PC MATTHEW BLADES AND PC TOM CLOUGH REMEMBERED AS TEESSIDE MOURNS AFTER DEVASTATING A66 CRASH

Weeks after a devastating crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough claimed the lives of two police officers and five young men, the families and colleagues of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough have paid tribute to two men remembered for their dedication, humour and service to others.

PC Blades, 37, and PC Clough, 38, were killed in the early hours of August 22 when their marked armed-response police vehicle was struck head-on by a Volkswagen Passat travelling in the wrong direction on the A66 at South Bank, near Middlesbrough.

Five young men travelling in the Passat also died in the collision.

The deaths sent shockwaves through Cleveland Police and the wider Teesside community, with tributes soon arriving from members of the public, serving officers, former colleagues and police forces across the country.

HUNDREDS LINE THE STREETS FOR PC BLADES

PC Matthew Blades was laid to rest in Hartlepool on September 9.

Hundreds of police officers and members of the public lined the streets as his funeral procession made its way to St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in his home town.

Representatives from every UK police force were present, while standard bearers stood in tribute as the funeral cortege approached the church.

Four pipers and a drummer accompanied the procession, playing Amazing Grace as his coffin, covered by a Union Flag, was carried into the church.

A floral tribute reading “Dad” was placed on the hearse in honour of the married father of two.

Following the service, Blades’ widow described him as her “beloved best friend” and the heart of their family.

She said there were no words powerful enough to express the heartbreak of losing her husband and the father of their two children.

She also remembered his laughter, his silly jokes and the way he could make people smile even when they least expected it.

“The heart of our family has been taken from us,” she said in a tribute shared through Cleveland Police Federation.

Blades was also remembered as a devoted father and a passionate football coach who gave his time to young players.

PC TOM CLOUGH REMEMBERED IN REDCAR

The following day, hundreds gathered in Redcar to remember PC Tom Clough.

Police officers, Army veterans and representatives from emergency services lined the streets around Kirkleatham Walled Gardens for the September 10 ceremony.

Clough had previously served in the Royal Logistic Corps, including service in Afghanistan, before working for the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and British Transport Police. He later joined Cleveland Police as an armed-response officer.

His family said he was a much-loved partner, son and brother and described the support surrounding his funeral as deeply comforting.

Cleveland Police Federation chairwoman Lauren Somerville said Clough had been deeply loved by colleagues throughout his career.

She recalled that he had once joked that there would be nobody at his funeral.

The reality was very different.

Hundreds of police officers and former colleagues gathered to honour him, while members of the public stood along the route to pay their respects.

His family later thanked people who stopped their journeys, stood beside their cars and bowed their heads as the funeral procession passed.

They said the support had helped the family navigate their loss and celebrate Clough’s life and the legacy he would leave across the communities he served.

SUPPORT POURING IN FROM AROUND THE WORLD

The response to the deaths has extended far beyond Teesside.

Cleveland Police Federation said messages of support had arrived from countries including Australia, France and the United States.

Flowers were delivered to police stations, while members of the public contacted officers to express their condolences.

An official fundraising appeal for the families raised more than £1.2 million, with organisers describing the response as “truly overwhelming.”

The federation said the generosity demonstrated how strongly the public had responded to the loss of the two officers.

For colleagues inside Cleveland Police, the grief has been accompanied by a strong desire to ensure that Blades and Clough are remembered for the people they were and the service they gave.

“THEY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN”

Chief Constable Victoria Fuller previously described both officers as brave, committed and professional people who put the public before themselves.

Their deaths have also left a lasting mark on the wider Teesside community.

People who had never met the officers stood along the funeral routes, placed flowers and paid their respects.

For their families, however, the public tributes can never replace what has been lost.

Matthew Blades leaves behind his wife and two children, while Tom Clough is remembered by his partner, family, friends and the many colleagues he worked alongside during a career dedicated to public service.

Weeks after the A66 crash, the flowers may eventually fade and the funeral processions may be over.

But across Cleveland and Teesside, the names PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough remain firmly connected with a community that came together to honour two officers who died while on duty.

Two officers. Two families. One community — and a lasting tribute that will not be forgotten.