Martin Wiltshire Receives The Elizabeth Emblem

The son of a Hampshire Constabulary officer has been hailed by the county’s Police Federation after he was commended in a new award for emergency service workers.

Martin Wiltshire received the Elizabeth Emblem, named after the late Queen, on behalf of his father, Detective Constable Malcolm Wiltshire.

Malcolm died in the line of duty in 1985 when the aircraft he was onboard taking aerial photographs of traffic congestion crashed.

The Elizabeth Emblem is a new award that acts as the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, with recipients named in November.

Zoe Wakefield, outgoing Chair of Hampshire Police Federation, said it was “amazing and wonderful” to see the Wiltshire family recognised by King Charles.

She said: “Martin was 14 at the time [of his father’s death]. It had a huge impact on him for the rest of his childhood and life beyond that.

“He now rides the Unity Tour every year in memory of his dad and his daughter’s also ridden in memory of her grandad.

“They are part of the police family… It’s really lovely for them to have that recognition now.”

Zoe also praised the efforts of prolific police campaigner Bryn Hughes for his efforts in helping to create the Elizabeth Emblem.

She added: “It’s so important to know those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice and only died because they were at work, doing their job, should be recognised.

“They’re doing public service and they’ve lost their life because of that.

“I think for the families left behind, it’s lovely for them to know their loved ones are never forgotten and that’s something that we worked really hard at in Hampshire.

“They always feel a part of that police family even though their loved ones are not with us anymore.”