Details of tragic PC's funeral
by Nick Evans
THE funeral of PC Phillip Pratt will take place at Minster
Bethel Congregational Church, next Tuesday morning.
PC Pratt, based at Sheerness police station, died on June 14
while diverting traffic around a crash scene on the A249 near
Sittingbourne.
Family, friends and colleagues of the 26-year-old will be
attending the service, which starts at 11.30am and will be led by
church deacon Maggie Mancktelow.
A horse-drawn hearse, escorted by police motorcycles, will carry
PC Pratt’s coffin to the church, making its way from Sheerness into
Minster and along
The Broadway, Wards Hill Road, Union Road, Queens Road and
Baldwin Road before arriving at Chapel Street.
The funeral cortege will be met outside the church by a full
Kent Police guard of honour and those attending will include Chief
Constable Michael Fuller and mid Kent area commander Ch Supt
Alasdair Hope.
PC Pratt’s parents, Ted and Chris, sister Julia and fiancee
Debbie O’Neill have said that people wishing to pay their respects
are welcome to line the route of the cortege.
They are hoping people will wear colours rather than formal
black in celebration of PC Pratt’s life.
As space inside the church is limited only those invited by the
family can join the congregation.
However, arrangements are being made to allow officers, work
colleagues and members of the public to hear the service in an
adjoining hall and car park.
Local road closures will be in place on the day. Back Lane will
be closed between its junctions with Scocles Road and Chapel Street
and Chapel Street will be closed at its junction with Baldwin
Road.
Through traffic approaching from Minster Road will be directed
up Waterloo Hill, Union Road, Queens Road and Baldwin Road to join
Chequers Road.
High Street will be closed completely and Union Road will be
closed at its junction with High Street. Traffic will be directed
along the diversion route through Waterloo Hill, Union Road and
Queen’s Road.
The road closures will be in place between 10am and 2pm.
The funeral service at the congregational church will be
followed by a private family service at Sheppey cemetery.
Wednesday, July 01 2009