24th January 1986 SN

Body flown 3,500 miles then no grave is dug

THE BODY of a young car crash victim was flown home 3,500 miles to be buried at the family church, near Stafford.

But shocked relatives discovered as they arrived for the funeral service at Sandon Church that no grave had been prepared and were found to delay the burial until the following day.

The mix-up happened last Thursday as relatives gathered to pay their last respects to 19-year-old Simon Ward whose family had emigrated some time ago to South Africa.

Simon died from injuries received in a road accident near Durban, shortly before Christmas.

His family still retained strong links with Sandon, however, as Simon’s grandfather was the village doctor for some years.

Funeral director, Mr. Maurice Emery said after the service: “We spoke to the gravedigger to remind him of a coffin to be buried. But he did not dig the grave.

“We expected the grave to have been prepared. But when we arrived, we discovered that there was no grave. Arrangements were made at our suggestion and the family were very happy at the idea of the deceased lying in church overnight.”

Mr. Emery explained that the gravedigger had been booked through J F Benton, Monumental Msons, of Eccleshall Road, Stafford.

A spokesman there said: “Two of my fellows dig graves in their own time.”

One of the diggers confirmed: “I have apologised to the family.”

He refused to say how the mix-up had come about. But it is believed that at the time of the service, he was 15 miles away away preparing the grave of Lord Stafford who was buried on Thursday.

Simon’s mother, Mrs. Rosalind Ward was “too shocked” by her son’s death to discuss the mix-up. But his aunt, Dr. Juliet Skilton, of Haywood, said: “The funeral worked out alright and the family were happy[“].

Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD