Sad farewell to police chief

From the archive, first published Friday 8th Dec 2006.

Police colleagues, civic leaders, friends and family of former West Yorkshire Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn gathered for his funeral yesterday after he lost his battle with cancer aged only 50.

Officers lined the streets outside the force's HQ as the cortege made its way to Wakefield Cathedral, which was packed with more than 600 mourners.

A police helicopter performed a fly-past before a Guard of Honour made up of Mr Cramphorn's colleagues formed outside the cathedral to meet the coffin.

Mr Cramphorn's death last week prompted a wave of tributes - many from Northern Ireland where he was the much-respected acting chief constable of the fledgling Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Among the mourners were Sir Ronnie Flanagan, Chief Inspector of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and former chief constable of the former Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), under whom Mr Cramphorn served as deputy, and Sir Hugh Orde, the current chief constable of the PSNI.

Mr Cramphorn was diagnosed with prostate cancer more than two years ago and announced his intention to retire in September.

He left his post earlier this month after what he described as "four challenging and rewarding years".

Mr Cramphorn joined the West Yorkshire force from the PSNI, where he served as acting chief constable. Previously, he was the deputy chief constable of the RUC.

In one of scores of tributes, Sir Hugh said: "He was a copper through and through. All of his friends and colleagues here were delighted at his appointment as chief constable in West Yorkshire. His ultimate and unswerving professional loyalty to policing is unquestionable."

Mr Cramphorn's time leading the West Yorkshire force saw him deal with a range of high-profile situations including two fatal shootings of his officers - Birkenshaw traffic officer PC Ian Broadhurst in Leeds on Boxing Day, 2003, and PC Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford in November last year.

West Yorkshire was also the focus of the investigation into the 7/7 bombings in London, when it emerged three of the four bombers lived in the force area.

The Bishop of Leeds, the Right Reverend Arthur Roche, gave a homily at the funeral. He told mourners: "We gather to pray for and pay tribute to a very great and a brave man - a deeply loving husband and proud father, a son, a brother and valued friend, a clearly outstanding and dedicated police officer who exercised wise leadership in our community, and a much-missed colleague."

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