Ray Davenport was a Merseyside Police constable when he was dragged down a street in Liverpool as the crooks tried to get away. His daughter Jayne Clemson, who followed her father into the force, said: “We keep the memory alive.” On Monday, murdered PC father Nicola Hughes kicked off the campaign for the First Aid Medals.
Greater Manchester Police officer Nicola, 23, died with his colleague Fiona Bone, 32, while responding to a false call from fugitive gunman Dale Cregan 10 years ago.
Bryn Hughes wants the Elizabeth Cross to be awarded posthumously to emergency service workers killed in the line of duty, as has been the case for the Armed Forces since 2009.
He said: “It doesn’t change anything, it doesn’t bring people back, but it does tell the family that there is some appreciation for the loss you have suffered.”
During the 1981 incident, PC Davenport had reached inside the stolen car and attempted to retrieve the keys. The 35-year-old father-of-one from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, was dragged down the street and died of his injuries a day later.
His daughter Jayne, then 13, recalled: “I remember he left for work on Friday night. On Saturday morning my mum came to my room and told me my dad had died.”
Regarding police work, she said, “You’re going to be there when people need you most – that’s what makes me want to strive to be like him.” His daughter Nina also joined the police and started working last week under her grandfather’s old badge number of 5951. She said: “I want to live up to the name.”
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said posthumous honors for 999 workers were “long overdue”.
The Home Office said it was “committed” to ensuring that the officers’ sacrifice is recognised.
The Daily Express supports the British National Emergency Services Memorial, which is due to be unveiled by the Queen next year. The bronze monument will honor the 7,000 people killed in the line of duty over the past 250 years.
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Source: www.express.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-04-07 16:50:21
