| Location | Cockermouth, Cumbria |
| Age | 44 years |
| Cause of Death | Accident |
| Date of Birth | 21/11/1964 |
| Date of Death | 20/11/2009 |
| Visitors | 884 since 22/11/2009 |
| Creator |
An eyewitness has described the moment he saw hero PC Bill Barker being swept to his death when a bridge collapsed in the horror Cumbrian floods.
And yesterday Gordon Brown toured devastated Cumbria – pledging an extra £1million for flood victims.
Father-of-four Bill, 44, was swept from Northside Bridge in Workington as he warned motorists not to drive on to the “pitching and bucking†structure.
As wind, rain and the raging River Derwent battered the bridge, a colleague screamed to Bill: “Come off the bridge! Come off the bridge!â€
But it was too late, and an anguished WPC called out in the darkness: “One of our officers has gone in.â€
The horrific chain of events was witnessed by Brendan Pickering, 47, who was about to cross the bridge with his dogs at 4.30am on Friday when he heard a deafening crash.
He said: “When I came out of my house I could hear a big whooshing noise. Then there was a big crash. When I got to the bridge I could see part of the handrail was missing. A bit further on I could see what looked like a puddle, but which I suddenly realised was actually the river running by where the bridge should have been.
“There was a car coming up behind me, so I flagged down the driver and got him to stop. I was dialling 999 while he did a three-point turn to get away.
“The 999 operator thought I meant the smaller bridge upstream, but I said no, it was the main bridge. She said she was sending some police officers out.
“By now the bridge was pitching and bucking, and I could see cracks in the stonework. There were two articulated wagons approaching the bridge so I stopped them too.â€
On the southern side of the bridge, a bus had come to a halt just before the crater which had opened up.
“I was shouting across the river, ‘Reverse the bus, reverse the bus!’â€
PC Barker arrived at that side of the bridge a few moments later and began ushering the bus and a lorry backwards off the bridge.
On the other side of the river, Brendan was told by two more police officers – a WPC and PC Barker’s male colleague in the traffic unit – to move back so they could close off the bridge from that direction too.
With wind whipping streams of water across the bridge, PC Barker’s traffic unit partner shouted at him him to retreat.
But just as he screamed “Come off the bridge!†there was a huge crash. “The second section of bridge went in,†said Brendan. “It must have set up a domino effect because the rest fell in after it. Within a few seconds all the sections across the actual river had gone.â€
The two police officers on his side of the bridge realised immediately that their colleague had been swept away.
The horrified WPC shouted: “He’s gone!†But they stuck to their posts, turning back other traffic arriving at the scene
* * . + * .*.
. * + * JUST * + .
+ . . * + . + * . * +
* . + *SPRINKLIN.* + .
+ . . * + . + * . * + .
+ , *YOUR. + * PAGE+ *
+ . . * + . + * . * + .*
. * * + . * WITH.* .
+ . SOME. * + * * . + * .
. * + * * + . *+ *
+ ..LOVE.. * + . +
+ . . * + . + * . * +
xxx
xxxxxx
Hello From Heaven
◕⊱✣⊰◕
It's me again from Heaven
With a message from above
Feel my spirit all around you
As I sprinkle you with love...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
I have watched you, as your tears flow
I have heard your silent screams
I know you sleep with visions
Of me visiting your dreams...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
I have come and sat beside you
Placed my hands upon your face
Wiped away the many teardrops
I so wish I could erase...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
I have watched you every day now
Seen such pain within your eyes
I just wish that there were some way
I could help you realise...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
I am happy up in Heaven
In this peaceful loving place
Where I will be here waiting
To welcome you with my embrace...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
You will join me here in Heaven
When your time comes you’ll see
Leave your Earthly cares behind you
Travel on to where you’re free...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
I have heard you ask to go now
But there is more for you to do
I promise I'll be waiting
When your time on earth is through ...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
Until that day does happen
Feel the love I send your way
Every single moment
Of every single day...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
c Lyndie
Xmas blessings to a beautiful angel. Warm hugs darling xxx
A peaceful xmas to all my GTS friends and their families.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Patricia and family xxxxxxxxxx
⋱ ⋮ ⋰
⋯ ✰ ⋯
⋰ ⋮ ⋱
….| _â–„â–„_
….|.(◑ჴ◑)
….|..▶★◀
…↺(_____)↺
….|(______)
★ ⋰⋱ ★ ⋰⋱ ★ ⋰
♠♫ Merry Christmas ♫♠
xxxxxxxxxx
x
♥ CHRISTMAS TEARS ♥
♥~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~♥
Teardrops Fell From My Eyes Today
Thinking How Long Its Been Since You Went Away
♥~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~♥
Christmas Is Coming It Is So Sad
When It Is Over I Feel So Glad
♥~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~♥
This Time Of The Year Was So Happy For You
♥~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~♥
Your Bright Eyes Would Glisten
And Light Up The Room
♥~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~♥
Memories Are All We Have Today
Of Our Precious Angel Who Has Passed Away
♥~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~♥
Copyright Brenda Derrick 1~12~2010
Thinking of you on your Angelversary Bill. xxxx Love to your heart broken family today. xxxxx
True love never Die's
Through the windows of my eye's
I see you standing all alone
There's a tear in your eye's
I can see that you want to come home
I dont think you realize
Your now in heaven above
You look so lonely standing there
But dont worry, were here my love
As long as we can see you
Through the windows of our eye's
I promise you our sweet Angel
True love will never die.
Copyright© Sharon Wheeler
Remembering Bill with gratitude xxxxxxxx
~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~
I've come for a little chat,
I know that you can hear
Whenever things are difficult
I always come back here.
I tidy round and talk to you
And think about the past,
All those precious moments
Destined not to last.
I feel your eyes upon me
As I turn to walk away
And that little chat I've had with you
Gets me through another day
~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~
In Memory of Bill and love to his heartbroken family xxxxx
My Wish
ღ♥ღೋâ•â•
When you are lonely,
I wish you love.
ღ♥ღೋâ•â•
When you are down,
I wish you joy.
ღ♥ღೋâ•â•
When you are troubled,
I wish you peace.
ღ♥ღೋâ•â•
When things are complicated,
I wish you simple beauty.
ღ♥ღೋâ•â•
When things are chaotic,
I wish you inner silence.
ღ♥ღೋâ•â•
When things are empty,
I wish you hope.
ღ♥ღೋâ•â•
Unknown
â•”â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•à³‹áƒ¦♥ღೋâ•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•—
.....♥.◊ೋღ◊WITH LOVE FROM PATRICIA XXXXX.ღೋღ◊ೋ.♥......
â•šâ•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•
Remembering with love and affection a very special angel xx
You Meant So Much
by Cassie Mitchell
You meant so much to all of us
You were special and that's no lie
You brightened up the darkest day
And the cloudiest sky
Your smile alone warmed hearts
Your laugh was like music to hear
I would give absolutely anything
To have you well and standing near
Not a second passes
When you're not on our minds
Your love we will never forget
The hurt will ease in time
Many tears I have seen and cried
They have all poured out like rain
I know that you are happy now
And no longer in any pain.
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There have been 73 candles lit for Bill.
