Half marathon run to take place in memory of former police chief Peter Lawson

Retired Ch Supt Wendy Bower and former ACC, Pete Lawson at an Awards Ceremony at Lancashire Constabulary.

A retired Chief Superintendent and Lancashire Resilience Forum Chair is running a half-marathon in memory of her friend and colleague.

Wendy Bower, a retired Chief Superintendent at Lancashire Police has signed up for the Great Manchester Run to honour Peter Lawson and to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

Peter Lawson, Assistant Chief Constable and Executive Chair of the Lancashire Resilience Forum died suddenly on 10 December last year at the age of 50.

Pete and Wendy had worked together for 27 years across Lancashire, working on immediate response, Specialist Operations policing and at large scale public events.

When Pete took the seat as the Executive Chair of the Lancashire Resilience Forum in 2021, Wendy, being the established Chair of the General Purposes group, was there to support him.

Shortly before his death, Wendy had retired but was planning to fulfil her lifelong ambition to run a half marathon.

Wendy said: “Pete was, and still is an important part of our lives. Our police family take care of one another when we’re on the beat, and when we stand down for the last time.”

“I’m aiming high for the fundraising target at £2060 – which was Pete’s collar number. It will be an absolute honour to run in memory of a thoroughly decent man and much missed friend, and raise some funds for a great cause”.

Peter Lawson's funeral Pic: Lancashire Police — Tributes were paid to ‘great leader’ Peter Lawson Pic: Lancashire Police

After his passing and funeral, which was on 29 December in Chorley, Wendy stayed in close contact with Pete’s family, keen to support them in honouring his memory.

Jayne Lawson, Pete’s widow said: “I truly miss Peter every moment of every day and cannot believe how this could ever have happened to us in what was a most uplifting chapter in our lives.

“Any research that might help prevent this happening to anybody else, then I am 100% behind it.”

Wendy joined Lancashire Police in 1997, after serving in the army, while Pete had started ‘fresh faced as a young bobby’ on immediate response. In 2023, Wendy was awarded a lifetime achievement award for her contributions to policing, by the British Association of Women in Policing.

You can donate to Wendy’s fundraising page here.

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