Fellow officers and members of the public lined the streets of Manchester again today for the funeral of PC Fiona Bone, the second police woman killed in a gun and grenade attack last month.
Manchester city centre came to a standstill for a second day, as thousands of people turned out to pay their respects to Fiona Bone. She died together with PC Nicola Hughes as they responded to a reported burglary in Hattersley, Tameside on 18 September.
PC Bone, who was 32, had been planning a civil partnership with her partner Clare Curran, and was said to be “so happy” with her life. Her parents, Paul and Jane, described her as “a wonderful daughter, sister, partner and parent”.
Senior figures from all 43 police forces across England and Wales turned out to see the funeral cortege, as six horses from the Greater Manchester police mounted unit bore her coffin through the streets to the city’s cathedral.
A thousand mourners, led by PC Bone’s parents, Ms Curran and her daughter Jessie, packed into the cathedral for the formal service, which was broadcast on loudspeakers to crowds outside.
The Manchester police chaplain, Charles Nevin, read the poem She is Gone, while colleagues read passages from the Bible. Sergeant Stephen Miskell said his fellow officer had been “wonderful at keeping colleagues’ spirits high with her bubbly nature. She was wonderful about caring with others”.
He told the congregation: “Fiona represented the best that humanity has to offer the world, but that makes her loss even greater.”
The chief constable of Greater Manchester police, Sir Peter Fahy, said PC Bone had set the highest standards for herself and others, and had been awarded a special commendation in 2009 for her outstanding work investigating a series of burglaries and robberies.
“Fiona treated everyone with dignity, compassion, and respect, whatever their background”, he said, while her “great sacrifice” would not be forgotten.
Officers stood to attention and bowed their heads in silence, as the hearse pulled away from the cathedral following the service.
PC Bone will be given a private burial in Scotland, attended by close family and friends.