Police are already lining the streets for the funeral of Police officer Andrew Harper, who died while responding to reports of a burglary and who was described as a ‘hero’ ahead of the day’s memorial service.
The 28-year-old newlywed, of Thames Valley Police, was killed on August 15 near the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire. He died from multiple injuries after being dragged under a van.
More than 800 people are expected to attend his funeral at Christ Church Cathedral on St Aldate’s, Oxford, at 11am today.
In the Oxford procession police on horseback and an flag bearer walked ahead of the hearse and the funeral cortege
Act of kindness: a member of the public was spotted seemingly giving a tissue to a visibly upset officer during the procession
Thames Valley Police said while it is a private funeral, the public can ‘pay their respects along the processional route’.
However the family requested that no flowers are brought to the cathedral or to the procession.
Craig O’Leary, chairman of Thames Valley Police Federation, said PC Harper was a ‘hero’, who was loved by his family, friends and colleagues.
Mounted police rode down a central Oxford street this morning for the funeral of PC Andrew Harper as members of the public lined the streets to pay their respects
Officers lined the route as the funeral cortege moved through the streets making its way to Christ Church Cathedral in St Aldate’s
PC Harper’s badge and hat could be glimpsed through the window of the hearse as it moved slowly through the streets
A clearly upset officer was glimpsed wiping away a tear today during the funeral of PC Andrew Harper who was killed while investigating a burglary in August
In a statement, Mr O’Leary said: ‘PC Andrew Harper loved being a police officer. It is our sad duty today to pay our last respects to him and support his wife Lissie, his family and his friends at his funeral.
‘This has really hit us all hard and shocked everyone in the whole police service.’
Police have warned of some disruption in the city due to road closures between 8am and 12.30pm for the funeral procession.
Mourners arrive at Christ Church Cathedral in St Aldate’s, Oxford for the funeral of PC Andrew Harper, the Thames Valley Police officer who died while responding to reports of a burglary.
Uniformed officers were photographed arriving in the quadrangle at Christ Church Cathedral in St Aldate’s, Oxford
Members of the public line the streets of Oxford to pay their respects ahead of the funeral service for PC Andrew Harper
PC Andrew Harper married his wife Lissie just four weeks before his death at the age of 28 in August
St Aldate’s will be closed from the city centre to its junction with Speedwell Street and there will also be road closures on The Plain, Magdalen Bridge and High Street, police said.
Pc Harper’s family has asked for any donations to be made to the Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital on Aston Road, Haddenham, or the Blue Cross re-homing centre on London Road, Lewknor.
Meanwhile, thousands of people have signed up to take part in a ‘ride of respect’ in PC Harper’s memory on October 27.
The motorcycle event is due to set off from RAF Benson to Abingdon Airfield in Oxfordshire.
Organiser Sian Sloper, from Caversham, said 2,240 people had registered to take part so far.
Pc Harper had been married to his partner Lissie for just four weeks when he died.
She described him as ‘the kindest, loveliest, most selfless’ person.
Henry Long, 18, from Mortimer in Reading, and two 17-year-old boys, who cannot be named because of their age, have been charged with murder and conspiracy to steal a quad bike.
Thomas King, 21, from Basingstoke, is also accused of conspiracy to steal a quad bike.
Jed Foster, 20, was also accused of PC Harper’s murder, but prosecutors dropped the charges against him as there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.