Safer Neighbourhood Team grant 101-year-old’s final request

A Safer Neighbourhood officer granted a 101-year-old Radlett resident’s last wish by providing a police escort for her final journey.

Sergeant Noel Buckley, who first met Doreen Beare when she celebrated her 100^th birthday in March last year, was also a pallbearer for her casket.

He said: “It was an honour to give Doreen an extra special send-off and grant her final wish of a police escort. It was my privilege to help carry her casket.”

Doreen made the request for the unique funeral escort while watching the Queen’s funeral with her carer Adam Drozd.

He said: “She said, ‘If I kick the bucket I want to be like the Queen, escorted by a police car’. She said I needed to promise her, so I did.

“She really appreciated what the police do. She had travelled to 61 countries during her life, so she knew how fortunate we are to have the police service we do in this country.”

Doreen had lived in Radlett for more than 40 years. She was married for 52 years and had one daughter, Linda.

Doreen served in the Artillery Territory Services for five years where she monitored screens in a radar cabin before she went on to work at Lloyds of London insurance. She later worked as a local support worker for many years.

Her neighbour Hilary Spanswick said: “I think we can see what a special woman Doreen was by the support she’s had from across the local community.

“We were all touched to see the unique support for the procession as it left Doreen’s bungalow where she had lived for decades.

“Sergeant Buckley was gracious, respectful and very helpful. He did a great job of representing the constabulary.”

Linda added: “It was so wonderful to have everyone’s support to celebrate a long and well lived life.”

An image taken on the day of Doreen’s funeral.

Doreen with her Hertfordshire Constabulary coin.

Doreen with Sergeant Noel Buckley and PCSO Milan Boca on her 100^th birthday.

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