Alan Baldwin
Alan's UK Police Unity Tour page
Fundraising for Care of Police Survivors
Story
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In July over 100 police officers and staff are cycling from the National Police Memorial in London to The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffs over two days (180 miles) to raise much needed funds for the families of those officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect their communities.
I am riding in memory and honour of Det Constable Ian Coward and to support those he left behind. This is his story.
Detective Constable Ian Coward QPM (Gallantry)
Ian, a former Sonning Blue Coat schoolboy, started his police career as a Police Cadet with Berkshire Constabulary and became a Police Constable at the village of Shinfield.
He then went onto CID and was at Woodley when the dreadful event took place. On the evening of Sunday 27 June 1971, aged 28 years he was on duty during the Reading Pop Festival but was not part of the Festival event. He was working a 12 hour shift and whilst travelling in an un-marked police car he observed a motor car being driven erratically and stopped it in the Kings Road, Reading. The vehicle was stolen and was occupied by two men, both on parole from prison Arthur 'Billy' Skingle and Peter Sparrow. Having checked their details, Det Con Coward returned to his vehicle to use the radio. When sat at the wheel of his car, Skingle appeared at the side window and shot him once in the head with a handgun, firing eight more bullets into his body at point blank range before fleeing leaving him severely injured.
Both men were later arrested.
Ian was taken to hospital and survived for a few weeks and subsequently died on Friday 23rd July 1971. He is buried at St.Peters Church, Earley. His widow Gillian accepted the Queens Police Medal for Gallantry awarded posthumously on his behalf from the Queen in December 1971, one of only 27 awarded.
Both men were jailed at Oxford Assizes later that year when Skingle was told by Mr Justice Chapman: "In your case life will mean life." Arthur 'Billy' Skingle was killed by a fellow prisoner in 1988. Peter Sparrow was later freed on licence following a parole application where Ian’s widow was consulted about any objections.
Anything you could give for this fabulous and poignant cause would be great. Thank you.
In July over 100 police officers and staff are cycling from the National Police Memorial in London to The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffs over two days (180 miles) to raise much needed funds for the families of those officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect their communities.
I am riding in memory and honour of Det Constable Ian Coward and to support those he left behind. This is his story.
Detective Constable Ian Coward QPM (Gallantry)
Ian, a former Sonning Blue Coat schoolboy, started his police career as a Police Cadet with Berkshire Constabulary and became a Police Constable at the village of Shinfield.
He then went onto CID and was at Woodley when the dreadful event took place. On the evening of Sunday 27 June 1971, aged 28 years he was on duty during the Reading Pop Festival but was not part of the Festival event. He was working a 12 hour shift and whilst travelling in an un-marked police car he observed a motor car being driven erratically and stopped it in the Kings Road, Reading. The vehicle was stolen and was occupied by two men, both on parole from prison Arthur 'Billy' Skingle and Peter Sparrow. Having checked their details, Det Con Coward returned to his vehicle to use the radio. When sat at the wheel of his car, Skingle appeared at the side window and shot him once in the head with a handgun, firing eight more bullets into his body at point blank range before fleeing leaving him severely injured.
Both men were later arrested.
Ian was taken to hospital and survived for a few weeks and subsequently died on Friday 23rd July 1971. He is buried at St.Peters Church, Earley. His widow Gillian accepted the Queens Police Medal for Gallantry awarded posthumously on his behalf from the Queen in December 1971, one of only 27 awarded.
Both men were jailed at Oxford Assizes later that year when Skingle was told by Mr Justice Chapman: "In your case life will mean life." Arthur 'Billy' Skingle was killed by a fellow prisoner in 1988. Peter Sparrow was later freed on licence following a parole application where Ian’s widow was consulted about any objections.
Anything you could give for this fabulous and poignant cause would be great. Thank you.