PC Rathband's Funeral This Weekend

7 March 2012, 05:36 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

The funeral for PC David Rathband is being held in Newcastle on Saturday.

Newcastle City Centre will come to a standstill this weekend as police and the public come together to celebrate the life of Pc David Rathband who died last week.

The heroic officer, blinded by gunman Raoul Moat, will be mourned at St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle, at midday on Saturday (10th March).

Arrangements were being made to invite top level politicians and senior dignitaries to the memorial, which organisers have called "a celebration of Pc David Rathband's life''.

His wife Kath, 42, and children Mia, 13, and Ashley, 19, have been invited to the ceremony, which has been organised by the officer's twin Darren.

He will be laid to rest in his home town of Stafford on March 17th with a public service which will be followed by a private burial.

Darren, also a police officer, said:
"Anyone who has shown any interest in David's life and what he stood for is welcome to come to the service and show their respects.

It will be a celebration of his life in the North East where he served people as a policeman before we then take him home to be buried with his family.''

He was a real person, not a celebrity. He only became one because he was shot in the face.''

Pc Rathband, who was 44, will be buried in his uniform, with his hat and gloves on top of the casket. The funeral will not be a full police service, as this was not what Pc Rathband wanted.

It will be a Humanist ceremony, in line with the officer's wishes.