Funeral for PC Matthew Blades: Killed in Middlesbrough A66 Crash
BBC News reports on the funeral of PC Matthew Blades, who was killed in a crash on the A66 in Middlesbrough along with four other young men.
A Guard of Honour for PC Matthew Blades
Hundreds of officers, community leaders, and politicians attended a full ceremonial police funeral for PC Blades in Hartlepool. The street was lined with a guard of honour, as a simple floral display reading ‘dad’ topped the black hearse. Bagpipe players played ‘Amazing Grace’ as the coffin, wrapped in a union flag, was carried into the church.
Remembering PC Matthew Blades
Lauren Somerville, Cleveland Police Federation chair, spoke on behalf of PC Blades’ family, describing how "life feels unbearably quiet" without his "silly jokes" and laughter. She praised the overwhelming support from the public, including messages from Australia, France, and America.
The Crash and Its Aftermath
The crash occurred on 22 August when a Volkswagen Passat collided with a marked armed response car on the A66. PC Blades and PC Tom Clough, along with Cole Worthy, Theo Rae, Makai Saddington, Michael Cahill, and Jakub Matusiak, lost their lives. The pursuit of the Passat was initiated due to cloned registration plates, but it ended just 10 seconds before the collision when the vehicle entered the dual carriageway.
A Sense of Duty and Pride
Somerville expressed the collective feeling among officers, describing a sense of duty and pride in ensuring the funeral was perfect. She highlighted the support from across the country, emphasizing the personal impact of losing two officers from a small force like Cleveland.
