THE LIFE of a heroic police officer who was killed in the line of duty was celebrated at a memorial service in Dundee yesterday .

Richard Gray—a constable with West Mercia Police who was born and raised in Dundee—was killed by a lone gunman as he reacted to an armed siege on May 6 in Shrewsbury while trying to protect a colleague.

Before joining the police force, PC Gray served for 20 years with The Black Watch and was given full military honours at the funeral in Shrewsbury on May 18. His sister Catherine Macpherson arranged yesterday’s service to give family, friends and former comrades in his hometown of Dundee the chance to pay their respects and celebrate his life.

His family were determined to make the service, held at St John the Baptist Church in Albert Street on what would have been his 44th birthday, as joyful as possible.

Catherine arrived at the service dressed in pink, rather than the traditional mourning black, but was still choked with tears as she remembered her brother.

She said, “I wore pink deliberately today to emphasise that this is a celebration.”

Ricky’s two sons Paul (25) and Liam (19) also attended the service. His wife Jenny, whom he had married only last August after a long relationship, was unable to come to the service.

The Rev Canon Joe Morrow set the tone with a reading from the Gospel of John: “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for a friend.”

It was a sentiment that was returned to time and again during the moving and uplifting service.

A eulogy by friend and former Black Watch colleague Ally Alcorn generated a few laughs as he told of their army training and Richard’s nickname—Plug.

He said, “Ricky did have big ears which reminded us of Plug from The Beano, but it wasn’t to the detriment of his looks as he was a very handsome man and it was always said with affection.

“It’s important to remember the times we laughed together and there was no one better to have by your side when the going gets tough.”

Dundee’s Lord Provost John Letford took time out from council business to attend the service and pay his own private respects.

He said, “I didn’t tell the family I was coming today but I felt it was important to remember this very brave individual from our own city of Dundee.”