This Sunday marks 10 years since Greater Manchester Police PCs Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone tragically lost their lives whilst on duty.
On a day that will forever be devastatingly etched into the memory of the city – 18th September 2012 – PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes were on patrol and responding to hoax reports of a burglary at Abbey Gardens in the village of Mottram in Longdendale in Tameside when they were murdered in a gun and grenade ambush.
PC Bone was pronounced dead at the scene, and PC Hughes later died in hospital.
The horrific incident was the first on the island of Great Britain in which two female police officers were killed on duty.
Their tragic deaths were met with nationwide shock and anger – with Greater Manchester Police’s then Chief Constable Peter Fahy calling the attack “cold-blooded murder” and then Prime Minister David Cameron describing it as a “despicable act… of pure evil” – and the next day, a moments silence was held by Greater Manchester Police at 11am in remembrance.
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The Union Flag was lowered to half-mast at Greater Manchester Police’s headquarters as a mark of respect.
Their funerals were held on 3 and 4 October at Manchester Cathedral – with large parts of the city centre coming to a standstill and huge crowds attending to pay their respects to the brave officers.
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PCs Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone tragically lost their lives whilst on duty / Credit: GMP
The pair will be remembered at a service at the Nicola and Fiona memorial garden at Hyde Police Station on Sunday 18 September, with family and friends, officers, colleagues, MPs and representatives from Tameside Council, and members of the local community all set to attend and remember the fallen PCs on the 10th anniversary.
At the service there will be a minute’s silence at 10:53am, wreaths will then be placed by the families and GMP’s Tameside District Commander, Chief Superintendent Phil Davies on behalf of GMP.
“Although 10 years has past, the emotion and grief is still felt on anniversaries such as this and reminds us of the dangerous situations officers face on a daily basis,” Chief Superintendent Phil Davies said ahead of the memorial service.
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“On Sunday, we will come together with Nicola and Fiona’s families and honoured guests to reflect on the passing of a decade since they made the ultimate sacrifice for the oath they took as police officers.
This Sunday marks 10 years since they were killed on 18 September 2012 / Credit: GMP & Family Handout
“Nicola and Fiona’s essence and presence remain with us and is tangibly felt by those who knew and worked with them,
“But also their colleagues who have joined the GMP family after their passing.”
The memorial service is also open to the public to attend, so those who are wishing to join in remembering PC Hughes and PC Bone can make their way to Hyde Police Station on Sunday 18 September at 10:40am.
Featured Image – GMP
News
Family pay tribute to father-of-two killed in Rochdale plane crash
Daisy Jackson
The family of a man killed in a light aircraft crash in Rochdale have paid tribute to a ‘deeply loving father and devoted husband’.
36-year-old Arian Abbasi was one of two men killed when an aircraft crashed into farmland in Littleborough in Rochdale last week, after travelling from Birmingham.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 11am on Tuesday 3 February, but sadly pronounced both men dead at the scene.
It’s believed there was no one else on board the aircraft, and there were no reported injuries on the ground.
Now, Arian’s family have issued a moving tribute to him. He was a pilot from Harrow in Greater London.
They described him as being a ‘deeply loving’ family man, whose passion was flying.
He was about to embark on a new chapter with a commercial airline in just a few weeks’ time.
His family said: “He lived his life for his family and friends, giving them his constant love, strength, and support.
“Flying was his passion, and he was on the brink of beginning an exciting new chapter with a commercial airline on 23 February; a dream he had worked toward with immense pride and determination.”
GMP investigations are now focused on finding part of the parachute system which contains propellant and hasn’t yet been located.
Finding the device has been ‘very difficult’ due to the nature of the terrain and the wide area over which it may have travelled.
It measures approximately 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm long and has a red anodised finish. It weighs less than 2 kg. It may have a silver metal collar attached at one end.
GMP said: “Please do not handle the device if you see it. If discovered, contact the police immediately via 101 or our Live Chat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1056 of 03/02/26.”
Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free bus travel to and from school
Emily Sergeant
Children who are currently living in temporary housing in Greater Manchester are set to get extra support with school travel.
In a move that was announced by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) at the end of last week, and following years of campaigning, homeless children living in temporary accommodation are now set to get free school travel on all Bee Network buses.
TfGM says it understands that some children end up a long way from their school when placed into temporary accommodation, and this leaves parents or carers with the difficult choice of either having to move them to a closer school, which ultimately disrupts their education, or having to pay unexpected travel costs.
While the Greater Manchester Strategy – which is the plan for the city region’s next decade – commits to reducing the number of families and children in temporary accommodation, and measures are also being taken to make sure residents have the support they need to ‘access, improve, and retain’ a decent, affordable home, this doesn’t tackle the immediate issue.
Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free school bus travel / Credit: TfGM
So, to help those families when they ‘need it most’, free bus travel to and from school is set to be provided, as subject to approval of this year’s Combined Authority budget.
The move comes after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham asked TfGM last year to look at options to help with the cost of travel.
“Using our locally-controlled Bee Network buses to support families when they need it most is the right thing to do,” Andy Burnham commented.
Of course, the long-term solution is no kids in TA and we’re working with our councils to achieve this in the next few years.
We can do it because GM will soon hit the point where we are building more council and social homes every year than we’re losing through right-to-buy. 👍🏻
“A move into temporary accommodation is often a massive upheaval for families and can be a worrying time. With this measure, the cost of travel to school will be one less thing for families to worry about.
“It will mean parents and carers don’t have to choose between an extra demand on their household budget and keeping their children with friends and teachers they know and trust.”
Emily Sergeant -
16th September 2022 
