Hundreds to remember police staff who died in pandemic
THEY stood shoulder to shoulder in the line of duty and supported one another during their careers in the police force. They would also have been among those to pay their respects when fellow officers passed away.
However, with Covid restrictions in place many former officers have been unable to say their final farewells at the funerals of friends and old colleagues.
Tomorrow, they are finally being given the chance to come together to remember when a special memorial service will be held for the friends, family, and former colleagues of retired officers and civilian staff who have died during the pandemic.
The service will be held at Glasgow’s Cathcart Old Parish Church. Its minister, the Reverend Neil Galbraith, has been the chaplain for Police Scotland and, previously, Strathclyde Police, for nearly 20 years.
Around 150 people are due to attend to pay their respects and support the families of almost 200 police officers and civilian staff who died since March last year.
Rev Galbraith said: “I think this service will offer some healing. It will be the memorial families never got to have and tears they might not have been able to shed. Before Covid, police funerals would be attended by many officers past and present. There might have been hundreds attending before restrictions, but in the early days of lockdown just a handful of people were able to attend, limited to close family.
“When mourners could not attend funeral services they began to line streets or the route of the churches or crematoria where funerals were being held just to show their respects as part of the ‘police family’.
“This service will bring people together for the first time in months and allow them to grieve.”
Families will be offered a white flower when they enter the church, which can be placed on the cross of remembrance in the grounds of the church or can be placed alongside wreaths to be laid in memory of those who have died.
Tom Buchan, who is now retired but was a senior officer with Strathclyde Police, and former fellow officer Jimmy Henderson have been instrumental in bringing people together for the service.
Among those expected to attend will be Lady Lilian Mcnee, widow of Sir David Mcnee, the first chief constable of Strathclyde Police and also a former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in London; Sir William Rae, QPM, a former chief constable of Strathclyde Police; and Neil Macdonald, Assistant Chief Constable of Police Scotland.
Also due to attend are Tom Rowatt, representing Strathclyde Police Federation, George Parsonage, representing the Glasgow Humane Society, and Libby Chisholm, representing COPS (Care Of Police Survivors).
The main address will be delivered by Campbell Corrigan, who was the last chief constable of Strathclyde Police, before Police Scotland was formed.
Mr Buchan said: “Almost 200 former officers and staff have died since early March 2020, during a time when services were subjected to restricted attendance. It struck me when former colleague William Mcdougall died that so many people would have wanted to attend his service, but couldn’t. There would have been a turn-out of dozens of officers from the police family.
“We also have had the chance to offer our condolences to the family of those who have lost a loved one. We hope the service will offer comfort and solace.”
The Herald is leading a campaign to create Scotland’s national Covid memorial as a tribute to those who have lost their lives during the pandemic.
More than £60,000 has been raised to create a memorial in the grounds of Pollok Country Park. Glasgow City Council stepped forward with the offer of a site in the park just days after the campaign launched last year. And the campaign was given the backing of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, along with a donation from the Scottish Government.
Earlier this year we appointed an artist to lead a consultation and engagement programme. Alec Finlay and his colleagues Ken Cockburn and Lucy Richards spoke to people from all over Scotland to find how they had been affected and how they would like to remember loved ones.
Mr Finlay encouraged people to submit an “I remember”, a single sentence that captures how they felt or what they remembered. People responded in their hundreds and offered a snapshot in time as they shared their heartfelt memories.
▪ To donate to The Herald memorial garden go to: gofundme.com/ heraldgarden-of-remembrance. You can also send donations via post to: The Herald Garden of Remembrance Campaign, Herald & Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow, G32 8FG. Keep up to date with the latest news at www.heraldscotland.com/campaigns/memorial-garden/