There was emotion and humour as police officers who have died on duty were remembered by their family and friends at the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Annual Service of Remembrance Surviving family members and serving police officers gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday July 28 to pay respects to officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
The service in Staffordshire – bathed in glorious sunshine – was attended by around 1,000 people.
Adam Peppard was at the event on behalf of the Scottish Police Federation.
Adam said: “It’s an absolute pleasure and privilege to be here for the first time, seeing the scale and the size of just how many people are brought together. It’s an absolute, fantastic occasion.
“Ultimately, we join a job. We don’t expect to lose our lives but unfortunately it is a reality that does happen. And to know that we have such a wide family of people who are there, who’ve experienced it, who can help us get through it, is massive.”
The COPS Charity was co-founded by Christine Fulton, wife of the murdered Strathclyde PC Lewis Fulton, alongside Strathclyde Police Detective Jim McNulty.
Adam took time to speak to Christine during one of the many events held across the weekend for surviving family members.
He added: “It cannot be understated how important that is, and for people just to know that we will get you through this. The worst thing in the world, we will help you.
“Ultimately, they will feel that they are left in isolation and some people, as Christine was explaining, don’t immediately come. Some people come years down the line, some people come immediately to COPS. Knowing that it’s there, at a time they need it, it cannot be underestimated how massive that will be for them.”
During the 50-minute service on Sunday, survivors recalled their loss and how the charity had helped them in their time of need.
Speaking eloquently and emotionally were Sarah Doyle, wife of PC Neil Doyle, of Merseyside Police, Greg Briggs, brother of PC Paul Briggs, of Merseyside Police, and Charlotte Kellaway, daughter of Detective Inspector Ian Kellaway of The City of London Police.
The Roll of Honour for the police officers and who died on duty during the last 12 months was read out.
Those remembered this year were Police Property Officer Mark Birch, from the British Transport Police, Sgt Graham Saville, of Nottinghamshire Police, Sgt Paul Frear, of West Midlands Police, PC Jack Cummings, of West Yorkshire Police, and Acting Sgt Reece Buckenham, of Hertfordshire Police.
Before the Service of Remembrance, The Police Unity Tour – hundreds of cyclists who had ridden from across the country to the Arboretum in memory of fallen officers – arrived. The cyclists raise money for the COPS charity.
Also attending were the Blue Knights motorcyclists.