Family distraught over father’s lost ashes in funeral directors mix-up

FIGHTING back tears, the devastated family of former fireman George Smith huddled together against the blistering cold as they fulfilled his final wish.

Solemnly, they scattered the 80-year-old’s ashes on the manicured grounds of Solihull’s Robin Hood Cemetery and Crematorium.

It was an emotional farewell to a man who had risked life and limb to protect the people of Birmingham.

But, incredibly, the Solihull pensioner’s loved ones have been informed that the ashes scattered were not George’s remains.

They have been told his actual ashes have been discovered among items left behind when funeral directors Colour My Funeral, which had bases in Solihull and Shirley, went under.

The urn was discovered among items left at the company’s premises in Rowood Drive, Solihull, and loved ones informed by Solihull Council.

Ellie Blewer, partner of the late George’s son Kevin Smith, said: “What did we scatter – or, even worse, who? Our family are in bits.”

Mr Smith said: “It is disgusting, it has brought everything back, the stress, the grief. I am beyond angry.”

After George died at Sutton Coldfield’s Good Hope Hospital in January, the family said that Colour My Funeral fulfilled all their wishes during his service the following month.

His widow Doreen was too ill to attend and is currently in a care home.

Things only turned sour when they asked for his ashes six months later.

“They brought them round,” said Ms Blewer. “At least, we thought they brought them round. They were very chatty and friendly. That’s what sticks in our minds and hurts.

“Did they know they weren’t George’s ashes? This has devastated the family, particularly George’s daughter. She is absolutely heartbroken.”

The family collected the real remains from the Solihull premises last week.

Bailiffs who entered Colour My Funeral’s offices in Solihull and Shirley found a macabre Aladdin’s Cave of possessions. They uncovered six urns, a mound of paperwork, photographs and passports.

The majority of those items have been handed to Solihull’s Trading Standards department.

The family’s story adds to a catalogue of misery unearthed following the collapse of Colour My Funeral.

Relatives of Beatrice Evans asked for an ermine white coffin with a plaque. They say the casket had been poorly hand-painted and the plaque’s inscription was written in felt-tipped pen. Those words were washed away in the rain, they allege.

Christopher and Emily Wyatt claim they were left seriously out-ofpocket after paying the funeral company £700 to have their stillborn daughter Alania’s ashes turned into jewellery. The work was never done, and the distraught parents received only a £200 refund.

One relative called by bailiffs to Colour My Funeral’s premises openly wept after discovering her loved one’s ashes in a Jiffy bag.

Pensioner Martha Ward paid Colour My Funeral £5,000 up front for her severely disabled grandson Bradley’s funeral, aware she will probably outlive the 30-year-old. Last month she was given the bombshell news there is no funeral plan in place.

West Midlands Police are investigating claims that bailiffs were assaulted as they entered the business’s outlet in Shirley.

Birmingham Process Servers’ director Colour My Funeral’s director Adam Blake previously refused to comment on the firm’s closure, telling the Post: “It’s up to a judge to judge me, not you. You’re just after a story. You’re getting nothing out of me, I’ll just keep putting the phone down.”