Community and colleagues gather at Kirkleatham to pay respects
Hundreds of mourners, including large contingents of serving police officers and military veterans, gathered in Redcar for the funeral of PC Tom Clough on Thursday. The service took place at Kirkleatham Walled Gardens after the 38-year-old Cleveland Police officer was killed in the early hours of 22 August when the armed response vehicle in which he was travelling was involved in a head-on collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough.
PC Clough died alongside his colleague, PC Matthew Blades. Five young men travelling in a VW Passat, which was being driven the wrong way down the dual carriageway, also lost their lives in the crash. The deaths have drawn national attention and an outpouring of support for the families and colleagues of the officers.
Military honours and police tradition marked the cortege
As a former British Army lance corporal and veteran of tours to both Iraq and Afghanistan, PC Clough's funeral carried strong military elements. Soldiers in ceremonial dress and veterans displaying their medals flanked the funeral cortege. Standard bearers from police forces across the country lowered their flags as the hearse passed, and his coffin was draped with the Union flag with a police helmet placed on top.
The procession was led by four mounted police officers, followed by police motorcycle riders and a police-marked Audi with blue lights flashing. The cortege initially moved in silence until a piper began a lament.
- Location: Kirkleatham Walled Gardens, Redcar
- Age: 38
- Date of death: 22 August
- Previous service: British Army (2006–2012), Lance Corporal, Royal Logistic Corps; last unit 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment
"He was our hero with a fantastic sense of humour. Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason. Proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place. Always on public duty throughout his short life."
The family paid tribute to PC Clough's character and service, expressing gratitude for the "overwhelming support and condolences from friends, colleagues and the wider community."
Colleagues' tributes and national messages of support
Officers attending other services have shown solidarity: at the funeral for PC Matthew Blades the previous day, some officers wore identity patches bearing the names and collar numbers of both PCs. Cleveland Police Federation chairwoman Lauren Somerville said the family had found public support to be a comfort and described Tom as "deeply loved by his colleagues," noting that many former colleagues had been in touch to pay their respects.
Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller has previously described PC Blades and PC Clough as "brave, committed, professional people who put the public before themselves." An online fund set up to support the officers' families has raised more than £1.2 million.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Funeral location | Kirkleatham Walled Gardens, Redcar |
| Officer | PC Tom Clough, 38 |
| Date of incident | 22 August |
| Fund raised | More than £1.2m (online fund) |
The scale of attendance underlined the impact the deaths have had across the region and within the emergency services. For many in Redcar and the wider Teesside area, the funeral was both a moment of communal grief and an act of recognition for a life spent in public service.
Families, colleagues and members of the public continue to seek answers about the circumstances of the collision. Meanwhile, tributes have centred on the officers' commitment to duty and to the communities they served.
Local residents and organisations who wish to express condolences or offer support have been directed towards the official channels established by Cleveland Police and the family fund. The loss has resonated across the North East and beyond, with the funerals in Hartlepool and Redcar reflecting the depth of feeling prompted by the tragedy.
