FLAGS LOWERED, HEADS BOWED… A WHOLE NATION OF OFFICERS SAYS GOODBYE TO PC MATTHEW BLADES IN AN EXTRAORDINARY FINAL TRIBUTE
HUNDREDS of emotional cops have lined the streets at the funeral of a “superhero” police officer who was killed in the A66 tragedy.
Standard bearers are representing every UK force at the service for PC Matthew Blades, 37, today.
Hundreds of emotional cops have lined the streets at the funeral of a police officer who was killed in the A66 tragedyCredit: PA
Police officers hug each other before the funeralCredit: PA
PC Matthew Blades is being honoured by his colleagues today in a tributeCredit: Facebook
PC Tom Clough also died when a car going in the wrong direction hit a police car on the A66Credit: PA
PC Blades, 37, was one of two officers who died when a VW Passat going the wrong way down the dual carriageway to escape police crashed into their marked patrol car.
His colleague PC Tom Clough, 38, was also killed and will be honoured at a separate funeral tomorrow.
Before the service, traffic officers in white caps hugged each other as they remembered PC Blades, who was an armed response officer.
The funeral is being held at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in his hometown of Hartlepool.
PC ‘Matty’ Blades was a youth coach at Seaton Carew Football Club in Hartlepool.
He died alongside PC Clough in the horrific collision at South Bank, Middlesbrough, after five “joyriders” smashed their Volkswagen Passat into a cop car while driving in the wrong direction.
PC Blades is being laid to rest todayCredit: PA
The funeral is being held at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic ChurchCredit: PA
Police officers hug each other before the funeral of PC Matthew BladesCredit: PA
A floral tribute which says ‘Dad’ on top of the hearseCredit: PA
PC Clough’s funeral will be held tomorrow.
The five young men who also died were named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18.
PC Blades’ heartbroken colleagues wiped tears from their eyes as his coffin – draped in the Union flag – was carried into a packed church.
Some of the officers who lined the length of the road outside the red-brick church today wore identity patches “PC 3234 BLADES” and “PC 3234 CLOUGH” on their uniforms.
Hundreds of locals joined police to pay their respects and the crowds bowed their heads when the funeral cortege arrived at walking pace led by a lone police motorcycle outrider.
The hearse had a white and red floral tribute which read “Dad” on the roof for the married dad-of-two today.
Pall bearers carry the coffin of PC Blades into his funeral at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic ChurchCredit: PA
The standard bearers lowered their flags as the hearse approached the churchCredit: Getty
Standard bearers are representing every UK force at the service for PC Matthew Blades, 37, todayCredit: Getty
Mounted Police officers at the serviceCredit: Getty
The standard bearers lowered their flags as the hearse approached the church.
Four officers on horse-back stood guard beside a cordon where hundreds of members of the public were also paying tribute.
Four pipers and a drummer processed in front of the funeral car and they played Amazing Grace as the coffin, covered by a Union Flag, was brought in.
Emergency services representatives from the North East Ambulance Service and Great North Air Ambulance were also there.
Mourners attend the funeral at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Hartlepool todayCredit: NNP
Bagpipers lead the funeral cortege through the streets lined with police colleaguesCredit: PA
Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller greeted mourners at the entrance to the church.
Policing minister Sarah Jones and Home Office minister Anna Turley also attended.
Restaurant manager Ashleigh Bostock, 31, said: “What has happened over the last few weeks has been awful and for two officers to have lost their lives is unforgiveable.
“I wanted to come here to pay my own respects to show that we do care about our police and the job they do.”
And Zara Lavender, 30, also from Hartlepool, added: “I have come here to pay my respects to the officer, I thought it was important that people came out to show that.”
A former British Army soldier, who asked not to be named, explained why he came, saying: “You can see from the turnout that people wanted to get together.
Some of the officers who lined the length of the road outside the red-brick church today wore identity patches ‘PC 3234 BLADES’ and ‘PC 3234 CLOUGH’ on their uniformsCredit: PA
The street outside the church is flooded with members of the emergency servicesCredit: Getty
“These guys did not deserve what happened to them – the police have a hard enough job as it is.”
PC Matthew Blades and his boys were regulars at Old Trafford, and the club previously paid tribute to the heroic officer.
A fundraiser, launched by Cleveland Police, said the two police officers “paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty“.
PC Blades was a husband and father-of-two who had recently taken on a new role coaching Seaton Carew FC and was preparing to coach the club’s under-sevens team, where his own son plays.
The funeral service takes place for PC Matthew BladesCredit: Getty
The bearer party march to accompany the coffinCredit: Getty
His wife paid a heartbreaking tribute to her “beloved husband”, “best friend” and “the most devoted father to our two young boys”.
PC Clough, 38, had previously served with the British Transport Police and was also a former soldier.
His family described him as their “hero” and a man with a “fantastic” sense of humour who would always jump into action when needed.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham paid tribute in the Commons, saying: “I also want to send our sympathies to the hundreds of people who will gather today at the funeral of PC Matthew Blades, including many serving police officers, and we send our thanks to them all for their service and their work to keep our communities safe.”
Ahead of the service, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle said: “Today we remember in prayer PC Matthew Blades, who gave his life in service to others.
“We pray for his family, colleagues and all those affected by these tragic events, and ask for the Lord’s comfort, strength and guidance at this time.”
The bearer party removed their headdress during the funeral serviceCredit: Getty
Members of the police console each other ahead of the funeralCredit: Reuters
The wife of PC Blades said previously: “No words will ever feel like the right words to honour our Matt — my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys.
“He was an adored son and brother, a perfect son-in-law, and the most fun uncle. He was loved beyond words by all his family and friends, and his loss has left a space that can never be filled.
“He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.
“The pain of losing him is beyond words, and our lives will never be the same. Neither will the love he gave us ever fade.
“Our children will grow up knowing what an incredible father he was and will always be, and I will carry his love, his memory and everything we shared with me always.
PC Matthew Blades with his children at Manchester UnitedCredit: Facebook
Emergency services at the scene of the A66 crashCredit: PA
“He may have left this world committed to the duty he believed in, but his greatest legacy will always be the love he gave to his family.
“We would also like to express our deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks to all of the emergency services and to our police family who have stood beside us through the most difficult time of our lives.
“The kindness, compassion, love and unwavering support we have received as a family has meant more to us than words could ever express. Every message, visit, gesture of support and every person who has stood alongside us will never be forgotten.
“Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad.”
The five young men had purposefully driven into oncoming traffic in a bid to shake off police during a high-speed chase.
Cops abandoned the seven-minute pursuit as soon as they entered the dual carriageway.
But ten seconds later at 3.39am the Passat smashed into the armed response unit.
The gang had been looking for rivals after a long-running feud exploded when a Volvo XC60 rammed a home belonging to Cole Worthy’s dad, Gye, 38.
Moments later, the car barged an Audi into the front of a home belonging to Theo Rae’s family.
Cops flooded the area to prevent further disorder but by then the five were in the Passat hunting the Volvo.
It tried to evade pursuing police by heading onto the A66 and moments later the crash occurred triggering an explosion in the gangland feud which rocked Middlesbrough.
An extra 200 specialist officers, including armed cops, were deployed to the town from six other northern forces as Cleveland Police tried to keep a lid on the escalating violence.
Police made 24 arrests in the days after to disrupt organised crime.
