Plans underway for National Police Memorial Day

1 July 2025

It is now just a few months before the National Police Memorial Day service is hosted in Coventry for the first time in its history.

The memorial day was first held in London in 2004 and was set up by former Kent officer Joe Holness in the wake of the brutal death of his colleague PC Jon Odell in Margate in December 2000. Since then, it has rotated around the four nations of the UK, but when it has been in England, it was held in London up until 2021, when it was hosted at Lincoln Cathedral.

“It is an honour for the memorial day service to be held in Coventry this year,” says Jess Davies, chair of West Midlands Police Federation, “We are looking forward to welcoming colleagues from across England and Wales as they come together to remember fallen colleagues but, above all, we look forward to welcoming the families those officers left behind who continue to feel their loss.”

David Green was stabbed to death aged just 20.

The memorial day service will be held in Coventry Cathedral at 2pm on Sunday 28 September and, ahead of the formal service, West Midlands Police Federation has invited the families of West Midlands Police officers who lost their lives on duty to a morning reception nearby.

Among those attending will be Thelma Timmins whose fiancé, David Green (pictured), was stabbed to death as he attempted to make an arrest during a disturbance on 17 July 1975. He was just 20 at the time and tragically was on a run of night shifts, which were due to finish the following night. His memory is honoured by West Midlands Police Federation which presents the David Green Shield to the overall winner of its bravery awards each year.

Thelma has attended the bravery awards and admits that, even though it will soon be 50 years since David died, it does not really get any easier.

Bravery Awards

She said she knew from when she first met him that he was special: “He was so kind, gentle, respectful and attentive to me. We were only 19-years-old but we had so much in common. We loved the same music and were both sports people. We enjoyed going to Edgbaston to watch the cricket when shifts allowed. But David was a big Aston Villa fan - the complete opposite to myself.”

David attended Shenley Court senior school in Northfield, Birmingham which produced many cadets who then became regular officers and Thelma recalls: “There are many who are retired officers now who remember David with fondness and special memories only they will know.

“But David was very respected by anyone who knew him as he was so fair and understanding and listened to what was being said. I never saw him get angry and I can see that he took after other family members. He had the most impeccable manners. He had a very good upbringing and his work ethic was always at a high level.”

Thelma also remembers that David himself was recognised for bravery during his career with the Force and she actually witnessed him rescuing a man threatening to jump from a building in Birmingham town centre.

Despite the fact that Thelma and David had been together for just two years when he died, she remained in touch with his family until his sister, Angela, died around two years ago. David’s Mum, Mary, had worked at Bournville College, and Dad, Arthur, was the chief probation officer for Birmingham.

Memorial Day

Jess has thanked Thelma for sharing her memories of David as part of the Federation’s build-up to National Police Memorial Day.

“We really appreciate that it can be difficult for someone to relive a devastating and tragic part of their lives so we are really grateful that Thelma was able to give us an insight into David’s life since it was so horrifically cut short as he carried out his duties, serving and protecting the communities of the West Midlands,” said Jess.

“We must never forget our fallen colleagues and their service to the Force and to the public. But, equally importantly, we must always remember the families they left behind who were left to rebuild their lives but always feeling that a part was missing.”

The families of fallen officers will be joined by police officers of all ranks at the memorial day service, which will also be attended by civic leaders and policing stakeholders.

During the service, a roll of honour will be read out listing the names of officers who have died on duty in the 12 months since the previous memorial day. Relatives of four officers will light candles to commemorate police lives lost in each of the four nations of the UK.