Page 17 - Federation magazine: December 2016 / January 2017

‘No-one should have to choose Northern Ireland mean all RUC widows will
between love and happiness’ now receive their pensions for life, irrespective
of when and how their husbands died, and
Theresa Langmead put her own serious Chris’s life, I had done all the caring myself, those who had their pensions revoked due to
health issues aside to nurse her husband including hoisting him on my own several re-marriage or moving in with a partner have
through five years of suffering with Motor times a day. had them re-instated.
Neurone Disease (MND) until ultimately it “I would shower him every day, trying to This ‘postcode lottery’ has provided Kate
took his life. maintain his dignity and hygiene. He was with a cornerstone for her campaign.
Chris had served 30 years with West unable to communicate because his tongue “These unfair rules have caused
Midlands Police and retired as a sergeant. He was wasting away but there were days when heartbreak for so many years for so many
was 59 when he died in 2012. he mouthed begging to die. families that have already suffered tragedy,”
Theresa, known as Tish, had given up her “When the time came, I granted Chris his she said.
career as a nurse to raise her twin sons. wish to die at home rather than on a hospital Her campaign has had some success. In
Following his retirement, Chris and Tish had ward. He was surrounded by our boys, their October last year the Home Secretary
settled into a new home. Tish had re-trained partners and our first grandchild. But he did announced widows, widowers and civil
as a nurse and Chris had returned to the not deserve to die at 59. He deserved to enjoy partners of police officers killed on duty will
Force as a civilian manager. his retirement. As he lay dying, he spelt out continue to receive their benefits for life
Following emergency surgery on her ‘live your life for both of us. Thank you for regardless of future re-marriage, civil
spine, Tish, who lives in Kenilworth, then loving me. Be happy’.” partnership or co-habitation.
noticed that something was wrong with But Theresa feels she cannot pursue But this only applies to those who
Chris. happiness due to the current police pension re-married, formed a civil partnership or
“While he sat beside me post-op, I regulations. Under the rules of the scheme co-habited after 1 April 2015.
noticed the muscles in his hands twitching that Chris paid into, Tish would have to give Kate’s campaign has also been
uncontrollably, and that he had lost some up her pension if she was to re-marry or strengthened by Scotland making similar
muscle in both hands. My nursing knowledge co-habit with a new partner. changes to those made by Northern Ireland,
immediately made me think Motor Neurone She explained: “Now I am unable to work stating that widows of officers killed on duty
Disease,” she explained. because of the damage looking after Chris for in Scotland who have re-married or moved in
Her own surgery was not successful but almost five years did to my already badly with a partner will have their pensions
she prioritised her husband’s health issues damaged back. I am not ‘allowed’ to live and reinstated and backdated to 1 October 2015.
over her own. be happy as I depend on my police widow’s “The Government has told us it will be too
“My continuing back problems and Chris’s pension as I cannot work again. If I was to costly for us to keep our pensions if we
deteriorating health meant our life was co-habit or remarry I would lose the money re-marry or cohabit and those who have
turned upside down. We struggled with and how would I live? Why should a new already chosen love over money will not have
normal every day jobs and Chris was having partner or husband have to provide for me? their pensions reinstated for the same
problems carrying out his duties at work,” No-one should have to choose between reason,” Kate said.
Tish said. money and happiness but this is the position “But parity with Northern Ireland would
“He was losing his fine motor skills such we find ourselves in. It’s cruel and archaic. We be cost neutral - it costs not a penny more
as writing or opening envelopes. West too deserve to live and love again.” continuing to pay a police widow her pension
Midlands Police were incredible and did Fellow West Midlands Police widow, Kate should she decide to re-marry or move in with
everything they could to help keep Chris in Hall, has launched a campaign to amend the a partner, than it would if she remained living
the job but after falling down the stairs once police pension regulations for all widows in alone.”
too often, he was forced to give up. England, Wales and Scotland. Kate’s determination is increased further
This coincided with a definitive diagnosis; Kate found she had to give up her late by another strange twist in the police pension
Chris did have Motor Neurone Disease. It was husband’s police pension to pursue happiness regulations which states that if a fallen
devastating news.” with a new partner; her husband Colin died officers ex-spouse was awarded a share of the
Chris deteriorated at an alarming rate. from a heart attack while on duty with West officer’s pension as part of the divorce
Tish recalls: “He fought with everything he Midlands Police in 1987. She was 24-years-old settlement, that former partner is able to
had. He remained positive and cheerful but at the time and was left alone with a retain the pension regardless of whether they
all the time I was watching my beloved four-year-old daughter. re-marry or cohabit with a new partner.
husband waste away before my very eyes, She set up an online petition in 2014 “So the rules are utterly contradictory,”
losing some ability on almost a daily basis. asking the Government to review police Kate added, “The widows are the last people
“We adapted our home so that Chris pension regulations in relation to widows, these officers loved so for an ex-partner to be
could stay there. MND affects all voluntary widowers and civil partners. able to keep their share of the pension when
muscles including those used to breathe so There are currently over 114,000 the widow isn’t allowed to is most bizarre.
Chris needed a ventilator. Some nights I signatures supporting that petition and the “The heart of my campaign is my concern
would lie next to him holding him all night or campaign has gained the support of the for the children affected by these inconsistent
he would sleep on the settee downstairs and National Association of Retired Police Officers regulations. I also believe serving police
me with my bad back on the hard floor and the Police Federation of England and officers deserve the peace of mind that,
beside him. Equipment often failed but we Wales. should the worst happen, their survivors’
both battled on. Until the last few weeks of Significant changes made in 2014 in benefits will be payable for life, irrespective of
any new partnership.”
Kate’s campaign continues.

www.westmidspolfed.com federation December 2016/January 2017 17