The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Policeman makes long journey from Wales to honour fallen officer
PC tracks down family of man who died on duty in Edinburgh
A policeman who completed a 220 mile charity cycle in memory of a fallen Scots officer has been united with the late constable’s family.
Nick Jones was given a blue wristband engraved with the details of PC Andrew Greenshields while taking part in the Police Unity Cycle challenge in July.
The Scots officer, 50, tragically lost his life after suffering a heart attack while on duty for the former Edinburgh City Police in December 1950.
After seeing some of his fellow riders meeting the families of other fallen officers, the 39-year-old decided to launch a social media appeal to find PC Greenshields’ loved ones.
Within 48 hours, he had managed to find the officer’s daughter, Davina Macdonald, who was just 11 when he father passed away.
On September 14, PC Jones travelled from his home in Wrexham, North Wales, to Kinross to deliver the wristband to PC Greenshields’ family. Mrs Macdonald, 80, said: “When I found out Nick was looking for us, I was very surprised but very touched.
“I was quite emotional about the fact somebody was thinking so deeply, not just taking the bracelet and doing the cycle. I thought it was such a lovely thing for him to do.
“Even though it’s been many years and I was only 11 when my father passed away, he was just such a special figure in our lives as children.
“Our mother, we could wind her round our little finger but by father didn’t need to be angry, he just needed to raise his eyebrows and that was all we needed.
“This wristband will be something that we treasure and my grandsons will look after it once I pass it on to them.”
The Police Unity Cycle, which sees supporters ride hundreds of miles before reaching the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, aims to raise funds for a vital charity.
Care of Police Survivors (COPS) was set up to support families of officers and staff who have lost their lives on duty.
Mrs Macdonald added: “When I see what COPS does now for families, I just think that I have to support that as much as I can because I know how difficult it was for my mother to bring up two young girls on her own.”