HIS TWO YOUNG SONS WILL HAVE TO GROW UP WITHOUT THEIR SUPERHERO DAD..! – Heartbreaking floral tribute reveals the family PC Matthew Blades leaves behind after A66 tragedy
PC Matthew Blades’ family pay tribute to ‘superhero’ at funeral after police officer killed in A66 crash
PC Matthew Blades, 37, made his final journey with the white floral tribute ‘Dad’ from his two young sons, as his widow, Sarah, stood alongside hundreds of officers and mourners at her husband’s funeral
Funeral of PC Matthew Blades: cortège arrives at church
The family of a police officer killed in the A66 tragedy said a heartbreaking goodbye to their ‘superhero’ today.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, made his final journey with the white floral tribute ‘Dad’ from his two young sons at his funeral. His widow, Sarah, stood alongside hundreds of officers and mourners as her husband’s Union Flag-covered coffin was carried into church.
In her moving tribute to her husband after his tragic death, she said: “Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad.” Standard bearers from every police force in the country raised and then lowered their flags.
The full police ceremonial cortege for PC Blades included four horses and Scottish pipers as it approached St Joseph’s RC Church in his hometown of Hartlepool, Co Durham. The pipers played ‘Amazing Grace’ as former Cleveland Police colleagues, standing side by side, wiped away tears.
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The tribute to PC Matthew Blades from his two young sons(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
About 1,000 officers lined the streets, many wearing the white ceremonial caps of the traffic patrols. Matthew was a much-loved member of the Matrix team of responders.
He tragically lost his life alongside his colleague PC Tom Clough, 38, when a VW Passat containing five youths struck their armed response vehicle head-on at high speed in the early hours of August 22, on the A66 near Middlesbrough. Many of their colleagues wore a special identity badge for the funeral displaying ”PC Blades 2443 PC Clough 3234′.
PC Blades, who had two sons aged six and eight, should have been coaching a youth team named in his honour this week, and enjoying the exploits of his beloved Manchester United.
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Cleveland Police officers comfort each other outside the funeral of their colleague PC Matthew Blades(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Sarah and his family said he would be “loved beyond words, today, tomorrow, and always”. Their two young sons were not seen among the mourners outside church today.
Lauren Somerville, chair of the Cleveland Police Federation, wiped away tears as colleagues carried the coffin inside. She praised the outpouring of grief and support for the two officers which showed ‘”how much they were loved”.
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Pall bearers carry the coffin of PC Matthew Blades into his funeral(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
She said: “Matty was described as a best friend, a father, a brother and a son by his family. There are no words powerful enough to describe exactly how the family feels. He was the heart of the family, and he will be loved beyond words, today, tomorrow and always.
“He would have been so incredibly proud and thankful for all the love and support given to the family. He is going to be missed more than words can ever say. His laughter and silly jokes made them smile even when they least expected it.
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PC. Matthew Blades who gave his life in the line of duty(Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)
“He was a joker who brought light and laughter into every room. And now life feels unbearably quiet without him.” She added that there was a “huge sense of pride, honour, and duty among Cleveland Police and officers across the country”.
Ms Somerville, whose Federation set up a fund which raised £1.2m for the two A66 officers, added: “It is there especially for those who loved and worked with Matthew and Tom. They are standing shoulder to shoulder for Matthew and Tom and the rest of the country will be with them as well.”
Ms Somerville said Cleveland Police received support from other forces following the crash and investigations into wider organised crime.
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PC Blades died when a car going in the wrong direction hit a police car on the A66 near Middlesbrough(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
She said: “I knew they would come to help us, and that they would be honoured to do so at this time. Not just police officers, but the Federation; people have been desperate to come here and wrap their arms around us.”
Hundreds of mourners lined the streets for the service, which was attended by Cleveland Chief Constable Victoria Fuller, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey, and Policing Minister Sarah Jones.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham also paid tribute. He told the Commons: “I also want to send our sympathies to the hundreds of people who will gather today at the funeral of 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.”
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The funeral cortege for PC Matthew Blades(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Outside church, Zara Lavender, 30, from Hartlepool, said: “I have come here to pay my respects to the officer, I thought it was important that people came out to show that.”
James Masey, 20, a student, recalled the shock of hearing that PC Blades had lost his life. “I wanted to show my respects, it was such a horrific incident.”
A former British Army soldier, who asked not to be named, explained why he came, saying: “You can see from the turn-out that people wanted to get together. These guys did not deserve what happened to them – the police have a hard enough job as it is.”
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Police officers hug each other before the funeral of PC Matthew Blades at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Hartlepool(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Family friend Ian ‘Buster’ Gallagher, a former footballer turned physiotherapist, wrote a touching tribute to PC Blades and his family in community newspaper Hartlepool Life.
He said: “I can’t describe how angry and frustrated I am for what happened but we all have to cherish and remember the times we spent with Matt.
“Sarah has been superhuman. I have seen her at close hand every day showing immense strength and I am sure Matt would be so proud of her. In fact, he couldn’t be any prouder.”
Lauren added that it was “an honour and a privilege” to attend the funeral on behalf of our colleagues across Cleveland.
She said: “His family has shown incredible dignity and bravery since those awful events in August and it was our privilege to play our small part in honouring Matt’s memory.
“It was so moving to hear the stories of his humour and cheekiness. That’s the man who will be remembered fondly and we will never grow tired of hearing these stories.
“Policing Cleveland will continue – but we will ensure that Matt and Tom, and their legacy, will never be forgotten.”
In contrast, a 39-year-old man was arrested at the funeral for one of the five men killed in a head-on collision with police on the A66, which also killed two armed officers.The Teesside Crematorium service for Cole Worthy, 17, was disrupted and police responded to reports of a disturbance inside. Cleveland Police confirmed today’s arrest.
Paying tribute to her husband the day after the tragedy claimed his life, Sarah Blades said: “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, 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.”
