Farewell to a hero: Hundreds of police and Army veterans form guard of honour for second officer killed in horror A66 crash
PC Tom Clough, 38, and his colleague PC Matthew Blades, 37, lost their lives in a crash on the A66 in South Bank on Saturday, August 22
Police officers, soldiers and veterans have paid tribute to Pc Tom Clough, who was killed in a crash on the A66 last month.
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Police officers, soldiers and veterans have paid tribute to Pc Tom Clough, who was killed in a crash on the A66 last month.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at Kirkleatham Walled Gardens in Redcar, Teesside, for the funeral of the 38-year-old Cleveland Police armed response officer.
The brave police officer was killed alongside his colleague Pc Matthew Blades when they collided with a car driving the wrong way on a dual carriageway in the early hours of August 22nd.
The fatal collision is believed to have been the result of the “wrong-way driving” trend that has grown in popularity online.
The five young men travelling in the VW Passat, which was being pursued by police before the collision, were also killed.
Read more: Man, 39, arrested at funeral of teenager killed in A66 crash as 'disturbance' erupts
The funeral procession was led by four police officers mounted on horseback, followed by motorbikes and a marked Cleveland Police Audi with blue lights flashing.
Soldiers in ceremonial dress and veterans replete with medals flanked the procession, while hundreds of officers lined Plantation Road and the journey to the gardens.
As the hearse passed, standard bearers from forces across the country lowered their flags.
The coffin of Pc Clough was draped in a Union Flag and had a police helmet placed on top of it.
The procession started in silence before a piper played a lament.
Pc Clough served in the British Army between 2006 and 2012, reaching the rank of lance corporal with the Royal Logistic Corps.
His final posting was with 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment.
After he left the Army, Pc Clough served with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary at Sellafield and British Transport Police before joining Cleveland Police.
Cleveland Police Federation chair Lauren Somerville said: “Tom used to say there wouldn’t be anyone at his funeral and he couldn’t have been more wrong.
“Tom was deeply loved by his colleagues. People have been contacting me who worked with Tom years and years ago.
“It would be an understatement to say that every single place that he served was privileged to have him with them.”
She said the public’s support had brought his family “so much comfort”, adding that he was a much-loved partner, son, brother and devoted owner of his sausage dog, Frank.
The service came a day after Pc Blades was laid to rest in his home town of Hartlepool.