Every UK force represented at PC Matthew Blades funeral as officers line the streets

Some of the officers who lined the length of Hutton Avenue outside the red-brick church wore identity patches PC 2443 BLADES and PC 3234 CLOUGH on their uniforms.

Standard bearers represented every UK force at the service for Cleveland PC Matthew Blades, 37, at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in his home town of Hartlepool.

He was killed with his colleague PC Tom Clough, 38, in a head on collision at South Bank, near Middlesbrough by a car that was being driven the wrong way on the A66.

Hundreds of people packed the church, with members of the public and paramedics also in attendance on the roads outside paying their respects to the 37 year old father of two, who died on duty in the early hours of Saturday August 22.

The hearse had a white and red floral tribute which read “Dad” on the roof for the married father-of-two.

The standard bearers lowered their flags as the hearse, led by a police motorbike outrider, approached the church.

Four officers on horse-back stood guard beside a cordon where hundreds of members of the public were also paying tribute.

Before the service, traffic officers in white caps hugged each other as they remembered PC Blades, who was an armed response officer.

Photos: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

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.

There was silence in as mourners bowed their heads as PC Blades coffin made its way slowly to the church – followed by his family – as part of the ceremonial parade.

Emergency services representatives from the North East Ambulance Service and Great North Air Ambulance were also there.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.

“These guys did not deserve what happened to them – the police have a hard enough job as it is.”

Cleveland Police Federation chairwoman Lauren Somerville said: “The Police Family came together shoulder to shoulder today, arm in arm to remember our brave colleague PC Matthew Blades.

“It was an honour and a privilege to attend today’s funeral on behalf of our colleagues across Cleveland.

“His family have 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.

She added: “There’s been over £1.2 million raised for Matt and Tom’s families, which is overwhelming, and a great show of support.

“There have been comments on Facebook, we’ve had flowers delivered to our stations.

“People have been in touch from Australia, France, America – the support has been overwhelming, and it’s been comforting.”

Ahead of the funeral, describing PC Blades, she said: “Matthew was a best friend, husband, father, a brother and a son, and his family have said the words are not powerful enough to describe how they feel right now.

“He has been described as the heart of the family, and he will be remembered beyond words today, tomorrow, and always.

“He would be so proud of all of the support that’s been shown from the public and from his colleagues, to his family.

“His family have said they’re going to miss everything about him more than words can say, and his laughter and silly jokes made them smile even when they least expected it.

“He’s been described as bringing light and laughter into every room and now life feels unbearably quiet without him.”

Lauren added: “Matt was a police officer who was loved deeply by his colleagues and clearly a cherished and much missed football coach.

“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.”

The armed response officers were in a marked vehicle heading the right way down the A66 in the early hours of August 22 when they were hit by a Passat which had been involved in a police pursuit before it was aborted.

CC Fuller has previously said PC Blades and PC Clough were “brave, committed, professional people who put the public before themselves”.

Category: deaths on duty