FAMILIES PAY HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTE TO PC MATTHEW BLADES AND PC TOM CLOUGH AFTER A66 CRASH

MIDDLESBROUGH, UK — Families, police officers, former colleagues and members of the public have gathered to remember PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, the two Cleveland Police officers who died in the devastating A66 crash near Middlesbrough.

Blades, 37, and Clough, 38, were killed in the early hours of August 22 when their marked police vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a Volkswagen Passat at South Bank, near Middlesbrough. Five young men travelling in the Passat also died.

Their deaths prompted an extraordinary outpouring of grief and support across the UK, with police forces, emergency services, veterans, football supporters and local residents paying tribute to the two officers.

HUNDREDS LINE THE STREETS FOR PC BLADES’ FUNERAL

PC Matthew Blades was laid to rest in his home town of Hartlepool on September 9.

Hundreds of police officers lined the streets outside St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, with representatives from police forces across the United Kingdom taking part in the ceremonial farewell.

Four pipers and a drummer accompanied the funeral procession, while the coffin was draped in the Union Flag. A floral tribute spelling “Dad” was placed on the hearse in honour of Blades, a married father of two.

His widow later described him as her “beloved best friend”, husband and the father of their two children.

She said there were no words powerful enough to express the family’s heartbreak and described Matt as the “heart of our family.”

She also remembered his laughter, sense of humour and ability to make people smile.

“He was the joker of the family,” she said, describing how he brought light and laughter into every room.

The family later thanked everyone who attended the funeral, stood along the route, sent flowers and messages, or simply kept them in their thoughts.

They said the overwhelming public support would remain with them forever.

POLICE AND ARMY VETERANS REMEMBER PC CLOUGH

The following day, hundreds gathered in Redcar for the funeral of PC Tom Clough.

The 38-year-old officer was remembered by colleagues from Cleveland Police, former police colleagues and veterans from his years in the British Army.

Standard bearers from police forces around the country lowered their flags as his funeral cortege passed.

His coffin was draped in the Union Flag, with a police helmet placed on top, while soldiers and veterans accompanied the procession.

Clough served in the British Army between 2006 and 2012 and was a Lance Corporal with the Royal Logistic Corps. He later worked for the Civil Nuclear Constabulary at Sellafield and served with British Transport Police before joining Cleveland Police as an armed response officer.

His colleagues described him as deeply loved and respected throughout every stage of his career.

Cleveland Police Federation chairwoman Lauren Somerville said people who had worked with Clough many years earlier had contacted her following his death.

She said it would be an understatement to say that every organisation he had served had been privileged to have him.

Clough’s family later thanked members of the public who stopped along the funeral route.

They specifically remembered people whose journeys had been interrupted but who nevertheless got out of their cars, stood quietly and bowed their heads as the procession passed.

“TOM WOULD HAVE BEEN AMAZED AND SO GRATEFUL”

In a statement released after the funeral, Clough’s family said the support from the community had meant an enormous amount.

They said the kindness, love and warmth shown by the public had helped them navigate the loss of Tom while allowing them to celebrate his life and the legacy he left behind.

The family added that Tom “would have been amazed and so grateful” to see the scale of the support.

They also thanked former colleagues from across his military and policing careers, as well as emergency services and members of the wider community.

Blades’ family similarly expressed gratitude for what they described as an overwhelming show of respect.

They said the silence, applause, uniforms, blue lights and other gestures along the funeral route demonstrated how much Matt had meant to people.

SUPPORT CONTINUES AFTER THE CRASH

The public response has extended beyond the funeral ceremonies.

A fundraising appeal established for the families of Blades and Clough raised more than £1.2 million, with donations coming from people across the UK and overseas. The Cleveland Police Federation described the response as overwhelming.

Police Federation representatives said messages and tributes had arrived from countries including Australia, France and the United States.

For colleagues, however, the focus remains on remembering the two men behind their uniforms.

Blades was remembered as a husband, father, son, brother and friend whose humour brought happiness to those around him.

Clough was remembered as a much-loved partner, son, brother, colleague and former soldier who had devoted years of his life to public service.

THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

The crash occurred after the Volkswagen Passat had been involved in a police pursuit before the pursuit was aborted. The vehicle subsequently travelled in the wrong direction on the A66 before colliding with the marked police vehicle carrying Blades and Clough. Their vehicle was not involved in the original pursuit.

An inquest into the deaths of the two officers opened on August 27.

While the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision continues, the funerals have provided an opportunity for their families, colleagues and communities to remember the lives they lived rather than only the circumstances in which they died.

For those who knew them, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough are being remembered not simply as two officers lost in a tragic crash, but as fathers, partners, friends, colleagues and men who spent much of their lives serving others.