Funeral Service of Stephen Oake
25th January 2003
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For those friends who were unable to be there, our PBC website offers you
a few pictures from BBC TV broadcasts so that you may join with us,
and a summary of Rob's talk.
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The Prime Minister arrives at Manchester Cathedral
A large number of people filled the Cathedral
Welcome - Mr Robin Oake
Hymn: Praise my soul the King of heaven
Prayer
Reading
A tribute to Stephen by Michael Todd Chief Constable
Solo: Wintley Phipps from USA
Prayer: Rev Roger Martin
Time of worship:
1. King of Kings, Majesty
2. Before the throne
3. How deep the Father's love
Reading: Rev. Paul Beasley-Murray
Talk: Rev Rob White, Minister of PBC
Click for summary
Hymn: Love divine all loves excelling
Musical Benediction: Wellspring
Spoken Benediction: Rt. Rev Nigel McCulloch
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All pictures from the BBC 2 program screened on 25/01/03
With thanks to the BBC team
also
More photographs <1>, <2> from the BBC's website
or
Rob White's talk at the funeral service at Manchester Cathedral:
"Behind me is a candle burning in memory of Steve Oake," said Rob White. "If evening were to come quickly and at the same time all the electricity failed in the cathedral, this candle would suddenly blaze out light and everybody would see it. That which was not necessarily noticed in a big way would suddenly become the focus of everybody's attention.
"I believe that is just like the life of Steve Oake. He had burned brightly these 40 years and many of us saw it, but he did not get international attention. He was an ordinary man. He possessed extraordinary qualities, but he was an ordinary man."
Rob also read out farewell prayers from Steve's wife Lesley and children Christopher, 15, Rebecca, 14, and Corinne, 12.
Rebecca's prayer read: "Dear Lord, thanks to your guidance over the last week, I am beginning to understand the evening of January 14, the evening dad risked his life to save a fellow officer. Although his life has ended on earth, I know it is continuing fully with you in Heaven. Dad, or Popsicles as I used to call him, always told me he was proud of me. I only hope I continue to make you proud and cannot wait to see you again . . . Until then, you live forever in my love."
Corinne recalled a "funny, jolly" father who would call her his "littlest princess". "Goodbye my amazing, awesome, superb dad for now," said her prayer.
Lesley and Christopher's prayer concluded: "We are so proud to recognise that it was my husband and our daddy who died a hero and touched so many lives, and now he will receive a royal welcome in Heaven."***
Chief Constable Michael Todd said that Dc Oake "represented the real strengths of British policing". He went on to say "He contributed to the community, he protected people and, overwhelmingly, he made a difference. When the inquiries surrounding the tragic events of January 14 are complete, we will also all be able to see what many of us already know - we have lost a very real hero."