Relatives of people whose ashes are buried in Shrewsbury’s crematorium have been left distraught after being told to remove flowers and ornaments from memorials.Letters have now been sent out by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, which owns and maintains the crematorium, asking for all the ornaments and shrubs to be removed from the site’s memorials.
The council has received complaints about the number of objects left at the site, which it said was against regulations.
Jennifer Farr, from Bayston Hill, whose mother’s ashes are at Emstrey Crematorium, said the items left at the graves were testimony to the people buried there.
She said: “On my mother’s grave we’ve got elephants because she loved elephants. Some graves have got cats or dogs, so you can see they were an animal lover, or pot plants and you know they were a gardener.
“There are things put there by children as well. My nephew, who’s four, has put an ornament of a big green bug there because he wanted it to sit with grandma.”
But Mrs Farr said SABC has told her to remove the ornaments or they will be removed for her.
“My sister was quite upset by the letter we got yesterday telling us to move the ornaments,” she said.
“My mother died in February and when we were given the regulations we were not in the state of mind to read through the small print.
“Now if we don’t remove everything it will be removed for us on September 15.”
David Wraith, environmental health manager responsible for bereavement services at SABC, said the letter was not announcing new rules, it was reminding people of the existing rules.
By Pam Griffin
9 Comments
Having recently visited the cemetery I wondered if the sat-nav had taken a wrong turn and we’d ended up in a fairground,windmills,fluffy toys,toy cars to mention but a few.These are supposed to be places of respect and reflection not a chance to out do the Jones’s in a tackiness competetion.By all means have a shrine,but have it somewhere private, just don’t expect everybody else to endure it!
this is big brother gone maad, whats wrong with leaving flowers etc, they should just deal with it , we pay enough council tax (£2500 per annum in my case) AND on top they charge to use the crem
some of the chavs are leaving like pictures of kylie and jason and plastic bangles and teddy bears etc, this is a shame for those who leave just flowers and religious things but i understand the council ban for the sake of the place being tidy for all
Take a look at the bigger picture. People mourn loved ones differently and just because the tributes are not all floral shouldnt mean they should be treated any less. Lets not forget this is a memorial garden. Take away all the floral tributes with the exception of one, and any other tributes, the area will look deserted. These Regulations should not be enforced and people should be allowed to mourn loved ones in any way they see fit. If you do not like the site, then why choose to have a loved one buried there.
Shame on Joe that he should need a Sat Nav to find his way to the Crematorium. He clearly hasn’t been for a long time if he can’t remember the way.
As for Donald’s comments, I am not sure which Crematorium he is visiting as, having been today, I have seen no “chav” like memorials. As for the place being tidy, take a look around. The bins have now been emptied by look at the rotting stems left, look at the weeds in the gravelled areas. I am pleased to say that the grass is being cut today, as for the last month, the only 2 gardeners employed at the site, have had no lawnmower to use. This “ban” as you put it will mean that “Cemetery Police or Bailiffs” will have the power to remove “illegal” items from the site with no prior warning. This world really has gone mad.
Neil says “This “ban” as you put it will mean that “Cemetery Police or Bailiffs” will have the power to remove “illegal” items from the site with no prior warning” have you actually read the article? no prior warning ?? It states it in the agreement you sign originally, and the council have sent out a reminder. That seems ample warning to me!
As it happens…and no I’m not Jimmy Saville,Mr Surridge I was referring to the cemetery not the crematorium, so firstly get your facts right,I had no reason to go to it before because I had no relatives or friends buried there so if it is shameful that I didn’t know the location of the site I plead guilty. Likewise I’m sure you’re well acquainted with the locations of cemeteries in Weymouth,Alcester and Nantwich, where my relatives and friends are at rest.
stop whining and see it from the councils point of view not just your own
To those of you who think we “whine”, we dont. My Family “purchased” this plot, yes, paid money. Who are the Council to tell us how many floral tributes we can put beside our grave. You refer to the said “article”. Yes we have read it, but the regulations to which it refers have no bearing on those given when we purchased the plot, so excuse our complaint. We are quite within our right, having not been able to make an informed decision at the time of purchase. I am still unaware of any “chav” like memorials. Tributes of loved ones who are in the grieving process take many shapes and forms. Shame on you all.