Chair attends National Police Memorial Day
27 September 2021
This year’s National Police Memorial Day (NPMD) honouring police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty was attended by 300 people this year after coronavirus forced an online virtual service last year.
The service, held at Lincoln Cathedral yesterday (Sunday 26 September), was the 19th event of its kind after being founded by now retired Kent Inspector Joe Holness QPM OBE following the death of his colleague Jon Odell in 2000.
Jon Nott, chair of West Midlands Police Federation, attended the service along with Helen Walker whose husband Mac died on 4 October 2001 when his West Midlands police motorcycle was deliberately rammed by the driver of a car that he was attempting to stop after it went through a red light. Helen was accompanied by her friend, Carole Rogers, whose husband was also a police officer and died while on an expedition on Mount Kilimanjaro. Chief Constable Dave Thompson represented the Force.
Jon said after the service: “National Police Memorial Day is one of the most important dates in the policing calendar and this year seemed to have an added poignancy since we were unable to meet in person for the service last year.
“It is really important that the police service pauses to remember those who have given their lives in the line of duty and also to show their families that their sacrifice is not forgotten.”
National police chaplain and NPMD co-ordinator, the Reverend Canon David Wilbraham MBE, said: “This service exists to pay tribute to the brave men and women who gave us their all; long may we remember them and their sacrifice. I hope the service provides comfort and reassurance that their legacy will live on.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel gave a love themed reading from 1 Corinthians 13 and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick gave the address.
She told the congregation: “Policing is a vocation and the last 18 months have tested our policing mission is some all too familiar ways and some new ways.
“The men and women on the frontline have risen to those challenges because of the inspiration and legacy of those who went before, never asking what was in it for them but instead asking ‘what can I do?’ Courage in policing comes in many forms, including meeting a life-threatening situation, yet it is sometimes tough, unfair, thankless and dangerous.
“Today we pay tribute to the courage of those killed in service and the great courage shown by their families ever since. The loss of an officer is felt by each member of our service and this year, sadly, we add six more families to those we want to protect and support. Your loss, your pain, your bereavement, of course, never goes away but our desire to help, protect and support endures. We will always try our hardest to support you and we will never forget you or the sacrifice that your loved one made.”
Prayers were led by Thelma Corkey BEM, the widow of Reserve Constable Snowdon Corkey, who was shot in 1982, Annie Coker, the widow of DC John Coker, who died from Covid in April last year, and Darryl Codling, the son of Inspector Ray Codling of Greater Manchester Police, who was shot in 1989.
During the act of remembrance, four candles were lit to represent each of the nations of the United Kingdom.
For England, the candle was lit by Jayne Clemson, daughter of PC Ray Davenport of Merseyside Police, who died aged 35 on 4 July 1981 after sustaining fatal injuries having been dragged along the road by a stolen vehicle.
Representing Northern Ireland was Andrea Brown, whose father, RUC Sergeant Eric Brown, George Cross, of Royal Ulster Constabulary, was shot in 1983.
Rhianydd Gardiner, the great niece of PC Noel Alexander who died in 1964 after being injured during an exercise with the Police Mobile Training Column, represented Wales.
And representing Scotland was Faye Buggins, widow of PC Roy Buggins, who collapsed and died while on duty in 2019.
The national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), John Apter, paid tribute to the six officers who had lost their lives over the past year:
Sergeant Paul Keaney, Northamptonshire Police
PC Christopher Miller, Metropolitan Police
PC Matiu [Matt] Ratana, Metropolitan Police
PC Thomas White, Police Scotland
PC Darryl Street, Civil Nuclear Constabulary, and
PC Quamar Zaman, Greater Manchester Police.
John said: “The National Police Memorial Day is an incredibly important day in the policing calendar. It’s a day to remember those colleagues we have lost and to ensure they are never forgotten. It is a time to reflect, pay tribute and remember.”
The cathedral was showered in petals of remembrance while the orchestra played “Abide With Me” and “The Last Post” was sounded.
A tribute wall, set up last year as part of the online service, remains in place for family, friends and colleagues to post messages in memory of a loved one and Lincoln Cathedral and police headquarters buildings were lit blue over the course of the weekend.
NPMD is held annually on the nearest Sunday to St Michael’s Day and is supported by the Police Federation of England and Wales, police associations, patron HRH The Prince of Wales and the Home Office.
Numbers in Lincoln were limited this year in accordance with social distancing guidelines so police forces across the UK were encouraged to hold a unified Act of Remembrance at 11am today (Monday 27 September) which the Force took part in.
The 2022 National Police Memorial Day will be held in Belfast next September.
