Devastated widow finds husband’s grave under mound of soil in cemetery

A widow who went to visit her husband’s grave was devastated to find a huge mound of soil covering it instead.

Sharon Doherty, 56, was taking fresh flowers to Harry Doherty’s grave in Cleethorpes Cemetery when she noticed a big pile of soil nearby.

As she got closer to the grave, she noticed it was not just nearby, but was completely covering the grave, and the temporary plaque, flowers, and tributes had been moved away from it.

A new grave had been created next to her husband’s for a forthcoming burial.

However, according to a cemetery worker on the site, Sharon should have been given advanced warning that Harry’s grave would be temporarily affected by it, either by direct contact, or a notice on the grave.

Sharon, from Great Coates, said: ‘I pulled up and I was devastated, I feel as though I’ve buried him again. I come twice a week to pay my respects.

‘I don’t understand why they couldn’t have put the pile on somewhere that isn’t the grave. Why not next to it?

‘The ornaments with it aren’t expensive or anything, but they look like they’ve just chucked them there. I feel like it’s been violated, it’s not right.’

The grave will be clear again on Monday afternoon, but this has not made the situation any better for Sharon.

Henry ‘Harry’ Doherty passed away on September 7, 2018 from lung cancer. He was 80 years old.

Sharon is currently in the process of organising a tombstone for him, with a memorial sign being in place until that happens.

As well as the soil, there were also tyre marks on the grave behind Harry’s, which were then covered over by the cemetery staff when Sharon pointed them out.

The staff also came out with sheets to cover the soil pile at the request of Sharon, with them also apologising for the way the grave had been left.

Sharon added: ‘I just felt like getting a shovel and chucking it back. They said that the machine won’t reach beyond the next grave. I just feel violated and disrespected.

‘They said usually they put notes on it, so I asked where it was and they said they hadn’t done it. It’ll all be gone by 2pm on Monday but that doesn’t help me, does it?’

After apologies from the cemetery staff and the grave site being tidied, Sharon then replaced some of the old flowers, but was still upset about the situation.

A spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire Council , who look after the cemetery, said: ‘We’re sorry to hear this complaint about soil being left on a grave in Cleethorpes Cemetery and have spoken to the person concerned.

‘Great care is taken when we are digging in the cemetery and we protect any neighbouring graves when working. This work is essential and graves are reinstated to their former condition after backfilling is complete.’