Son’s hurt as dad’s remain are ‘dug up’

ASON whose father died in a road traffic collision said he is ‘devastated’ after finding his father’s remains had been dug up.

Peter Thwaites, 66, from Poynton, was riding his motorcycle along Buxton Road when he was involved in a crash with a car on September 9, 2016.

Tragically the father-ofone died at the scene.

His son, also named Peter, 47, decided to bury his dad’s ashes at the spot and planted a blossom tree, with a plaque attached, in his memory.

He also made a carved wooden sign which said ‘dad’ and placed it in front of the tree.

Despite moving away from the area, the exRoyal Engineer has visited the shrine almost every other weekend, tending to the tree and spending time with his dad.

However, two years on from his father’s death, Peter returned to find the shrine had been dug up and the urn containing his father’s ashes had vanished.

Peter told the Express this was the only place where he could go to spend time with his dad and that he couldn’t understand why it had been taken away.

He said: “It was devastating when I got there. I went up to visit it on Sunday (August 5) and it had been dug up and removed. The tree and whole area has been dug up. I don’t know why.

“I was absolutely shocked and saddened by it. It is the only bit I have left of him. It was a grave.

“At the time I was thinking if I was in the right place because I couldn’t comprehend it, I just couldn’t.”

Mr Thwaites had been a member of Poynton Biker Club and his son said his friends were also hurt when they found out his remains had been removed.

Peter said: friends as well.

“I put it on Facebook because I was trying to find out what had happened to his grave and most of his friends were “For his just as shocked as me.

“If somebody has passed by and seen anyone do it then at least that would explain it.”

Derbyshire County Council, which covers the stretch of Buxton Road where the memorial was placed, said they didn’t remove it.

A spokesman said: “We have no record of a memorial being put up or removed from this site.”

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P Peter Th Thwaites, i 66 66, f from M Macclesfield, l fi ld (i (inset right) i died while riding his bike along Buxton Road in 2016. Inset left: His son Peter.