A Nottingham family is devastated after the council lost sentimental grave items at Wilford Cemetery.
Sandra, who is 60, lives in Clifton. She said she felt very angry about the loss. The city council runs the cemetery. They said they regret causing any upset.
The lost items honored Bryn and Lydia. Bryn was Sandra’s nephew, and Lydia was her mom. Sandra’s sister, Susan, also passed away. Sandra had to move items during Susan’s burial.
Sandra and her son cleared the grave together. They put everything into a bag. She is a support worker at Queen’s Medical Centre. Sandra asked workers to hold the bag. A worker said they could store it in a shed. They said there was not a time limit for storage.
Sandra thought her items were safe. She waited several months to collect them. Sandra tried to call the cemetery on February 12. She wanted to pick up her lost sentimental items. Staff repeatedly told her to call back. They said they needed more staff present. A worker searched the shed on February 19. The worker found nothing at all.
Sandra said this news devastated her and her family. She sobbed on her way back home. She said these things cannot get replaced. The items held sentimental value.
Her mom would light a cigarette for her nephew. She’d put it between the concrete hands’ fingers. Her mom would then sit and talk to him. This helped her to cope with grief.
Sandra wanted to continue this tradition herself. She cannot buy the items anywhere now. Sandra feels upset about this situation. Only those items from the bag mattered to her. She blames the cemetery for the loss.
The council understands the distress felt. They take this matter very seriously now. The council says they don’t normally store grave items. They searched where the items might be held. Sadly, they could not locate them. The council regrets any distress caused.