Discarded memories
IT’S DISGUSTING AND DISRESPECTFUL, SAY FAMILIES AS MEMENTOES ARE REMOVED FROM CREMATORIUM FOR ‘HEALTH AND SAFETY REASONS’
FAMILIES have blasted a crematorium as disrespectful after irreplaceable memorial items were thrown away for ‘health and safety’ reasons.
Pictures from Manchester Crematorium, situated next to Southern Cemetery in Chorlton, show piles of disregarded flowers, photographs and other sentimental items.
One family have seen a loved ones memorial bench thrown away, and have been told they will have to pay hundreds of pounds to buy a new one.
Manchester Crematorium said the benches had to be removed following a health and safety audit in 2019, as they had not been properly maintained.
Bosses claim that affected families were informed about the removal of the benches and other items, so they could pick them up.
But many families claim they never received notification from the crematorium, and only realised important memorabilia was missing when they visited.
Jacqueline Gardner says she only found out that her late partner’s bench had been removed after a neighbour informed her. Andrew Jarocki passed away 10 years ago, and Jackie paid £725 for a memorial bench, which she believed was for life.
Her daughter Clair said: “My mum is absolutely heartbroken. We have no longer got anywhere to go to remember him. Anthony Williams lost his wife at the end of October 2018, and the family paid for a memorial rose tree in the crematorium’s garden of remembrance. Anthony’s son Paul said: “A few months ago, we went to put flowers on and we noticed personal items had disappeared. “It’s disgraceful and disgusting – there’s no respect or compassion whatsoever.”
A spokesperson for Manchester Crematorium said: “A health and safety audit found that the benches located within the grounds were potentially substandard and therefore potentially unsafe. “Sadly, as a result it was necessary to replace the memorial benches. We then undertook an exercise in July 2019 to contact all the memorial bench holders to inform them of the changes.
“The benches that were removed were
leased by us for the lifetime of each bench, and the maintenance was down to the individual lease holder.
“We have always offered a range of memorials on renewable leases, these are popular with the families and friends of loved ones laid to rest in our gardens, we receive a great deal of positive feedback on the how beautiful our Gardens of Remembrance are.”