Widow thanks locals for help finding lost grave ornaments
ButgrievinggrancallsforCCTVatcemetery
NIKI TENNANT
A grieving widow has been left heartbroken after sick thieves stole lanterns she lovingly placed at the Cambuslang grave of the husband she lost only weeks ago.
The 63-year-old gran-of-five has been visiting her husband’s resting place at Westburn Cemetery every day since he passed away in October after a short illness.
A fortnight ago, she and her daughter placed lanterns at the grave containing candles bearing heartfelt personal messages expressing their deep sense of sorrow and loss.
But when she went to the cemetery last Sunday, the 2ft lanterns were gone.
She and her family looked everywhere, but there was no sign of the lanterns.
The grief-stricken gran, who has asked not to be named, blamed youths who congregate at the cemetery for drinking sessions.
And after she posted an emotional appeal on social media, begging for the lanterns’ return, they reappeared in a completely different part of the cemetery four days after they had been snatched.
The family believe the appeal and the expressions of disgust and anger from other members of the community pricked the conscience of whoever returned them.
Following a text from a kind-hearted woman who found them while she was visiting her own relative’s grave last Wednesday, the gran and her grandson retrieved the undamaged lanterns.
“They are now back where they belong,” she said.
And she posted on social media: “I’m born and bred in Cambuslang and love the people. So, big thanks to you all that remarked on my post.
“You all made the people guilty and a lovely lady text me to say she’d seen the lanterns and (we) got them back. But something still has to be done.
“Thank you to the people that brought them back. You done the right thing. We will keep fighting for our loved ones.”
Although relieved and grateful for their safe return, she insists South Lanarkshire Council must take steps to deter loitering youths.
Calling for CCTV to be installed at Westburn Cemetery, she told The Reformer: “I paid nearly £2000 for one plot – that alone would pay for CCTV.
“It should be better looked after. I would even take the keys and go up there at night and lock the gates myself.
“It has been going on for ages. My neighbour lost his wife last year and all the ornaments were taken.
“If these young ones are up there drinking and taking home lanterns, their parents should be asking where they got them and telling them that unless they take them back, they’ll phone the police.
“That’s what I’d have done if it was my children.”
The white pillar candles contained inside the lanterns were especially designed by a family friend.
The inscriptions read: “Husband, your wings were ready, my heart was not,” and “Dad, it takes love not DNA to be a dad.” News of the theft hit home with Margaret Ferguson, of Halfway, and brought back her own despair after her mum’s grave was targeted at the same cemetery.
In 2014, she went to pay her respects at the Westburn Cemetery resting place of her mum, also Margaret, who had died 10 years earlier at the age of 56.
She was horrified to find that the three black marble kerb stones surrounding her mum’s grave had been stolen. “It knocked me ill,” said Margaret. “I was sick to my stomach. That was my mum’s final resting place and somebody decimated it.
“No matter how much time has passed, it is horrific. They are low-life scum of the earth – heartless, soulless.
“You cannot explain the anger and upset it causes inside that someone has done that to your loved one’s last resting place and they cannot be left in peace.”
Commenting on the recent theft, Sergeant Scott Anderson of Rutherglen police office said: “There has been damage to property, theft of flowers and youth disorder this year within the Westburn Cemetery.
“This behaviour is unacceptable and we will be providing extra supervision in the area and liaising with South Lanarkshire Council regarding possible security measures.”
However, South Lanarkshire Council told The Reformer it has no plans to introduce CCTV at the cemetery.
Alistair McKinnon, head of facilities, waste and grounds services, said: “Incidents of theft at cemeteries are very upsetting for the families affected and we share those concerns.
“We have not installed CCTV in any of our cemeteries and have no plans to do so, as we believe it would represent an intrusion for families.
“We would ask that any thefts are reported to the police and we would also urge visitors to our cemeteries to report any anti-social or unusual activity.”