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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Tom Wilkinson

Hero’s funeral for PC Matthew Blades who was killed in A66 crash

  • Hundreds of police officers from across the UK gathered at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Hartlepool for the funeral of 37-year-old armed response officer Pc Matthew Blades.
  • Pc Blades, a married father-of-two, died alongside his 38-year-old colleague Pc Tom Clough in a crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough on 22 August, which also claimed the lives of five young men.
  • The emotional service was attended by emergency service personnel, Cleveland Police chief constable Victoria Fuller, policing minister Sarah Jones , and Home Office minister Anna Turley.
  • Prime minister Andy Burnham paid tribute in the House of Commons, sending sympathies to the attendees and expressing gratitude to serving officers for their dedication to community safety.
  • More than £1.2 million has been raised for the families of Pc Blades and Pc Clough, with the Cleveland Police Federation highlighting overwhelming public support from around the world.

IN FULL

Hundreds of police line street at A66 crash colleague’s funeral

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