Good morning folks,

It seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating our last International Colin's Day; for those new to the campaign and thinking that I'm fast losing my marbles - allow me to explain.

I decided some years ago that on the anniversary of Col's death I would remember him with a smile instead of tears. I have 364 remaining days each year to have a good sob if I want to, so I was determined that for one day each year I could do this and it is what Col would want me to do.

The first year of our campaign I decided I could declare that from now on November the 29th would be International Colin's Day; Col would probably be a tad embarrassed but not entirely surprised that I had thought of it.

In 2014 when I sought advice about starting on our campaign I was told not to bother, I was on a hiding to nothing and I would just be disappointed; I went ahead and posted this petition as I decided that together we could fight a successful campaign.

As a result the person that offered that well intentioned advice can now choose to remarry her partner or move in with him and still receive her police widow's pension for life. It is a choice that Col would want for all of us.

When you post an online petition you are asked to set a signature target; I typed in the magical 100,000 because I decided that together we could achieve it. To date 127,427 of you have signed and I'm sure Col would be astonished.

In 2015 a small group of us toddled off to Downing Street to hand in comments from our petition because I decided that we could. Col would be amazed just how easy it is for someone like me to knock on the door of Number 10 with mail for the Prime Minister.

Whilst we were there I decided that we could hand in a letter from a small group of armed forces widows still campaigning for the return of their pensions; Col would be appalled that this was necessary.

31 years ago I said goodbye to Col for the last time. Each time he left for a shift we played out a scene worthy of Hill Street Blues; who doesn't remember Sgt. Esterhaus' famous line, “Hey let's be careful out there...” OK younger team members you may need to Google it....

There the similarity ended as we would hug each other tight and we would say, “I love you.” I hope that in his last moments Col was comforted by that.

The last time we visited parliament I talked to a young police officer about our campaign; amazingly you can decide to chat with an armed officer as they stand guard over the home of our democracy.

He had tears in his eyes as we talked about the campaign and his thoughts turned to what would happen to his wife and 2 year old son if anything happened to him.

I asked him to promise me that he would never leave the house on an argument and he would always tell his wife and son that he loved them before he went off to work; he assured me that he did that each and every time. Col would be relieved about that.

Col would be disappointed that there are people that begrudge me the return of my police pension and ask what makes me so special compared to them.

I agree there is nothing particularly special about me – but I would like to remind them that it is the thin blue line of police officers like my husband, that allows them to walk into Downing Street and knock on the famous black shiny door.

Officers like Col defend a democracy that allows them to approach and chat to an armed police officer in the grounds of parliament.

The ever thinning blue line protects their right to speak freely and to list the reasons why I should not continue to receive 50% of the pension that my husband paid for with 11% of his salary.

Col would feel that this should all count for something, that the government should acknowledge that it was not the manner in which he died on duty that is the issue here, but how he served whilst he lived.

We will continue to campaign for parity with Northern Ireland and lifelong pensions for all police widows because we have decided that working together we will win. Col would be proud of us and he would be very grateful for the support that you have given me so far.

And there you have it my friends – today is International Colin's Day because I decided it could be.

It is traditional on this day to give Col a wave and a cheery smile just to let him know that he is remembered. Wherever he is I'm sure he will love it.

Thank you as always for joining in the fun.

Cathryn

CathrynHall@outlook.com