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Thousands of police attend PC Nicola Hughes's funeral | Thousands of police attend PC Nicola Hughes's funeral |
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For a few hours on Wednesday, Manchester seemed to come to a standstill to pay tribute to a 23-year-old police officer who was killed along with her colleague as they attended an apparently routine callout last month. | For a few hours on Wednesday, Manchester seemed to come to a standstill to pay tribute to a 23-year-old police officer who was killed along with her colleague as they attended an apparently routine callout last month. |
Deansgate, one of the city's main thoroughfares, was lined with thousands of officers in dress uniform and members of the public forming a black line, several rows deep, as the cortege made its way to Manchester Cathedral, where the funeral service for Nicola Hughes was held. | Deansgate, one of the city's main thoroughfares, was lined with thousands of officers in dress uniform and members of the public forming a black line, several rows deep, as the cortege made its way to Manchester Cathedral, where the funeral service for Nicola Hughes was held. |
The crowds outside broke into spontaneous applause as the coffin, shrouded in black cloth, was carried inside to the sound of Pie Jesu. Hughes's parents, Susan and Bryn, and her younger brother, Sam, followed the coffin into the cathedral. The force's flag flew at half-mast overhead. In a building opposite, people stood by red, white and blue flowers spelling out RIP. | The crowds outside broke into spontaneous applause as the coffin, shrouded in black cloth, was carried inside to the sound of Pie Jesu. Hughes's parents, Susan and Bryn, and her younger brother, Sam, followed the coffin into the cathedral. The force's flag flew at half-mast overhead. In a building opposite, people stood by red, white and blue flowers spelling out RIP. |
A large framed portrait of a smiling Hughes was placed next to her coffin, which was topped with white flowers and her police cap and gloves. The Greater Manchester police chaplain, the Rev Charles Nevin, said: "While we cannot change what has been, we cannot turn back the clock but we can show by our presence in this cathedral, and in the streets, homes and offices of this land, that we stand beside you." | A large framed portrait of a smiling Hughes was placed next to her coffin, which was topped with white flowers and her police cap and gloves. The Greater Manchester police chaplain, the Rev Charles Nevin, said: "While we cannot change what has been, we cannot turn back the clock but we can show by our presence in this cathedral, and in the streets, homes and offices of this land, that we stand beside you." |
Among the dignitaries at the service were senior police officers and chief constables from all the UK's police forces, as well as civic leaders and Sir Bobby Charlton. | Among the dignitaries at the service were senior police officers and chief constables from all the UK's police forces, as well as civic leaders and Sir Bobby Charlton. |
Greater Manchester's chief constable, Sir Peter Fahy, said it was abhorrent that Hughes had met her death in such a way, "but the best tribute we can make to her memory is that we continue to uphold the standards and the style of policing she demonstrated so well and ensure that might does not conquer over justice". | Greater Manchester's chief constable, Sir Peter Fahy, said it was abhorrent that Hughes had met her death in such a way, "but the best tribute we can make to her memory is that we continue to uphold the standards and the style of policing she demonstrated so well and ensure that might does not conquer over justice". |
Hughes was 21 when she joined the force in August 2009, and had impressed the selection panel with her readiness for the job. "Despite her young years, she was incredibly mature," Fahy said. | Hughes was 21 when she joined the force in August 2009, and had impressed the selection panel with her readiness for the job. "Despite her young years, she was incredibly mature," Fahy said. |
She was initially a neighbourhood officer, then a response officer on C relief at Tameside. She set high standards for herself and impressed everyone with her dedication and cheerfulness, Fahy said. "She had huge amounts of energy and initiative." | She was initially a neighbourhood officer, then a response officer on C relief at Tameside. She set high standards for herself and impressed everyone with her dedication and cheerfulness, Fahy said. "She had huge amounts of energy and initiative." |
He said Hughes proved herself to be highly capable in situations of disorder, brave when searching apparently unoccupied premises and going into the unknown, and on the other hand compassionate towards victims of crime. He recounted one occasion when she stopped her police van to rescue a mouse being fought over by two cats and release it into a nearby field. | He said Hughes proved herself to be highly capable in situations of disorder, brave when searching apparently unoccupied premises and going into the unknown, and on the other hand compassionate towards victims of crime. He recounted one occasion when she stopped her police van to rescue a mouse being fought over by two cats and release it into a nearby field. |
Fahy said she had known full well the risk the job entailed, as her father was a prison officer. He said Hughes and her colleague Fiona Bone had many of the qualities of young police officers and young people who did not have the prejudices and hangups of his generation, and who "take people as they are, whatever their background". | Fahy said she had known full well the risk the job entailed, as her father was a prison officer. He said Hughes and her colleague Fiona Bone had many of the qualities of young police officers and young people who did not have the prejudices and hangups of his generation, and who "take people as they are, whatever their background". |
"Nicola signed up to the police service knowing that she would put herself in danger. She understood that the unarmed status of British policing is not some tactical option or us holding on to an historic tradition now out of date. She understood it is central to our commitment to the minimum use of force to our relationship with the public and to serving citizens rather than controlling them as some arm of the state," he said. | "Nicola signed up to the police service knowing that she would put herself in danger. She understood that the unarmed status of British policing is not some tactical option or us holding on to an historic tradition now out of date. She understood it is central to our commitment to the minimum use of force to our relationship with the public and to serving citizens rather than controlling them as some arm of the state," he said. |
"It is clear from every conversation we have with them that her family were so proud of Nicola. She was a fighter whether engaged in her favourite sport of karate or fighting for justice for a victim of crime. Nevertheless it is her warm smile and her gentleness that stand out from every picture of her. She will be greatly missed by everyone that knew her. We will never forget her great sacrifice." | "It is clear from every conversation we have with them that her family were so proud of Nicola. She was a fighter whether engaged in her favourite sport of karate or fighting for justice for a victim of crime. Nevertheless it is her warm smile and her gentleness that stand out from every picture of her. She will be greatly missed by everyone that knew her. We will never forget her great sacrifice." |
Hughes was described as a vibrant young woman who had worked as a waitress at the Bull's Head in Delph and liked keeping fit, looking after her nails and hair, and socialising. She was a green belt in karate and loved singing with headphones on – and though she thought she could sing, her family never dared to tell her otherwise. | Hughes was described as a vibrant young woman who had worked as a waitress at the Bull's Head in Delph and liked keeping fit, looking after her nails and hair, and socialising. She was a green belt in karate and loved singing with headphones on – and though she thought she could sing, her family never dared to tell her otherwise. |
Her colleague Sergeant Stephen Miskell said: "Nicola, with only three years' service, was already greatly respected and loved by her colleagues, who would variously describe her as being friendly, full of life, always willing to give a helping hand, as keen as mustard, as brave as they come and the chatterbox who always kept everybody else awake." He said her home-baked chocolate muffins had been a personal favourite. | Her colleague Sergeant Stephen Miskell said: "Nicola, with only three years' service, was already greatly respected and loved by her colleagues, who would variously describe her as being friendly, full of life, always willing to give a helping hand, as keen as mustard, as brave as they come and the chatterbox who always kept everybody else awake." He said her home-baked chocolate muffins had been a personal favourite. |
Sergeant Stephen Lovatt read Death Is Nothing At All, Inspector Jane Brown read Don't Let Your Hearts Be Troubled, and Sergeant Gordon Swan read Feel No Guilt In Laughter. | Sergeant Stephen Lovatt read Death Is Nothing At All, Inspector Jane Brown read Don't Let Your Hearts Be Troubled, and Sergeant Gordon Swan read Feel No Guilt In Laughter. |
The funeral of 32-year-old PC Bone will take place at the cathedral at 10am on Thursday. The constables were killed in Abbey Gardens on the Hattersley estate in Mottram, Tameside, on 18 September after being sent to investigate what seemed to be a routine burglary report. Dale Cregan, 29, has been charged with their murders and those of David Short, 46, and Short's 23-year-old son Mark. | The funeral of 32-year-old PC Bone will take place at the cathedral at 10am on Thursday. The constables were killed in Abbey Gardens on the Hattersley estate in Mottram, Tameside, on 18 September after being sent to investigate what seemed to be a routine burglary report. Dale Cregan, 29, has been charged with their murders and those of David Short, 46, and Short's 23-year-old son Mark. |
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