Alexander Anderson’s ashes remain unclaimed in Shipston after 69 years. The funeral home seeks relatives through Ashes Register.
Alexander Henshelwood Anderson died 69 years ago, and his ashes remain at a funeral home. The home is using a service to try and locate any relatives.
Canley Crematorium issued his certificate. The certificate shows Anderson died at 88 at Shipston House on February 16, 1956. The old workhouse was his final residence. Shipston recorded his death the next day. They cremated him on February 20th, and his ashes have remained with a funeral society since then.
The Heart of England Co-operative holds them. Their general manager, Darryl Smith, spoke about the problem they face: uncollected remains that stay for years, a problem many funeral homes share.
The National Association estimates that between 250,000 to 300,000 sets of ashes remain in homes. Reasons for this vary: a widow might want a joint scattering later but die without leaving instructions; families might move and homes may lose contact details.
Anderson’s ashes are the oldest of the 350 sets they hold. His case is now getting renewed attention. Smith said they joined Ashes Register, a website. They listed all historic remains there, hoping someone will hear the stories and check their family history.
Smith said they must keep Anderson’s ashes because he died so long ago. Funeral homes cannot act without family instruction, as the family originally gave instructions for the ashes to be taken away.
Only family instruction can change things, but they have no contact with anyone linked to him. Smith wonders why he chose Canley Crematorium; maybe he had family in Coventry. He wonders if he died visiting Shipston, or perhaps Canley was the only option back then.
The ashes sit in a marble urn, which suggests family chose it carefully and meant for it to go home. Smith notes how quickly events unfolded; he died one day and was cremated soon after. Things seemed simpler and faster then.
Smith believes families don’t plan to leave remains, but life changes after someone passes away. They await a breakthrough in the Shipston case. Anderson’s ashes will stay put until they can locate a relative.