David Bishop describes his father John as a "colourful character" and a kind man
A man from Caerleon near Newport says he is "shocked" after his late father's ashes were scattered at a crematorium without his permission.
David Bishop, 60, had planned to collect his father John’s ashes from Gwent Crematorium and take them to Nottinghamshire to be buried alongside his late mother.
However, when David contacted the crematorium on Wednesday, two weeks after his father's funeral, he was informed that the ashes had already been scattered.
Co-op Funeralcare stated that their records show the instructions given to the crematorium "reflect the wishes of our client," while Newport City Council, which manages the crematorium, said an investigation is underway.
John Bishop died aged 89 in April after suffering a heart attack.
David said he felt "empty and devastated".
"It’s such an empty feeling that he, at the end of his life, was treated so disrespectfully," he said.
According to David, his father was a "lovely man," a "colourful character," and "highly respected."
He also placed great importance on his career, starting as an apprentice in Cwmbran, progressing through the ranks to become a mining engineer, working across Scotland and England, and finishing his career as head of machinery services for British Coal in Worksop.
Following the death of his wife June in 2020, John moved into a care home in Caerleon in January to be closer to David, his only child, and his health declined.
He died suddenly at the end of April after suffering a heart attack.
David said his parents John and June were an "exceptionally close" couple until his mother’s death in 2020.
David explained that the family arranged the funeral through Co-op Funeralcare, in accordance with his father's wishes, as the company had also organised his mother's funeral in the English Midlands.
Although John wanted the funeral to be held in South Wales, he had requested that his ashes be buried alongside his wife at Babworth Crematorium.
The funeral took place on 26 May, but David said everything changed when Gwent Crematorium emailed him to arrange collection of the ashes.
He soon received a call informing him that the ashes had already been scattered in the memorial garden there, "as it was believed that was the instruction from the funeral director."
"Still struggling to understand what happened"
David said he was "shocked" and left work early.
"I’m still struggling to understand what happened," he said.
He added that Gwent Crematorium had "apologised profusely" and said an investigation was ongoing.
He lodged a complaint with Co-op Funeralcare and later received a call from a staff member who said, "We are here for you, but we have looked at everything from our perspective and cannot see why the instructions changed."
"I still don’t know what happened," David said.
"I assume someone somewhere made a mistake, but no one has admitted it yet.
"They said I will have to wait until the investigation is complete, which will probably be next week.
"I have been more emotional over the past two days than at any time since my father’s death, and that’s not right.
"I have been robbed, and I can’t do what I need to do."
David Bishop said his father’s career was very important to him, and he had climbed through the ranks to become a mining engineer.
A spokesperson for Co-op Funeralcare said their records show the instructions given to Gwent Crematorium "reflect the wishes of our client," Mr Bishop, regarding his late father’s ashes.
"We are saddened to learn that our client’s wishes were not followed, and the distress this understandably caused, and we continue to support Mr Bishop and his family.
"We hope any investigation by Gwent Crematorium will provide the answers he deserves."
Newport City Council, which manages the crematorium, said an investigation is ongoing to "establish how this happened and to ensure it does not happen again in the future."
"We have spoken with Mr Bishop and would like to publicly apologise to him and his family for what is a situation we acknowledge has caused great distress," a spokesperson said.
Follow Cymru Fyw on Facebook, X, Instagram, or TikTok.
Send any story ideas to cymrufyw@bbc.co.uk or contact via WhatsApp at 07709850033.
for the latest news from Wales on your mobile device.
