William Arthur Alastair Barker
- Died:
- 20 November 2009
- Age:
- 44
- Rank:
- Police Constable
- Force:
- Cumbria Constabulary
- Cause:
- Drowned
- Duty Status:
- On Duty
- Plaque Location:
- Unveiled 2012 at Curwen Park, Ramsey Brow, Workington.
- Gallantry award:
- William Arthur Alastair Barker received State recognition by way of a Gallantry Award in relation to the incident where he lost his life.
Roll of Honour Citation
Drowned when the bridge he was checking for damage, collapsed into the River Derwent during severe flooding. Posthumously awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.
Police Memorial Tribute
Responding to a false report that a vehicle had gone into the River Derwent, PC Barker was searching for casualties and, at the same time, guiding vehicles away from Northside Bridge in Workington, as he checked it for damage. While doing so, in the early hours of the morning, the part of the bridge on which he was standing collapsed and he was thrown into the river and swept away.
His body was found later the same day on a beach at Allonby, eight miles downstream.
The following day would have been Bill’s 45th birthday.
The inquest in Cleator Moor heard that PC Barker was knocked unconscious with a blow to the head as he landed in the debris-strewn water. A post-mortem examination concluded he died from a combination of blunt head trauma and drowning.
PC Barker, who was from Egremont, had been an officer with Cumbria Constabulary for twenty-five years, serving mainly in the roads policing unit. He had received a number of commendations from the force, including one from the Chief Constable.
He left a wife and four children and was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.
A new crossing to replace the bridge was named after PC Barker and opened by HRH The Princess Royal in October 2012.
