I couldn’t afford to give grandad proper funeral

GRIEVING Curtis Colt was forced to wait nearly five months to bury his grandad because he could not afford the funeral costs.

The father-of-one, 20, tried to arrange John Rowe’s funeral with Co-op Funeralcare but moved to a cheaper independent firm after he was quoted £3,500 for a basic funeral without embalming. But he still struggled. And the service for John, who died aged 76 in March, was eventually paid for with £4,000 raised on a GoFundMe page online and other donations.

While Curtis sought funds, John’s body was held by Co-op, Funeralcare for four-and-a-half months.

Curtis said he asked about a Department for Work and Pensions grant but realised it would not even cover half the costs. He claims Northampton Council refused to help.

He then looked into holding a pauper’s funeral for John, who died of oesophageal cancer, but was told he was not eligible as the service is for those without any family members. The Co-op offered a cremation – but said they would not hand over the ashes unless Curtis paid £1,300.

GoFundMe donors included Northampton Town FC, which John supported all his life and an elderly lady from Aberdeen.

The funeral, on August 17 at The Counties Crematorium, cost £3,700 with Mark Elliott, independent funeral director. It included a wreath, a limousine and a hearse.

Last night, Curtis said: “I tried everything I could but kept hitting brick walls with the council and the local MP. Somebody said ‘Why don’t you try GoFundMe’. The page