Hundreds of police officers, emergency workers and members of the public gathered in Hartlepool for the funeral of PC Matthew Blades, who died in a fatal A66 crash while on duty. The 37-year-old Cleveland Police officer was remembered as a devoted father, husband, colleague and friend.
PC Blades and fellow officer PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed on 22 August when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way collided with their marked armed response vehicle on the A66 at South Bank, near Middlesbrough. Five other people also died in the crash.
Officers Pay Tribute to PC Matthew Blades
A full ceremonial police funeral was held for PC Blades at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Hartlepool. Hundreds of officers from Cleveland Police and forces across the UK formed a guard of honour along the route.
The black hearse was led by a Cleveland Police motorcycle and accompanied by officers and pipers. A simple floral display spelling “dad” was placed on top of the hearse.
As the procession reached the church, uniformed officers carried PC Blades’ coffin inside. His coffin was draped in a Union flag, while pipers played Amazing Grace. Members of the public also stood along the streets to pay their respects.
Cleveland Police Federation chair Lauren Somerville spoke on behalf of PC Blades’ family. She said his death had left their lives feeling “unbearably quiet” without his laughter and “silly jokes”.
Somerville also described a strong sense of pride among Cleveland officers. She said colleagues wanted to make the funeral a fitting tribute to a man remembered as a best friend, husband, father, brother and son.
Public Support Brings Comfort
Emergency service workers, community leaders and politicians attended the service. Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller greeted mourners outside the church.
Policing Minister Sarah Jones and Home Office Minister Anna Turley were also present. Prime Minister Andy Burnham paid tribute in the House of Commons and thanked those attending the funeral for their service.
Meanwhile, Somerville said messages of support had reached Cleveland Police from around the world. Flowers were delivered to police stations, while people in Australia, France and the United States also contacted the force.
She added that even small gestures from the public had helped officers cope with the loss. A simple nod or thank-you when people see police officers, she said, had given colleagues “so much strength”.
Investigation Into the A66 Crash
The Independent Office for Police Conduct said officers had pursued the Passat for almost seven minutes after it was linked to earlier alleged criminal activity. The pursuit ended about 10 seconds before the vehicle entered the dual carriageway and collided with the police car.
According to the IOPC, PC Blades and PC Clough were searching for the Passat after its cloned registration plates triggered an automatic number plate recognition camera. The two officers were not involved in the earlier pursuit.
The other victims were identified as 17-year-olds Cole Worthy and Theo Rae, 18-year-old Makai Saddington, and 23-year-olds Michael Cahill and Jakub Matusiak.
PC Blades had previously worked as an English teacher at Carmel College in Darlington. The school remembered him as an intelligent, kind and approachable teacher who gave generously to the young people in his care.
PC Clough’s funeral will take place at a later date.
