A police officer who helped deliver a baby girl in a car nearly two decades ago has had the honour of escorting her to prom.
PC Jonathan Burke, now in his 19th year with the force, was a community support officer when he rushed to help deliver Genieve Fitt in the family’s Skoda Octavia back in 2008.
Fast forward 17 years, and the same girl got a wonderful surprise when the now-police constable showed up in full uniform to take her to prom.
The special moment happened at King Edward VI Upper School’s leavers prom, held at Blackthorpe Barn on the Rougham Estate, Suffolk.
“It was a great honour to be asked to escort Genieve to her school prom,” PC Burke, now with Suffolk’s Roads and Armed Policing Team, told What’s The Jam.
“The Fitts are very supportive of the work of the police and it is lovely to still be in touch with the family after all these years.
“To have seen how she has grown from a baby after our spontaneous first meeting all those years ago into a young adult is quite a touching experience.
“I did warn the family that if I had a response call during the escort that would have to take priority – but fortunately there was no such call, which was a relief for all concerned!”
The idea for the special prom send-off came from Genieve’s dad, David Fitt, who’s stayed in touch with PC Burke ever since that fateful day in Ixworth, Suffolk.
Back in 2008, David was rushing his wife to West Suffolk Hospital when she went into labour unexpectedly.
Realising they wouldn’t make it to the maternity unit in time, the couple pulled over outside a tea room on the High Street, and luckily bumped into then-PCSO Burke.
With no time to spare, Burke stepped in to help deliver baby Genieve on the spot.
David said: “We made a conscious effort to stay in touch with Jonathan as he was such a help on that day all those years ago.
“It’s been lovely to see him grow into a fully fledged officer, and Evie will always have a lovely story to tell.
“We just hope he doesn’t retire before she gets married!”
