A solemn hush fell over Hutton Avenue in Hartlepool today as the hearse carrying PC Matt Blades, marked with the word “Dad”, travelled through his hometown.
For long stretches, the silence was broken only by low murmurs from mourners, the hum of a drone recording the ceremonial funeral, and the steady clip-clop of the four horses leading the procession.
The respectful turnout came after weeks of turmoil in this corner of north-east England following the deaths of PC Blades, 37, and his Cleveland Police colleague PC Tom Clough, 38, in a head-on collision on the A66 in Middlesbrough.
The scene stood in sharp contrast to recent gatherings held for the five young men in a car bearing cloned number plates who also died in the crash that claimed the lives of the two officers.
At a “memorial” event for Michael Cahill, 23, last month, five vehicles were set on fire in Haswell, County Durham, while fireworks and flares were also let off.
Other funerals for the five men have seen young men concealing their faces with balaclavas or leaning out of car windows.
Today, there were similar scenes elsewhere.
As more than 1,000 police officers quietly lined the streets to watch PC Blades’ Union Jack-draped coffin being carried into St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, a service for Cole Worthy, who died in the same crash, was taking place nearby in Middlesbrough.
More than 1,000 police officers and hundreds of well-wishers lined the streets of Hartlepool for the funeral of PC Matthew Blades
PC Blades was killed alongside his colleague, PC Tom Clough, when they were hit by a car travelling the wrong way down the A66 in Middlesbrough
PC Blades’ coffin was draped in a Union Jack. Pipers played Amazing Grace as the coffin was led into the church
Remarkably, midway through his funeral at Teesside Crematorium, police received reports of a ‘disturbance’ and officers were called to the scene.
A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault before the service resumed.
There were no such issues at the funeral for married father-of-two PC Blades, an armed response officer and former teacher who had served with Cleveland Police since 2015.
Many officers hugged before the procession arrived and even touchingly fixed one another’s lapels and straightened ties.
Some wore identity patches bearing the words ‘PC 2443 BLADES’ and ‘PC 3234 CLOUGH’.
Standard bearers waved flags representing every force from across the country before four pipers and a drummer processed in front of the funeral car and played Amazing Grace as the coffin was led inside the church.
Emergency services representatives from the North East Ambulance Service and Great North Air Ambulance were also in attendance.
Among those paying their respects was Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller, policing minister Sarah Jones, Home Office minister Anna Turley, Conservative MP for Stockton West Matt Vickers and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.
Cleveland Police Federation paid tribute to PC Blades, who was known as Matty, and to the courage of his family.
Paying tribute to PC Blades, Lauren Somerville, of Cleveland Police Federation, said: ‘He has been described as the heart of the family and he will be remembered beyond words.’
Officers comforted one another at the service. In contrast, a man was arrested on suspicion of assault at the funeral of one of the five young men involved in the crash which killed PC Blades
Lauren Somerville, Chair of Cleveland Police Federation, 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.
‘Matt was a devoted husband and father. An adored son and brother, son-in-law, and is remembered as the most fun uncle.
‘He has been taken from his loving family far too soon and they remain squarely in our thoughts.
‘The support and love we offer them does not end today. We will always be there to take care of them.’
Well-wishers in attendance spoke of how they felt a duty to pay their respects to a man who died ‘doing his job.’
Helen Byers, 65, a nurse from Hartlepool, said: ‘This was a young lad who lost his life looking after us all. It’s just tragic. I’m just glad there hasn’t been any trouble.
‘I was really upset when I heard what happened to him – somebody going out to do their job and then not coming home to a young family is absolutely tragic.’
Anne Roe, 60, a retired care worker, said: ‘They [the police] are heroes. I don’t come out of the house often these days but I had to come out for this.
‘I wanted to pay my respects and show they are respected.’
PC Blades, a football coach for youth teams, was a Manchester United fan and regular at Old Trafford. His two young sons were mascots for the club’s first home game of the season.
His wife, Sarah, paid tribute to her husband the day after the tragedy which claimed his life.
She said: ‘No words will ever feel like the right words to honour our Matt – my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys.
‘He was an adored son and brother, a perfect son-in-law, and the most fun uncle. He was loved beyond words by all his family and friends, and his loss has left a space that can never be filled.
‘He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.
‘The pain of losing him is beyond words, and our lives will never be the same. Neither will the love he gave us ever fade.
‘Our children will grow up knowing what an incredible father he was and will always be, and I will carry his love, his memory and everything we shared with me always.’
