Hundreds Honor PC Matthew Blades, 37, at Full Police Funeral After A66 Crash Killed 7
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 9
Hundreds Honor PC Matthew Blades, 37, at Full Police Funeral After A66 Crash Killed 7
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 9
Summary
Hundreds of officers from Cleveland and forces across Britain lined Hartlepool streets for a full ceremonial funeral for PC Matthew Blades, the 37-year-old officer killed on duty in the 22 August A66 wrong-way crash.
A black hearse topped with flowers spelling “dad” led the procession to St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, where officers carried his Union flag-draped coffin inside as bagpipers played Amazing Grace.
Lauren Somerville, speaking for Blades’ family, said the father of two had brought “light and laughter” and that public support — including messages from Australia, France and America — had strengthened officers.
The crash near South Bank also killed PC Tom Clough, 38, and five young men after a Volkswagen Passat hit the marked armed response car; Clough’s funeral will be held later.
The IOPC said police had pursued the Passat for almost seven minutes over alleged earlier criminal activity but abandoned the chase 10 seconds before the collision; Blades and Clough were searching for the car, not in the pursuit.