaraderie and brotherhood between us.”

Having desperately campaigned to be deployed together, Rob told how they were ‘over the moon’ when the trio were picked to attend COP26 in Edinburgh in 2021.

“I’ll never forget the sound of Andy’s voice when he called me to tell me we’d all been picked to go to Scotland. It was great. We just knew how to work together,” he continued.

“I felt safe working with him. I really trusted him, and felts so much better if Andy was by my side in difficult situations.”

Rob recalls the moment he found out Andy had died, explaining how he was in disbelief and shock.

“I just felt a massive empty space form in my life,” he added.

Rob, Lawrence and Andy in front of Air Force One

“A few days later I broke down to my wife. I’ve never been like that with a colleague before.

“I know he will be at the forefront of so many officers' minds this weekend, during the Police Unity Tour and at the Memorial Service. The impact losing a colleague has on the force is huge. Andy was one of the nicest, more loveable cops and people I’ve ever known.

“And, while he didn’t die on duty, we will also be remembering Special Chief Inspector Chris Smith. He wore the thin blue line just like me and I’ll be thinking of his family this weekend.”

Special Chief Inspector Chris Smith died on Sunday (23 July), having volunteered with West Mercia Police Force since 2003. Chris leaves behind his wife Kate and their three children

Rob ended: “The police are like the world’s biggest gang, and we’ve lost a part of our family these past few months.”

The West Mercia cyclists will join hundreds of others taking part in this year’s PUT, an event organised to honour fallen officers while raising vital funds for COPS, a charity that supports the families of those who have died while on duty.

Support those who are taking part by donating to the JustGiving page.