PENNY LANCASTER puts her best foot forward on a daunting hike to aid a very good cause
‘The climb was challenging on many levels, but so rewarding’
At 3am on Saturday 19 June, the mountains of the Lake District came alive with the blazing blue light of more than 2,000 flares as Penny Lancaster joined her policing family to honour fallen officers.
As hello!’ s exclusive photos show, it was the experience of a lifetime for the model and TV personality, who recently joined the City of London Police as a special constable. And Penny is still full of emotion as she tells us about climbing a mountain for Light the Lakes, the spectacular annual fundraising event that has so far raised over £30,000 for the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) charity.
“It was a magical experience. When we reached the top, it felt like we were on another planet, it was almost deafeningly silent,” the wife of rock star Sir Rod Stewart and mum of two tells hello! just hours after scaling the 1,539ft peak of Lingmoor Fell – one of 210 Wainwright Peaks in Cumbria to be lit up by blue flares as the incredible spectacle, in memory of police officers who have died while on duty, came to a climax.
BLUE HEAVEN
“The climb was uplifting, heartwarming and touching and it was challenging on many levels, but so rewarding. It needed to be tough, otherwise we wouldn’t have felt that grit and determination,” says Penny, 50, who was there in her role as patron of COPS, a charity dedicated to helping the surviving families of police officers and staff who have died on duty or in relation to their duty.
“We were scrambling up the peak amongst sheep and heather and falling slate, and the rain started going horizontal. But on reflection, there was lots of laughter, camaraderie and sharing of stories. I’m so glad I could be part of it.”
Penny was part of the COPS team on Lingmoor Fell, which also included her niece Raphaella, 17 (who
hopes to become a police officer); representatives from COPS including chief executive Tim Buckley; survivors of fallen police officers who are supported by the charity including Gill Marshall – who is also COPS national president – Lissie Harper, Samantha Dixon and Jill Forster; and the Stockport Police Cadets. “We went through a lot of emotions, and there’s the very poignant moment where we light the flares,” says Penny. “There were a few tears and people reminisce.”
The climb itself took around two and a half hours to complete, with the team setting off on Friday evening to make it to the top in time for nightfall.
“I made lots of excuses for stopping to take photographs, but really I was stopping to catch my breath,” laughs Penny, who found the trek physically challenging despite her impressive fitness levels, which have only improved since she joined the beat.
“At some points it was so steep we were using our hands to pull ourselves up, and the 43lb of camping gear, including a tent I was carrying, didn’t help.
“There was a range of people of ages from 16 to 60, and differing levels of fitness. My niece really enjoyed the climb. She flew ahead and had a peaceful moment by herself as she got to the top a few minutes before everyone.”
The climbers then had five hours to recuperate before the light- up took place. “I thought I was very prepared; what I didn’t remember was a waterproof cover for my rucksack – all my spare clothing was wet,” laughs Penny. “Luckily my niece and I had decided to bring a tent with us. We were grateful for it, and although we didn’t get any sleep, it was nice to rest somewhere dry and cosy.”
Telling hello! of the unforgettable moment when they proudly waved their flares to light up the pitch-black night sky just before dawn, Penny says: “We could see the lights from the other peaks. There were streams of smoke where the flares had gone out, which looked like early morning mist. It was really special.”
UNITED IN EMOTION
She also recalls a heartfelt conversation shared with Lissie Harper – whose husband PC Andrew Harper died on duty in 2019 after attending a burglary in Berkshire and being dragged behind a getaway car for a mile. Since his death, Lissie has been spearheading the campaign for the creation of Harper’s Law, which would mean anyone found guilty of killing an emergency services worker would be jailed for life.
“Lissie said to me that Andrew would have loved to have done this climb with her, and I said to her: ‘He is, he’s with you now. And when we’re at the top of
‘I made lots of excuses for stopping to take photos, but really I was stopping to catch my breath’
the mountain, you’ll be closer to him still.’ We held the flares and hugged and remembered Andrew and all the others. It was really special.”
It was also a moving moment for Samantha, whose husband PC James “Dixie” Dixon died in a traffic collision on duty in 2017.
“To see those flares all around you spread over several miles touches you in a way that is indescribable,” Samantha tells
hello!. “Several emotions hit at once – sadness for those you’ve lost and pride for how they are remembered by so many. The climb left me feeling I’d achieved something to be proud of, but most importantly, something I know Dixie would be proud of me for completing.”
Once safely down the mountain, and after some well- earnt rest, the COPS team reconvened for food and speeches on Saturday afternoon, during which Penny thanked those involved and paid tribute to the family members who support police officers.
Light the Lakes is organised by Vinny Wagjiani, a detective sergeant with Surrey Police, and PC Laura Rowley and, since it began in 2012, the event has raised over £100,000 in vital funds for COPS’s important work, which involves providing practical and emotional support such as peer support events and access to counselling for the surviving families of police officers.
National president Gill tells
hello!: “COPS is incredibly grateful to a l l the volunteers and supporters who made the event
‘There was lots of laughter, camaraderie and sharing of stories. I’m so glad I could be part of it’
possible. Without their tireless efforts we would be unable to deliver the vital services that COPS provides to all our survivors.”
Of raising awareness for COPS, whose work is funded solely through donations, Penny adds: “We want police officers on the front line to realise COPS are out there. They provide an incredible service. Joining the police means joining another family, and it’s not possible to have that sort of career unless you’ve got back-up from your family.”
Penny is already looking forward to taking part in next year’s event – “It’s in the diary!” she smiles.
Light the Lakes has been the latest step in Penny’s journey to becoming part of the policing family, which began in 2019 when she took part in Channel 4’s reality series Famous and Fighting Crime.
SHE’S SPECIAL, SO SPECIAL
Now two months on from qualifying as a special constable, Penny is embracing her role in keeping the streets of London safe. Her duties include preventing and dealing with crime inside the Square Mile of the City, responding to 999 calls, interviewing witnesses, taking statements, arresting criminals, writing crime reports and giving evidence in court.
She has already helped to save a life. “We’re out there to help the most vulnerable… I did help someone who was very desperate on the bridge the other night,” she said on Good Morning Britain.
Supporting her through it all is her loving husband Sir Rod and their sons Alastair, 15, and Aiden, ten.
“I want to show my boys that it’s important to be whatever you want to be in life and fulfil every part of yourself, even if it’s considered dangerous,” Penny tells us. “I always have excitement and butterflies for my days on duty – it’s my biggest thrill each week.”
To donate to Light the Lakes, visit justgiving. com/ campaign/ LightTheLakes2021. For more information about the work of COPS, visit ukcops.org.
For video footage from the event, visit hellomagazine.com.
‘Joining the police means joining another family’
‘I always have excitement and butterflflies for my days on duty — it’s my biggest thrill each week’