The PC Tom Clough funeral drew hundreds to the streets of Kirkleatham on Thursday as police officers, soldiers, veterans and members of the public gathered to say goodbye to the Cleveland Police officer killed on duty in August.
The ceremonial procession made its way down Plantation Road and into Kirkleatham Walled Gardens, led by four mounted police officers. Police motorbike riders and a Cleveland Police marked Audi with blue lights flashing followed behind. Standard bearers from forces across the country lowered their flags as the hearse passed. A lone piper began to play a lament, breaking the silence of the slow procession.
PC Clough’s coffin was draped in the Union Flag with his police helmet placed on top, and a red and white flower arrangement alongside. Officers at both the Clough and Blades funerals wore identity patches on their uniforms: PC 3234 CLOUGH and PC 2443 BLADES.
Army veteran who served his country twice over
The funeral cortege was flanked by soldiers in ceremonial dress and veterans displaying their medals. PC Clough served as a Lance Corporal in the British Army from 2006 to 2012, with his last unit being 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment (Royal Logistic Corps), the Ministry of Justice confirmed.
Before joining Cleveland Police, Clough also worked for the Civil Nuclear Constabulary. His former boss, Richard Clark, who worked alongside him as Chief Inspector at Sellafield, said Clough brought ‘dedication, skill and commitment to every task’ and possessed ‘an extraordinary ability to light up any room he entered.’ Clark added that Clough’s ‘fun-loving, cheeky nature and a wit’ could ‘lift spirits even during the most demanding shifts.’
A former colleague posted on social media: ‘RIP PC Tom Clough. Proud to have served with you on Op Telic. Rest easy, mate!! Taken too soon.’
What the IOPC found about the A66 crash
PC Clough and his colleague PC Matthew Blades died in the early hours of Saturday, 22 August, after their marked armed response vehicle was struck by a VW Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66 dual carriageway near Grangetown. All five occupants of the Passat also died: BBC News has named them as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, and 17-year-olds Theo Rae and Cole Robert Worthy.
According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), PC Blades and PC Clough were in a vehicle looking for the Passat after its cloned registration plates triggered an automated number plate recognition camera. They were not involved in the pursuit of the car. Officers had been pursuing the Passat for almost seven minutes in connection with earlier alleged criminal activity, but that pursuit was abandoned 10 seconds before the crash when the car turned on to the dual carriageway, the IOPC said.
More than £1.2m raised as tributes pour in
In the weeks since the crash, more than £1.2m has been raised to support the families of both officers, after a GoFundMe page was set up by the Cleveland Police Federation.
Federation chairwoman Lauren Somerville said: ‘Tom’s family want to say thank you, the public support they have received has been overwhelming and it has helped to keep them going in these very difficult times. Tom wasn’t just a Cleveland Police Officer, he was a partner and a brother and a son, but he was also a father to a sausage dog called Frank, who he loved so deeply. Tom used to say that there wouldn’t be anybody at his funeral… as we have witnessed today, he could not have been more wrong.’
PC Clough’s family said in a statement: ‘He was our hero with a fantastic sense of humour. He jumped into action whenever needed, and was willing to help anyone for any reason. He proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place, and was always on public duty throughout his short life.’
Among those who travelled to pay their respects were Brian Dunn, 89, and his wife Iris, 87, who took a train, a bus and then walked from Stockton. Iris Dunn said: ‘We both felt it was important to be here. The police work so hard, they do their best, and it is never appreciated, we all know that.’
Redcar and Cleveland Council leader Councillor Alec Brown thanked every member of council staff involved in preparing Kirkleatham Walled Gardens, saying the community lining the roads ‘showed exactly what kind of community we are.’ PC Matthew Blades’s funeral took place in Hartlepool on Wednesday, the day before the PC Tom Clough funeral.