Removal of keepsakes from plaques at Canley Crematorium branded "heartless"

[dutchman]

'They had gone and collected up everything - photos and all sorts, taken them all away'



The removal of personal mementos placed around plaques at Canley Crematorium in memory of loved ones has been branded “heartless” by a Coventry woman whose father was cremated there.

Tracy Box has told the Telegraph how vases and other personal mementos were removed from the sign put up in memory of her father Noel Price.

Mr Price died ten years ago and ever since his family have regularly placed vases of flowers and other mementos around it.

But last week all the items were removed - something which was discovered by Mr Price’s widow Sylvia when she went to visit to place fresh flowers there.

Tracy said: “Last Thursday my mother Sylvia, who is 80 next year, had gone up to take some fresh flowers but when she arrived was nothing there. Keepsakes, vases - everything had been removed.

“She was distressed and went up to the lodge and they said you can’t have anything there.

“My father has been there for ten years and no one has ever said anything before. Everybody’s plaque has keepsakes and vases.”

Tracy said her mother was told the rule was only fresh flowers could be placed around plaques and that only bordered plots could have vases and other keepsakes.

All the items removed had been retained and were on display, but her mum was only able to reclaim vases as they had her late husband’s name on them.

Tracy said it was not the enforcement of the rule which troubled her but the fact no one was warned it was going to be implemented.

“It is just the way they have gone about it, she added.

“The fact there was no notice.”

“It is just distressing. Surely there’s a much more sympathetic way they could have gone about it?

“To do it without fair warning to anyone is just a little bit heartless.”

A spokesperson for Coventry City Council said: “We will not remove any items from private graves unless there is a specific issue and we have already contacted the family.

“We have been removing some of the items left in communal areas in the Gardens of Remembrance as these can hamper our gardeners’ ability to maintain the area to the level we – and families – would want.

“All items removed are kept in storage for collection.

“We apologise if this has caused anyone distress, but we have to do all we can to keep the gardens well-maintained and looking their best for all visitors.”

[Melisandre]

Health and safety for the dead now then.

[rebbonk]

We apologise...

Hollow, empty words, from an out of touch and uncaring council.