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| Emotional send off for compassionate officer | Emotional send off for compassionate officer |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By James Lynn BBC News in Egremont | By James Lynn BBC News in Egremont |
| Hundreds of mourners attended the service for Pc Bill Barker | Hundreds of mourners attended the service for Pc Bill Barker |
| There had been heavy rain in Egremont for much of the morning, but by the time mourners began to arrive at the church, the rain clouds had given way to blue sky. | There had been heavy rain in Egremont for much of the morning, but by the time mourners began to arrive at the church, the rain clouds had given way to blue sky. |
| Barriers were erected on nearby streets in anticipation of a high turn-out and the residents of the market town did not disappoint - the pavements were packed with people of all ages. | Barriers were erected on nearby streets in anticipation of a high turn-out and the residents of the market town did not disappoint - the pavements were packed with people of all ages. |
| Outside the church, Pc Bill Barker's popularity within the police force was evident. | |
| As well as the 500-strong congregation of family and friends gathered inside, scores of his uniformed colleagues lined the entrance, testament to the esteem in which the veteran officer was held. | As well as the 500-strong congregation of family and friends gathered inside, scores of his uniformed colleagues lined the entrance, testament to the esteem in which the veteran officer was held. |
| As the hearse arrived, those gathered outside bowed their heads and the waiting officers snapped to attention for the former traffic policeman, his widow Hazel and his children Emma, Daniel, Melissa and Simon. | As the hearse arrived, those gathered outside bowed their heads and the waiting officers snapped to attention for the former traffic policeman, his widow Hazel and his children Emma, Daniel, Melissa and Simon. |
| Cumbria Constabulary has lost a dedicated and committed officer who spent 25 years of his life serving the communities of Cumbria Chief Constable Craig Mackey | Cumbria Constabulary has lost a dedicated and committed officer who spent 25 years of his life serving the communities of Cumbria Chief Constable Craig Mackey |
| Pc Barker had a passion for motorcycling and his casket was borne into the church by six of his closest friends from the force's road policing unit. | Pc Barker had a passion for motorcycling and his casket was borne into the church by six of his closest friends from the force's road policing unit. |
| Ten officers, also from the unit, formed an honour guard at the entrance as the coffin was carried inside. | Ten officers, also from the unit, formed an honour guard at the entrance as the coffin was carried inside. |
| As the ceremony started at 1pm, officers and staff from across Cumbria police joined a one-minute silence to show solidarity in paying tribute to their colleague. | As the ceremony started at 1pm, officers and staff from across Cumbria police joined a one-minute silence to show solidarity in paying tribute to their colleague. |
| Supt Gary Slater was among those who spoke movingly during the service about his friend Bill - "a simple man who lived by simple principles, to whom family was everything, friendship a precious gift and duty an honour to fulfil". | Supt Gary Slater was among those who spoke movingly during the service about his friend Bill - "a simple man who lived by simple principles, to whom family was everything, friendship a precious gift and duty an honour to fulfil". |
| Police officers formed a guard of honour at the funeral | Police officers formed a guard of honour at the funeral |
| He said Pc Barker had been decorated several times, including being awarded a chief officer's certificate of merit for developing the role of family liaison officer (FLO) with the road policing unit. | He said Pc Barker had been decorated several times, including being awarded a chief officer's certificate of merit for developing the role of family liaison officer (FLO) with the road policing unit. |
| Supt Slater said the father of four had received numerous letters of appreciation from the families of those killed on the Cumbria's roads, praising the support they received from him. | Supt Slater said the father of four had received numerous letters of appreciation from the families of those killed on the Cumbria's roads, praising the support they received from him. |
| "It is ironic that his beloved family have now had to experience the very procedures that Bill helped develop and affect in his desire to support others," he said. | "It is ironic that his beloved family have now had to experience the very procedures that Bill helped develop and affect in his desire to support others," he said. |
| Det Con Jim Rooney, one of Pc Barker's closest friends, also spoke of the "big lad's" compassion and said he was one of the best FLOs in the force. | Det Con Jim Rooney, one of Pc Barker's closest friends, also spoke of the "big lad's" compassion and said he was one of the best FLOs in the force. |
| Animal menagerie | Animal menagerie |
| He told the congregation: "Bill was the FLO that FLOs looked up to, and I can say that there were none of us that could have come close to what he did for the family's that he worked for." | He told the congregation: "Bill was the FLO that FLOs looked up to, and I can say that there were none of us that could have come close to what he did for the family's that he worked for." |
| But the focus of Pc Barker's was his wife and children, said Det Con Rooney. | But the focus of Pc Barker's was his wife and children, said Det Con Rooney. |
| Pc Barker's coffin was carried into the church by six of his closest colleagues | Pc Barker's coffin was carried into the church by six of his closest colleagues |
| "The centre of Bill's world was Hazel, Simon, Melissa, Daniel, Emma, and the menagerie of animals that make the Barker household the most unique house I have ever had the pleasure to go into," he said. | "The centre of Bill's world was Hazel, Simon, Melissa, Daniel, Emma, and the menagerie of animals that make the Barker household the most unique house I have ever had the pleasure to go into," he said. |
| "The house is unique because of the warm, loving welcome that everyone gave me." | "The house is unique because of the warm, loving welcome that everyone gave me." |
| As the ceremony drew to a close, Chief Constable Craig Mackey said: "Today is all about Bill and his family. | As the ceremony drew to a close, Chief Constable Craig Mackey said: "Today is all about Bill and his family. |
| "This is a very sad day. Cumbria Constabulary has lost a dedicated and committed officer who spent 25 years of his life serving the communities of Cumbria. | "This is a very sad day. Cumbria Constabulary has lost a dedicated and committed officer who spent 25 years of his life serving the communities of Cumbria. |
| "As a trained family liaison officer, Bill dealt with families that experienced loss. It is now our job to do that for Bill's family." | "As a trained family liaison officer, Bill dealt with families that experienced loss. It is now our job to do that for Bill's family." |
| Pc Barker's coffin was flanked by Cumbria police motorcyclists as he was taken for burial at Egremont cemetery. | Pc Barker's coffin was flanked by Cumbria police motorcyclists as he was taken for burial at Egremont cemetery. |