This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/04/manchester-thousands-mourn-fiona-bone

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Manchester comes to a standstill as thousands mourn PC Fiona Bone Manchester comes to a standstill as thousands mourn PC Fiona Bone
(35 minutes later)
Manchester city centre's rush hour drew to a halt and the streets fell silent on Thursday as thousands of officers lined one of the main thoroughfares before the funeral of PC Fiona Bone, the second officer who died with a colleague as they attended a seemingly routine burglary on 19 September. Manchester city centre's rush hour drew to a halt and the streets fell silent on Thursday as thousands of officers lined one of the main thoroughfares before the funeral of PC Fiona Bone, who died with a colleague as they attended a seemingly routine burglary on 18 September.
Thousands of officers from around the UK stood in silence for more than an hour with their hands clasped and heads bowed before the cortege led by six mounted officers passed along Deansgate on its way to Manchester Cathedral for the service, at 10am. They were joined by hundreds of members of the public – office workers, shop workers, shoppers and construction workers.Thousands of officers from around the UK stood in silence for more than an hour with their hands clasped and heads bowed before the cortege led by six mounted officers passed along Deansgate on its way to Manchester Cathedral for the service, at 10am. They were joined by hundreds of members of the public – office workers, shop workers, shoppers and construction workers.
A piper played as the coffin was carried into the cathedral by six uniformed colleagues, draped in a black flag with the force's badge on it. Bone's police cap and badge were placed on top of the coffin. The mourners were led by the 32-year-old's parents, Paul and June Bone, her sister Vicky, partner Clare Curran and Curran's daughter Jessie, five. A piper played as the coffin was carried into the cathedral by six uniformed colleagues, draped in a black flag with the force's badge on it. Bone's police cap and badge were placed on top.
The scenes echoed Wednesday afternoon's funeral of Bone's 23-year-old colleague Nicola Hughes, also at the cathedral. The mourners were led by the 32-year-old's parents, Paul and June Bone, her sister Vicky, partner Clare Curran and Curran's daughter Jessie, five.
The scenes echoed Wednesday afternoon's funeral of Bone's 23-year-old colleague Nicola Hughes, which was also held at the cathedral.
Audio from the service was relayed to the hundreds of uniformed officers and members of the public who gathered outside in Cathedral Gardens. The Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was among the mourners.Audio from the service was relayed to the hundreds of uniformed officers and members of the public who gathered outside in Cathedral Gardens. The Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was among the mourners.
The two officers died during an incident on the Hattersley estate in Mottram, Tameside, on 18 September. Dale Cregan, 29, has been charged with the murders of the two officers and of David Short, 46, and his son Mark, 23.The two officers died during an incident on the Hattersley estate in Mottram, Tameside, on 18 September. Dale Cregan, 29, has been charged with the murders of the two officers and of David Short, 46, and his son Mark, 23.
There was a smattering of spontaneous applause as the cortege passed through the city centre and as the coffin left the cathedral. Officers, many in dress uniform, bowed their heads in respect. Spontaneous applause broke out as the cortege passed through the city centre and as the coffin left the cathedral. Officers, many in dress uniform, bowed their heads in respect.
Bone, 32, lived in Sale, Greater Manchester, with Curran, with whom she was planning a civil partnership in May next year, and Jessie. The couple had become engaged in February when Curran proposed. The service heard how she was "so happy in life" and how she was born on New Year's Eve in Norwich, but "always claimed to be a Scot like her mum and sister". The Greater Manchester police force chaplain, Charles Nevin, said Bone had found fulfilment with her partner and took Jessie bike riding, swimming and to a climbing wall. "She would say that picking up Jessie from school and giving her a hug was the very best part of the day." Bone, 32, lived in Sale, Greater Manchester, with Curran, with whom she was planning a civil partnership next May, and Jessie. The couple got engaged in February when Curran proposed.
The service heard how she was "so happy in life" and how she was born on New Year's Eve in Norwich, but "always claimed to be a Scot like her mum and sister". The piper was a nod to Bone's Scottish heritage – she lived there with her family from a young age.
The Greater Manchester police force chaplain, Charles Nevin, said Bone had found fulfilment with her partner and took Jessie bike riding, swimming and to a climbing wall. "She would say that picking up Jessie from school and giving her a hug was the very best part of the day."
He added: "On that quiet estate in Mottram two weeks ago, God's heart broke as Fiona and her colleague, Nicola, were shot and killed."He added: "On that quiet estate in Mottram two weeks ago, God's heart broke as Fiona and her colleague, Nicola, were shot and killed."
The officer's family, who live on the Isle of Man, paid tribute to "a wonderful daughter, sister, partner and parent". Senior representatives from all 43 forces in England and Wales joined Bone's family and friends and her colleagues from Tameside division among the 1,000 mourners inside the cathedral. The piper was a nod to Bone's Scottish heritage – she lived there with her family from a young age. The officer's family, who live on the Isle of Man, paid tribute to "a wonderful daughter, sister, partner and parent".
Bone's colleague Sergeant Stephen Miskell told the congregation that Bone was "a perfect police officer". He said she was a calm and gentle bookworm but also a "strong, brave rock of a woman who represented the very best that humanity has to offer the world". Senior representatives from all 43 forces in England and Wales joined Bone's family and friends and her colleagues from Tameside division among the 1,000 mourners inside the cathedral.
Sergeant Stephen Miskell told the congregation that she was "a perfect police officer". He said she was a calm and gentle bookworm but also a "strong, brave rock of a woman who represented the very best that humanity has to offer the world".
He said: "Fiona was wonderful. She was wonderful at keeping colleagues' spirits high with her bubbly nature. She was wonderful about caring for others. God Bless you, Fi."He said: "Fiona was wonderful. She was wonderful at keeping colleagues' spirits high with her bubbly nature. She was wonderful about caring for others. God Bless you, Fi."
The chief constable, Sir Peter Fahy, said Bone had joined Greater Manchester police in November 2005 as a volunteer special constable on North Manchester Division. In January 2007 she became a full-time officer and was posted to the Tameside Division. The chief constable, Sir Peter Fahy, said Bone had joined Greater Manchester police in November 2005 as a volunteer special constable on North Manchester division. In January 2007, she became a full-time officer and was posted to the Tameside division.
"It is clear that helping people and building community spirit was at the heart of everything she did. Not only was she a special constable, she worked with St John Ambulance, had set up a women's five-a-side team and was an active member with the Waterway Restoration Group.""It is clear that helping people and building community spirit was at the heart of everything she did. Not only was she a special constable, she worked with St John Ambulance, had set up a women's five-a-side team and was an active member with the Waterway Restoration Group."
After graduating from the University of Central Lancashire, she set about her ambition of becoming a police officer. He said she "quickly gained recognition as an officer who set the highest standards for herself and for others." He said: "She quickly understood that virtue is often not its own reward, that there are many frustrations in policing but much satisfaction. While others often seem obsessed with policing in films, crime novels and fly-on-the-wall documentaries, Fiona did it for real. Like most police officers Fiona absolutely loved her job and felt privileged to serve the public in this way.
"Fiona quickly accepted that she was now part of a disciplined service where staff just get on with whatever is asked of them across the full range of incidents and crimes, often going into situations where the risk is unknown but where you put service to the public ahead of yourself. It was in going about her duty in this quiet, conscientious way that she met her death."
In October 2009, Bone was awarded a chief superintendent's commendation for her outstanding contribution to an investigation relating to burglaries and robberies. He recalled that in 2010 she received a letter of thanks from a person she had arrested and prosecuted. "In the letter, the individual thanks Fiona for her assistance in getting him help to change his ways and for being a decent police officer."
The chief constable said Fiona treated everyone with dignity, compassion and respect whatever their background.
Fahy said Fiona may have been small in stature but was unquestionably huge in personality, drive and desire to make a difference, and had great promise for the future. "We will never forget her great sacrifice," he added.Fahy said Fiona may have been small in stature but was unquestionably huge in personality, drive and desire to make a difference, and had great promise for the future. "We will never forget her great sacrifice," he added.