UK and I Conference Members

Fil Tomaszewski                                                                                                                                                                                      England VIII  2010

On the 1st April 2010, I attended on behalf of the Chapter at 'Tommo's funeral - It was a spectacular send off for a popular member of England VIII.
The following extract has been taken from the Leicester Mercury of 2nd April 2010.
"Buff"
Vice President

Melton comes to a standstill as biker’s honour policeman

Bikers from across the country and abroad said farewell to a police officer killed riding his beloved motorcycle. About 100 motorbikes joined the funeral cortege for Pc Fil Tomaszewski, 48, who died in a crash near Ab Kettleby last month while he was off duty.
Melton town centre came to a standstill yesterday as the convoy of bikes followed the motorcycle-and-sidecar hearse from Richard Barnes funeral directors, in Wilton Road, to St Remigius church in Long Clawson. The cortege, including members of several motorbike clubs that Pc Tomaszewski belonged to, was escorted on its short journey by a team of five Leicestershire police out-riders. A police guard of honour lined the approach to the church in Church Lane and six uniformed police pallbearers bore the coffin of the officer, who had served with Leicestershire police for 25 years.
Chief Superintendent Daimon Tilley, north area commander and a personal friend of the officer, said: "Today has been a very sad day for all of Fil's family, friends and colleagues. The number of people who have attended his funeral shows just how popular a guy Fil was and how well respected he was by his colleagues." Pc Tomaszewski, who was married with two daughters, was killed riding his Yamaha Road Star Warrior in Clawson Lane, north of Ab Kettleby on Thursday, March 18. Known as "Tommo" and described as an officer "who always had a smile on his face" he had served for 25 years and was based at Loughborough.

Dozens of members of different chapters of the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, to which he belonged, were among those in the procession, including some who travelled from Germany.
Members of the Lost Riders Motorcycle Club, the Fell and Rock Climbing Club and members of a sailing club he belonged to, joined family and friends in the packed church to pay their last respects to the popular officer. Among the mourners was the temporary Chief Constable of Leicestershire, Chris Eyre.
Fellow Blue Knight Sgt Tom Elliott, 52, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "He was well respected as an officer and member of the Blue Knights."
Leicestershire Pc and Blue Knight, Stuart Bates, said: "He was one of a kind, a real practical joker." The family requested donations in lieu of flowers to go to the Care of Police Survivors charity.
Christine Fulton, the charity's national president, who attended the funeral, said: "Fil was a good friend to us."

Tommo's last ride