A Fitting Memorable Occasion
The church was unusually full for this now annual service. In the congregation were uniformed members of Lancashire Constabulary, Northern & Western Divisions, the Police Federation, and members and families of the National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO) together with Cllr & Mrs David Williams, Deputy Mayor & Mayoress, Wyre Borough Council. Members of the Fleetwood church family represented the Lancashire Police Authority. The organist was John Gibson and the service was led for Fleetwood United Reformed Church by Tom Birch. Arrangements for the day deserve an acknowledgment of the help of Insp Louise Ainsworth, Insp Ian McCann and Mr John Pickard of NARPO.
Why this day? Here is a quote: “Since the first salaried constables were created by an Act of Parliament in 1792, almost 4000 have given their lives in order to make our communities safer. It is now time that they were remembered with an annual, national memorial day in recognition of their courage and ultimate sacrifice.”
Joe Holness, Coordinator for the Police Memorial Day and a serving Kent Police Officer.
The patron saint of police officers is St Michael and the Feast of St Michael and All Angels falls on September 29th. Once it was accepted that there should be a memorial day it was, therefore, seen as appropriate and significant for an annual National Police Memorial day to be on or around this date. The inaugural National Police Memorial Day was marked with a dignified and sensitive memorial service at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, in 2004. For 2011 the service moved on to Glasgow and in 2012 will be held in York.
For those officers and civilian personnel and their families who could not travel to the national service, a member of NARPO, National Association Retired Police Officers, the late-Mr Allan Midgley[1], who was a member of our church family here at Fleetwood before his relocation to Exeter, commended a local memorial service. Fleetwood United Reformed Church was pleased to host the services each year since the first in 2004. It is equally pleased to be able to host the 2011 service and extends a warm welcome to you all for this extraordinary occasion.
It is remembered that officers of our own Lancashire Constabulary, and in particular those in what are now Northern and Western Divisions, have paid the ultimate sacrifice in furtherance of their duties. We hold them and their families and colleagues in our prayers and give thanks that this opportunity has been provided to remember them and all who died in the service of others. The following are from the County’s roll of honour with an acknowledgement to Mr Anthony Rae’s[2] research and access to The Gazette’s archive through Mr Tom Halstead.
January 1898: PC Alfred MARSH. The officer, drafted from Salford during the Fleetwood docks strike was thrown down a ship’s hold and died later in Fleetwood Cottage hospital.
December 1915: Alfred SMITH. Posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry while serving as a subaltern with the East Lancashire Regiment at Gallipoli.
August 1923: Sgt Hartley WILKINSON. He and another officer rescued a youth from the sea at North Shore. Tragically, Sgt
Wilkinson died later as a result of going into the sea and suffering severe exposure.
February 1932: Police Fireman William MATTHEWS.
December 1935: Sgt William COUGHLAN at St Anne’s.
September 1940: Special Constable Llewellyn WALFORD killed by enemy action at Thornton whilst assisting women and children into an air raid shelter.
July 1945: PC Arthur RICHARDSON. The 45 years old officer based at Kirkham rescued an unconscious woman who was in a bath. PC Richardson died later and the coroner said the rescue exertion had accelerated the death.
January 1951: Reserve PC John POUCHER. The officer, aged 59, patrolling on his bicycle was involved in an accident with a drunken car driver and died the following day.
August 23rd, 1971: Supt Gerald Irving RICHARDSON. A day of infamy when 38 years old Supt Richardson was gunned down in a North Shore back-alley. Supt Richardson was awarded posthumously the George Cross.
November 1972: PC Kenneth Richmond FLETCHER. The 26 years old constable was killed while undergoing training on an advanced motorcycle course.
January 1983: PCs Angela BRADLEY, Colin MORRISON & Gordon Alexander CONNOLLY. PCs Bradley, 23, Morrison, 38, and Connolly, 24, drowned attempting to rescue a drowning man and each other in rough seas at Gynn Square, North Shore.
The names of SC LLewllyn WALFORD, PC Arthur RICHARDSON, RPC John POUCHER, Supt Gerald Irving RICHARDSON, PC Kenneth Richmond FLETCHER, WPC Angela BRADLEY, PC Gordon Alexander CONNOLLY and PC Colin MORRISON are inscribed on The Roll of Honour as meeting the strict and particular criteria for inclusion.
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We also remember the following of the Police Service who gave their lives in the exercise of their duty during the past year: Supt Neil Cunningham McCOVER, Strathclyde Police; Police Constable David Donald McPHERSON, Lothian & Borders Police; Detective Sergeant Terry Thomas EASTERBY, Kent Police; Constable Ronan Padraig KERR, Police Service of Northern Ireland; Police Constable Ian Paul SWADLING, Metropolitan Police; Police Constable Scott EASTWOOD-SMITH, Metropolitan Police; Police Constable Perviz AHMED, West Yorkshire Police; Police Constable Tony WRIGHT, West Mercia Police.
We give thanks to God for their courage and their dedication.
We treasure their memory and in the silence of our hearts commend them to God’s sure keeping.
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To this Fleetwood service invitations have been extended to serving and retired officers and civilian personnel of Lancashire Constabulary Northern & Western divisions, members of the Police Federation and National Association of Retired Police Officers, the Lancashire Police Authority and Wyre Borough Council and their families and friends.
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WORDS ON WHICH TO MEDITATE AS WE PREPARE FOR WORSHIP
The object of love is to serve,
not to win.
(Thomas Woodrow Wilson)
Let us be clear, then,
that it is not our business to protect the truth.
Rather it is our business to serve the truth,
wherever and whenever it is found.
(Choan-Seng Song)
Our body is not made of iron.
Our strength is not that of stone.
Live and hope in the Lord and let your service be according to reason.
Season your whole-offering with the salt of prudence.
(Clare of Assisi)
What is unseen is the pure generosity of service,
the capacity to suffer for the realization of an ideal.
(Mary Grey)
How can we ever be sold short,
or cheated,
we who for every service have long ago been overpaid?
(Meister Echart)
This order of service is based on that used at the 2011 National Police Memorial Day Service, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow.
THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
- THE CALL TO WORSHIP
I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the Lord’s house.”
And now we are here,
standing inside the gates of Jerusalem!
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem;
“May those who love you prosper.
May there be peace inside your walls and safety in your palaces.”
(Psalm 122, Verses 1 to 3 and then 6)
HYMN: God is love: let heaven adore him (Tune: Blaenwern. Music: WP Rowlands. Words: Timothy Rees.)
During the singing of the hymn ‘God is love’ a member of Lancashire Constabulary, Northern Division, comes to the lectern to deliver the bidding.
THE BIDDING.
The words in heavy type are said by all.
We meet here today to remember before God the men and women of our police service who laid down their lives in the service of their country,
to honour them and give thanks for their sacrifice.
We also hold before God their families, friends and colleagues;
all who are bereaved and mourn the loss of their loved ones.
Jesus said to his disciples,
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down
one’s life for one’s friends.’
Almighty God,
worthy of our praise and the service of our lives,
comfort us as we mourn the loss of loved ones who have laid down their lives in the cause of justice.
Dispel the darkness of grief with the light of your love.
Strengthen us with the grace of your Holy Spirit that we may continue to strive for the cause of right,
and that following the good example of those who served you and are now at rest,
we may at last enter into the fullness of your eternal glory.
AMEN
Confident that neither life nor death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus,
let us pray as he taught us:
Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen
MINISTRY OF THE WORD
Following the bidding a representative of Lancashire Constabulary, Western Division, comes to the lectern to read from the Book of Lamentations.
- READING: Lamentations, Chapter 3, Verses 22 to 26 then 31 to 33
Bench Good News Bible Old Testament page 798: This is part of a hymn of praise. Jerusalem is a lonely and deserted a place. The city and the people are abused on every level. It is a chilling picture. And yet, there is hope. The writer is still alive! Furthermore, he remembers how the city and the people can and will be built up to make a ‘New Jerusalem’.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself,
“The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
For people are not cast off by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief,
he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to any human being.
HYMN: Behold the mountain of the Lord in latter days shall rise on mountain tops, above the hills, and draw the wondering eyes (Tune: Glasgow. Music: Melody from T Moore’s Psalm-singer’s Pocket Companion, Glasgow, c.1756. Words: Scottish Paraphrases from Isaiah 2:2-5.)
During the singing of the hymn, ‘Behold the mountain of the Lord’, a representative of Police Federation comes to the lectern to read Christina Rossetti’s ‘Remember’.
READING: ‘Remember’ by Christina Rossetti
Remember me when I am gone away,
gone far away into the silent land;
when you can no more hold me by the hand,
nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day you tell me of our future that you planned:
Only remember me;
you understand it will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while and afterwards remember,
do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave a vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad.
- A WORD IN SEASON
Hymn: Brother, Sister, let me serve you (Tune: Servant Song. Music: Richard Gillard arranged by Betty Pulkingham. Words: Richard Gillard.)
ACT OF REMEMBRANCE
During the Act of Remembrance John Gibson accompanies the act with music reminders of acts of courage devotion and service.
At each instance below two representatives will come forward: one will light a candle as the other comes to the lectern to say the words of remembrance.
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The words in heavy type are said by all.
These candles,
one from each of the four nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
serve to remind us of the undying flame of devotion and commitment,
exemplified by those whom we remember today.
God of Justice and truth,
mercy and love,
we praise you for the example of service and sacrifice given to those we have gathered to remember.
So again we hold them in honour this day.
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Two representatives of National Association of Retired Police Officers come forward.
One representative lights a candle to remember those who died from the Police Forces of Scotland as the other representative delivers the words ….
For the memories we treasure and the love we shared.
We will remember them.
We will remember them.
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Two representatives of Lancashire Police Authority come forward.
One representative lights a candle to remember those who died from the Police Forces of Northern Ireland as the other representative delivers the words …
For their courage and dedication to duty.
We will remember them.
We will remember them.
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Two representatives of Wyre Borough Council come forward.
One representative lights a candle to remember those who died from the Police Forces of Wales as the other representative delivers the words ….
For their example of self-sacrifice.
We will remember them.
We will remember them.
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Two representatives of the Lancashire Constabulary, Northern Division, come forward.
One representative lights a candle to remember those who died from the Police Forces of England as the other representative delivers the words …
For their bravery and fortitude.
We will remember them.
We will remember them.
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Continuing our time of remembrance the leader of our service shall lead us in a time of prayer.
Let us remember before God the men and women of the Police Service who gave their lives in the exercise of their duty.
Those who have given their lives during the year.
We give thanks to God for their courage and their dedication.
We treasure their memory and in silence commend them to God’s sure keeping.
Silence is kept, during which petals of remembrance, representing all who have lost their lives, are scattered
LAST POST
REVEILLE
Following the silence a representative of the representative of Lancashire Constabulary, Western Division comes forward to read the following rededication.
Father in heaven,
we give you thanks for those we remember this day.
We praise you as we recollect their lives and cherish their memory.
We bless you that in bearing your image they brought light to our lives;
for we have seen:
in their friendship reflections of your compassion,
in their integrity demonstrations of your goodness,
in their faithfulness glimpses of your eternal love.
Grant to each of us,
beloved and bereft,
the grace to follow their good example so that with them we may come to your everlasting kingdom.
AMEN
Hymn: Amazing grace (how sweet the sound) (Tune: Amazing grace. Music: American folk-melody arranged by Edwin O Excell. Words: John Newton.)
During the singing of the hymn, ‘Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)’ a representative of Police Federation comes forward to lead in an act of dedication.
ACT OF DEDICATION
In the following the words in heavy type are said by all
We stand in the presence of God and dedicate ourselves to his service.
We dedicate ourselves to justice and integrity
Sustain us in truth
We dedicate ourselves to compassion and respect for all people
Sustain us in truth
We dedicate ourselves to courage and perseverance
Sustain us in truth
Following the act of dedication the leader of the service shall pronounce the blessing.
THE BLESSING
God of our journeying go with you wherever that may be.
God guide you through both wilderness and storm and through the turns and twists which make our lives.
God protect you and all who journey now.
When you are weary or when you are low,
may the renewing, raising and enlivening Spirit revive you.
When you are tempted to give up,
may you know hope.
When you fell alone,
may you know God’s presence with you.
God bless you,
keep you and be gracious to you,
that you may, at last,
be brought to your homecoming to find a safe lodging,
a holy rest,
and peace at the last.
The Blessing of God Almighty,
the Father,
the Son,
and the Holy Spirit rest upon you,
upon those you love and upon those who love you this day and on into eternity.
AMEN
- THE NATIONAL ANTHEM (Tune: National Anthem. Music: Thesaurus Musicus circa 1743. Words: Anonymous.)
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Those taking part in the service included: Chief Insp Jill Halliwell; Chief Insp Neil Chessell; Sgt Dan Whitaker; Insp Louise Ainsworth; Constable Ian Lonsdale; Mr Albert Short; Mr Derek Mayes; Mrs Wendy Slattery; Mr David Wilkinson; Cllr David & Mrs Joan Williams, Deputy Mayor & Mayoress, Wyre Borough Council.
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MUSIC FOR THE NATIONAL POLICE MEMORIAL SERVICE
- AS WE GATHER will include:
Autumn Elegy … Hans Brehme
‘Nimrod’ … Edward Elgar
Theme … Hesse
- DURING THE ACT OF REMEMBRANCE will include:
Andante (Trio in F) …. Mendelssohn
- AS WE LEAVE GOD’S HOUSE will include:
March from ‘Scipio’ … Handel
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Following the service the congregation gathered for refreshments to which thanks are extended to those who responded to the need for their preparation and serving.
[1] Mr Midgley will be remembered as a sergeant stationed in Blackpool where he was a supervisor in communications. His younger son, Peter, was also a serving officer.
[2] Mr Rae was a sergeant who had spells of service in Blackpool and Fulwood.