A question for Bluebottle.

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Dear BB,

I need to you to put on your Policeman hat for a second.

I live opposite a church, and sadly today we had a funeral. Nothing unusual about that, except for the fact there were 2 mounted police officers in what I call the London police helmet, with the shiny silver finial on the top and pure white borcade on the jackets, the horses were piebalds (BEAUTIFUL horses). The escorted the hearse in, and out of the funeral, and they saluted the coffin.

My kids were desperate to say hiya to the horses, which the officers were only too pleased to let them do, encouraging Molly to be a mouted police officer and I cannot rate them highly enough..


My questions are, 1: What consitutes a mounted police escort to a funeral? I couldnt really ask the mourners.
2: Who do I contact to thank the ladies for being so good with my kids?

I'm in South Yorkshire


Thanks,

much love as always

Puff

[Bill-K]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

As BB knows - when I've got my cabbie's flat 'at on, I absolutely hate the plods. It's a 2-way thing.

But we got a 'blue lights' escort to Wycombe hospital when our first daughter decided to flounce onto the stage of life - and the blue guys loved it. Similarly, with occasions such as this. It must surely be a pleasure to honour a person in their departure from here - and the interest shown by your kidz must have added to that, Puff.

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

yeh it was beautiful to see, but its so unusual.

I just wondered what circumstances warrent a police escort, im told to say it was full ceremonial uniform. The horses were so well behaved and gentle. It was as if they KNEW to be on their best behaviour, but ive always said horses have 6th senses about things like that.
The rode the horses up our road in front of the hearse, and were there about an hour, and then they lead the hearse off.

[miliitant]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

might it be a copper who has passed away or a squaddie

when you salute, you are to acknowledge a persons rank or queens commission that the person held

[Bill-K]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

Indeed so, Militant. "Saluting with gritted teeth," as I recall from my old cadet days !!!

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

it was the colour of the horses too.. piebald.

I thought police horses had to be one colour...

[miliitant]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

indeed so, militant. "saluting with gritted teeth," as i recall from my old cadet days !!!

celer et audax

[bluebottle]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

Hi Puff,

Glad to answer your questions. Police officers normally wear what is known as their Working Uniform and this is what they wear on a day-to-day basis. However, they also have what is known as a Dress Uniform, which consists of jacket and trousers and a helmet or Derby (which is what female officers wear). They only wear this uniform when attending court or on special occasions, such as funerals. The two mounted officers you saw were in their Dress Uniforms and the brocade and helmets are for ceremonial occasions only. It is likely that the deceased was a police officer or armed forces member, as Miliitant suggests, or someone who just loved horses and requested two police horses. The police will consider such requests, operational requirements permitting.

The postal address you require, Puff, is -

David Crompton QPM
Chief Constable
South Yorkshire Police
South Yorkshire Police HQ
Snig Hill
Sheffield
S3 8LY

It is better to write, as opposed to sending an email, as it is likely the two mounted officers will be shown the letter or a copy of it. Believe me, it really does give police officers a boost when they receive letters of thanks from members of the public and telling them it has given your daughter the inspiration to become a mounted officer in the future will be the icing on the cake for them.

As for the two mounted officers saluting the coffin, this is a mark of respect for the deceased. I did this a couple of times when I was on the force. The most impressive police funeral I've seen was for a dog handler who collapsed and died on duty. The hearse was escorted by four police motorcycles, one on each corner of the hearse. It was quite impressive seeing the hearse going along with its escort, coffin draped with the force flag and the dog handler's helmet on top of the coffin.

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

Oh wow!

thanks BB, knew you would come through for me.

we recently had a ex Jazz band leader's funeral.. first we knew was when a guy with a banjo knocked on my door to check the name of the church, followed by a fella with a accordian, a man with a trumpet, some REALLY odd looking gremlin of a man with a trombone, and a bloke playing an oompah loompah (no not the orange faced friends of Charlie Willie Wonka, those over sized trumpet things that wrap round you and go OOOMPAH OOPMAH). The funniest part was when they started playing when the saints go marching in!!

[Bill-K]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

...Believe me, it really does give police officers a boost when they receive letters of thanks from members of the public and telling them it has given your daughter the inspiration to become a mounted officer in the future will be the icing on the cake for them.

It must be such a thankless task these days - you know what you have to do, Puff !!!

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

I'm not doing it.. Molly is.

[Bill-K]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

WOW. "That sounds like Trad, Dad !!!"

You got a Souzaphone at your front door ? That's a bigger and better horn than I could ever present !!!

We just don't get that stuff up here, sadly. I bet that guy's funeral was one helluva do. That's the way I'd like to go.

[Bill-K]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

I'm not doing it.. Molly is.

Yeah, of course...and you're not involved one teensy bit, of course !!!

[bluebottle]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

WOW. "That sounds like Trad, Dad !!!"

You got a Souzaphone at your front door ? That's a bigger and better horn than I could ever present !!!

We just don't get that stuff up here, sadly. I bet that guy's funeral was one helluva do. That's the way I'd like to go.

I went to the funeral of a friend of my elderly mother. Going into and coming out of the crematorium chapel, Rod Stewart's "Sailing" was playing. The lady was an avid amateur sailor. The music was a perfect choice.

[bluebottle]

Re: A question for Bluebottle.

it was the colour of the horses too.. piebald.

I thought police horses had to be one colour...

They can be any colour. The majority are a chestnut colour.