The diary of Michael Downes - aged 45 & 3/4

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Feature
The diary
of Michael
Downes - aged
45 & 3/4
West Yorkshire Federation
Chairman Michael
Downes and a team of
officers from all ranks
cycle across the country
to raise awareness for
the National Police
Memorial
Saturday, October 31, 2009 ­ Day 1
5.30am
Nervously excited about the prospect of cycling 240
miles. I am now asking myself �have I done enough
training� knowing full well I haven�t. The furthest I
have cycled thus far and during only four weeks of
training, was 70 miles. Would I really want to repeat
this for the next three days?
Anyway that did not matter I decided, especially with
the support of my five fellow cyclists representing all
ranks and the support team of two vehicles, dealing
with logistical support.
8am
We start at the Memorial Garden, Centenary Square,
Bradford and hold a minute�s silence to mark the start of
our journey, to contemplate those we had lost in tragic
circumstances and whom we will not forget. The team set
off to London. On our route we will go via the memorials
for Sharon Beshenivsky, Ian Broadhurst and John
Speed, all shot whilst on duty protecting the public of
West Yorkshire, by heartless monsters who are not fit to
draw breath.
Centenary Square, Bradford
Photography: JCF Photography
Michael Downes (front cyclist) thanks West Yorkshire police trumpeters at memorial
Onwards to our first stop south of Doncaster 60 miles and
an overnight stop, via my parents� home, and as you
would expect mum did us proud, with homemade butties
and piles of cake. I sat on the decking in the back garden
looking over the valley with every rank in service present,
all chewing the fat over a pot of tea and just having my
mum and dad there made me very proud.
Sunday, November 1, 2009 ­ Day 2
7.30am
Feeling delicate; with the best of intentions we had
decided as a group the previous night that we would
only have an odd beer and an early night, to be ready
for the 100-mile stint from Bawtry
to Peterborough. We got the �odd�
beer bit right, it was seven or nine.
No room for sympathy or self pity.
It was belting it down with rain,
nicely supported by driving winds.
There was no let up in the driving
rain for over four hours and by now we had all realised we
had bitten off a little more than we could chew and there
was no way we could complete the distance in daylight
hours or even by early evening. Four punctures tested the
resilience of our logistical support colleagues and the
vehicular protection they gave us was literally a life saver.

If you wish to donate towards the maintenance of the memorial visit:
http://www.wypf.polfed.org/news/260909memorialride.html
Lincoln City Centre brought us lunch and some warmth,
as we caused chaos in Tesco supermarket caf� and the two
staff serving us lunch gave us £5 for the memorial repair
fund. It�s amazing how the little things in life can boost
morale and make you appreciate that most people are
wonderfully kind and generous.
It was now a case of just digging deep, pulling together and
just getting on with it. We arrived in Peterborough at 7pm.
Monday, November 2, 2009 ­ Day 3
7.30am
Beautiful morning, clear blue skies, 140 miles in the bank
and only 65 miles required today, using the term �only�
in its loosest possible sense. Peterborough to Hemel
Hempstead was the order of the day and we asked a local
for some directions, we are not sure if he did not like the
police or had just escaped from a mental institution, but
regardless he managed to add 15 miles to our route.
Dunstable Downs
2pm
Bedford and time for lunch. It was now 2pm and it
was clear to us all that we had only completed 45 miles
plus the 15 miles extra from the earlier detour.
We routed to Hemel via and over the top of Dunstable
Downs and at 6pm in the pitch black, we had a
photograph taken by the high point, now I am well
known to be a little mad but that takes the biscuit.
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Feature
8.30pm
We arrive at Hemel Hempstead. It is fair to say that
tensions were running high and our tolerances low, this
was without a doubt the low ebb of the trip. Anxieties were
now high in the knowledge that we had to get from Hemel
into London, through 25 miles of heavy and congested
traffic and in three hours maximum to make the muster
point and wreath laying ceremony in The Mall.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 ­ Day 4
7.15am
Depart for Hemel Hempstead town centre, to take in
the memorial for Frank Mason and for a small
number of local officers to lay a wreath in memory of
their fallen colleague. We were also joined by some 15
cyclists who would accompany and guide us on the
final leg into central London.
8am
Departed for the City and were on schedule and in
good company.
Cyclists join in for the last push
11.45am
We set off on the final leg and cycled a very short distance
along Pall Mall and onto The Mall. Our Metropolitan
colleagues and Royal Parks Police did us proud, they
stopped the traffic for us and we were flanked by police
cyclists and DPG �diplomatic protection group� vehicles, as
we cycled six abreast down Pall Mall and into The Mall.
The group being led by the six West Yorkshire cyclists and
as we arrived at the Memorial, the West Yorkshire Police
fanfare trumpeters serenaded our arrival; they had
travelled over 200 miles in their own time to support us.
The last post was played, followed by a minute�s
silence and the laying of wreaths, by myself, the
national police federation chairman and the
metropolitan police federation chairman.
The rain poured down ous, but it mattered not, as the
pride I was feeling at this point is difficult to put into
words and nothing could dampen it.