A FAMILY say they are “broken” after being ordered to remove sentimental ornaments from the grave of a loved one – despite being in place for two decades.
Last week, the great-granddaughter of the late Margaret Jones entered the grounds at St Mark's Church, Talbot Village, to visit her relative’s resting place and was stunned to find a note placed on the grave ordering the immediate removal of all ornaments, pots and artificial flower decorations.
According to the notice, delivered by site operator Salisbury Diocese, the removal order is in line with churchyard regulations and warned that if the grave owner does not comply within three months a contractor would be called in to “make good the work required to comply”.
Margaret Jones was laid to rest in the plot in 2001 and her family say the regulations were never made clear to them when they purchased the plot and that they have never been told otherwise in the 21 years since.
Mrs Jones’ emotional daughter Sylvia Diffey told the Echo: “For the last 20 years I have been putting artificial flowers on her grave because squirrels eat real flowers which don’t last long.
“They told me I was lucky to have ‘gotten away with it’ for so long, I couldn’t believe my ears. I come here all the time and they’re telling me to take it all off. I can’t do it, I really cannot do it.”
A neighbouring grave with a recently placed balloon reading ‘Happy Father’s Day’ also received a note.
When visiting the site last week, 74 notes could be seen on graves in Mrs Jones’ section alone – with dozens more left across the rest of the grounds. Other graves with notices contain articles such as teddy bears and angel figurines.
Sylvia’s husband Charles Diffey said: “My wife has been crying her eyes out about it. It’s been 20 years, why now? We’ve kept this grave so well for so long and to see this note is like being stabbed in the heart.”
The couple’s daughter Donna Northeast added: “I think it’s disgusting because since the day my nan was buried mum has been keeping her grave beautifully.
“To not be able to show our respects by laying down things she would love is devastating and has broken my mum – that’s not fair at all.
“We’re not disrespecting anyone else’s grave. It actually brings joy because you’re not walking through and seeing dead flowers, you’re walking through and seeing that somebody does care.”
Aside from the mention of ‘churchyard regulations’, the note did not mention any specific reason why the ornaments could not be kept.
A notice on a nearby fence states the ruling is down to ‘health and safety’. However, another notice states such objects may be allowed to remain on new graves for period of up to 13 months. Regarding this, the family questioned how new graves could be allowed such articles while existing graves could not.
The family now say they will “do whatever [they] can” to prevent theirs and other graves from having their decorations removed.
“It just feels very callous needs to be stopped,” added Donna.
“They will not destroy my nan’s grave and if that means I need to start a petition or stage a protest – it will be done.”
Salisbury Diocese has been approached for comment.
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