‘Goodbye Mike, you’ve changed us for the better’
A POLICE officer who was dubbed “The Terminator” and whose bravery shone through in his approach to the brain tumour which claimed his life has left a lasting legacy to south Wales.
That was the message to the 300 mourners who gathered to pay their respects to PC Mike Evans on Monday.
So many people attended his funeral that the service had to be relayed to about 100 people outside by loud speaker.
In respect of the 10-times ironman’s wishes, a peloton of more than 100 bike riders from clubs across the area and South Wales Police led the hearse from the triathlete’s house in Bridgend to Coychurch Crematorium.
An honour guard of more than 60 uniformed police officers stood in respectful silence as the hearse, containing the coffin emblazoned with the word Ironman, came down the driveway accompanied by mounted police officers.
The super-fit police officer, 50, who planned his own funeral, died last month after battling an aggressive brain tumour for 15 months.
But with characteristic courage, Mike had competed in a triathlon after brain surgery and while undergoing chemotherapy. He also gave his complete support to fundraising started by daughter Lily, which saw TeamEvsy raise £50,000 for Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff.
Mike’s best friend Alun “Maxi” Thomas, now Assistant Chief Constable of British Transport Police, told the congregation, which included Mike’s wife Louise, 42, daughter Lily, 23, and son Sol, 18, that PC 3167 touched countless lives.
He said: “Mike Evans: a husband, a father, a son, the athlete, the entertainer, the policeman, the rugby player, the coach, the friend.
“As I look around I see Mike’s legacy before me. I see people who have been touched by Mike’s influence. I see people who have succeeded in many aspects of life, who memories of you Mike and those memories will last forever. Life will be different now, but I know you have changed us for the better.”
South Wales Police Deputy Chief Constable Matt Jukes also paid tribute during the service led by the Reverend Phil Denyer.
DCC Jukes said Mike was a frontline officer throughout his 25-year police career, working in a wouldn’t have succeeded number of roles, including without Mike.” in Bridgend under then
Maxi said he met Mike sergeant Alun Thomas. in 1992 when he was trainHe said during this time ing the then new recruit Maxi was delighted to to South Wales Police. hear that “a local group of They became firm friends, ne’er-do-wells were runtraining together and also ning scared of a cop they competing in many ironhad dubbed The Terminaman challenges.tor”.
ACC Thomas recalled He added that Mike was how Mike’s characteristic commended numerous enthusiasm never waned times, including for diseven when they were ridarming a man who had ing bikes over the Rhigos three knives just by talkor Bwlch in bad weather. ing to him.
“He used to swim off The Rev Denyer said the pier in Porthcawl durabove all Mike, a former ing sunrise, only stopping Pencoed RFC player, “was and treading water to rea family man”. And on member how lucky and their behalf he thanked privileged we were,” he South Wales Police, the said. Marie Curie and district
He added: “We have nurses who helped Mike.