KING Charles and Queen Camilla held a private meeting with the family of a respected Powys police officer when they visited Powys last summer, following his death just weeks earlier.
Tamsin Earp, the wife of Inspector Gareth Earp, has spoken of the “emotional” moment she had sons Ethan, Theo and Joel, met their royal highnesses during a visit to Brecon last July.
The meeting proceeded a personal letter Tamsin had been sent by the royal couple following Gareth’s tragic death a month earlier, following a road traffic collision.
Gareth, from Rhayader, was just 43 when he died at the scene of a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the A470 between Rhayader and Llangurig on Thursday, June 29.
Charles and Camilla visited Brecon On July 20, where they were greeted by local school pupils and took in a musical performance at Brecon Cathedral.
The couple met dignitaries including First Minister Mark Drakeford, while they also took the time to meet Tamsin and her boys – a day before Gareth’s funeral.
“It wasn’t a quick meet and greet. We were invited to a private room and both King Charles and Queen Camilla spent time with us,” said Tamsin, recalling the visit.
“It was very emotional, especially for our sons. I remember Queen Camilla wrapping her arm around my youngest and saying ‘don’t be afraid’. She told us how she still speaks to her dad [who died in 2006] every day.
“Both King Charles and Queen Camilla had so much time for us. They were both very lovely.
“The letter alone was really special but meeting them made me feel so proud of Gareth and the person he was.”
Speaking about the invite, she added: “It was very surreal, we didn’t expect it at all – but it demonstrates just how much of an impact Gareth had on everyone.”
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His Majesty The King personally wrote a letter to Tamsin expressing his deepest sympathies after Gareth died.
He had been due to be the team leader for the Dyfed Powys Police motorbike escort during the royal couple’s Powys visit.
“You’d never know it but Gareth constantly worked a lot with VIPs like His Majesty The King – he was very humble and modest about his work, he never bragged, he would just take every day in his stride,” added 43-year-old Tamsin.
The letter from The King is now framed in the family home. In it, Charles says: “I wanted to write and say how greatly shocked and saddened I was to hear the utterly tragic news about your husband, Gareth.
“My wife and I cannot bear it for you that you should have to endure such a cruel and heartbreaking tragedy and you have no idea how deeply we feel for you and your three sons.”
The letter later refers to Gareth as ‘Earpy’ – the nickname his was known as by many – before calling him a ‘passionate, well respected and highly valued member of Dyfed Powys Police’.
Charles adds: “My wife and I are incredibly grateful for the work Gareth undertook. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to such highly professional and dedicated police officers as your dear husband.
“I did so want you to know how much you and your sons are in our special thoughts and prayers at such a dreadfully difficult time.”
Gareth was a hugely popular figure in his home town community, well known for his involvement with both senior and junior football throughout Powys.
He was a youth football coach and official, having played previously for both Rhayader Town and St Harmon, and at the time of his death he was chairman of Rhayader Town Football Club.
“Aside from policing, football was Gareth’s passion – so much so, that I ended up becoming a ‘football mum’ so we could spend time together,” Tamsin joked.
“He was a brilliant dad and the kids are so grounded because of him. He was fun but also strict when he needed to be.
“As a husband, he would do anything for me. Everything we do now, we do to make him proud.”
A month after Gareth died, Care of Police Survivors (COPS) held its annual remembrance service, which Tamsin attended, alongside Dyfed Police Federation chair Gareth Jones.
“When my Gareth died, having ‘Fed Gareth’ [Gareth Jones] there was exactly what me and the family needed,” recalled Tamsin.
“He looked after us from day one and continued to keep in touch to make sure we were OK.
“Him being there has stopped us all from drowning these past six months. He is such a brilliant person and I can’t thank him enough for his continued support.”
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