A second Angus family who had a loved one’s funeral planned for the day the Queen will be laid to rest called off has condemned the “appalling” handling of the matter by the area’s crematorium.
Parkgrove, at Friockheim, near Arbroath told two grieving families their services will not go ahead on Monday because the privately-run facility will be closed.
But it came after the distraught relatives and a local undertaker were assured at the beginning of this week the cremations would take place.
However, 24 hours later the shell-shocked families were informed they would have to make new arrangements.
Ninety-one-year-old Arbroath woman Marion Sharp’s loved ones say they have been left feeling their grief is less important than that of the Royal family.
Now, the family involved in the only other service scheduled for Parkgrove on Monday has hit out at the lack of a direct apology from the business.
Defiant crematorium owner Ken Parke says he stands by his decision.
And he added: “My customer is the undertaker. If the families are disappointed in the response from me it’s not my fault, it’s the undertaker’s.”
‘Lack of respect’
The second family wish to remain anonymous but said their grief had been compounded by the way things had been dealt with.
“I respect the Queen and have no wish to make any issue of that,” said the deceased’s partner.
“The funeral was arranged early last week, but I also became concerned that there might be a doubt when the date of the Queen’s service was confirmed.
“The undertaker did all they could and was told on Monday it would still take place.
“Then that changed the following morning.
“The undertaker has bent over backwards to make alternative arrangements and it will be going ahead in their service rooms.
“But I think what has upset me more is the lack of any contact or apology from the owner of the crematorium.
“They told our undertaker, but I would have thought that out of common decency they should have at least phoned me to say they were sorry.
“I’m angry, upset and I think it’s shocking.
“I don’t think it shows any respect to my partner or to me.
“I’m sorry, but if I was cancelling a funeral after telling families the day before that their service would be going ahead then I would be phoning them directly.
“Dumping it on the funeral director to do it is appalling.”
Mourners’ plans wrecked
Mrs Sharp’s daughter, Andrea Donald, from Elgin revealed their family’s grief earlier this week.
The funeral plans of family members from London and Cyprus have been thrown into disarray and left them distraught.
George Stewart funeral directors in Arbroath were handling arrangements for both Parkgrove cremations and their service rooms will now host the two services on Monday.
‘I stand by my decision’
Parkgrove owner Ken Parke said he did not consider it his place to offer an apology to families directly.
And he disputed their view that the services had been cancelled.
“I made my decision to close the crematorium on the day of the Queen’s funeral on Monday and I don’t regret that decision,” he said.
“There were two funerals booked to take place at Parkgrove that day.
“They were not cancelled, all I did was ask the undertaker to request that the families move them to the next day.”
He added: “My customer is the undertaker.
“I can’t interfere with undertakers’ actions and what they are doing with families.
“If the family is disappointed in the response from me it’s not my fault it’s the undertaker’s fault.”
Conversation