Praise for Police Unity Tour cyclists

29 July 2024

West Mercia Police Federation chair Steve Butler has praised local officers who took part in the Police Unity Tour in memory of fallen colleagues over the weekend.

The tour saw cyclists from forces across England and Wales set off from their home force areas on Friday and take a route covering around 180 miles to reach the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire on Sunday morning.

West Mercia officers joined the West Midlands Chapter of the tour with colleagues from the West Midlands, Warwickshire and Staffordshire forces.

“The Police Unity Tour aims to raise awareness of fallen officers and raises funds for Care of Police Survivors, the charity that provides invaluable support to the families of officers who have died in the line of duty,” says Steve.

Gruelling

“Having taken part in the tour before, I know it can be gruelling, but I also feel it is an honour to ride for fallen colleagues and to show their families that their loved one is not forgotten.

“Each rider wears a wristband engraved with the name of a fallen officer and, where possible, this is presented to the officer’s family at the end of the ride.

“I would like to put on record my thanks to our officers who took part this year. Their efforts mean so much to the families.”

All those riding in the tour met at Drayton Manor on Saturday evening before riding in unison into the arboretum on Sunday morning where they were met with applause from the crowd gathered to welcome them.

The West Mercia team in action on the Police Unity Tour.

They were led by the Blue Knights - the world’s largest law enforcement motorcycle club - for the last leg of their journey.

The cyclists then joined the families of fallen officers, chief officers, Federation officials, representatives of other policing organisations and civic dignitaries at the annual Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Service of Remembrance.

Gill Marshall, COPS president, opened the service. A police widow herself, she recalled her daughters were just two and four when her husband, Alan, died and explained that she knew first-hand the value of COPS, which she called a fantastic charity.

Sarah Doyle, whose husband Merseyside PC Neil Doyle died 10 years ago, recalled how the couple had only been married a short time when he died after being assaulted while off duty. She said she immediately knew life would never be the same again, admitting that part of her heart had died with Neil.

Friendship

While it had taken her a few years to get involved with COPS, she spoke movingly of how the friendship of other police widows had helped her and urged police survivors to seek the charity’s support.

“You will never look back. They help you to rebuild your shattered life,” she said.

Friday would have been the couple’s 10^th wedding anniversary and Sarah had decided to mark the poignant date by joining the PUT.

Charlotte Kellaway, daughter of DI Ian Kellaway who died of Covid in April 2020 having contracted the virus while on duty, shared her story of grieving for her father also praised the way in which COPS had helped.

After Charlotte’s reading, Gill Marshall read the roll of honour featuring the names of officers who had died since last year’s COPS service. They were:

Sergeant Graham Saville of Nottinghamshire Police who died on 29 August 2023

Sergeant Paul Frear of West Midlands Police who died on 22 September 2023

PC Jack Cummings of West Yorkshire Police who died on 19 May 2024, an

Acting Sergeant Reece Buckenham of Hertfordshire Constabulary who died on 29 June 2024.

Roll of honour

The roll of honour also included British Transport Police Property Officer Mark Birch who died on 12 October 2020.

A minute’s silence followed and then wreaths were laid by 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 was by Greg Briggs, brother of Merseyside PC Paul Briggs, who died in 2017. He talked about his brother’s life of service, first to the Army and then to policing and welcomed the unwavering dedication of COPS to look after police survivors, saying he would be forever grateful to the charity.

Sir Peter Fahy, chair of COPS, closed the service, acknowledging that every year police officers will lose their lives on duty.

“COPS is there to support their families, not just in the immediate aftermath but in the years and years ahead,” said Sir Peter.

The service included music from the West Midlands Police Brass Band and, for the first time, vocal performances by Superintendent Sam Batey, a band member.

After the service, families and other guests made their way to The Beat, an avenue of trees dedicated to individual forces and officers to lay wreaths and single red roses.