Maureen Graham was a much-loved sister
Maureen Graham
On Friday, July 31 2026, Hull funeral director Robert Bush was jailed for 20 years.
The 48-year-old left bodies to decompose at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors’ premises in the city, gave bereaved families the ashes of other people and stole money donated from collections at funerals.The “horror” and revulsion felt by the families who had lost loved ones was revealed at Hull Crown Court during a series of powerful and harrowing victim statements during the first four days of the five-day sentencing hearing.
Over the coming weeks, we will be publishing those statements – from families who had cruelly been taken advantage of when they were at their most vulnerable. Their stories need to be told, and we will ensure that they are, for as long as it takes.
I am the sister of Maureen Graham who passed away on the 26th of August 2024. Losing my sister was a painful experience.
At the time I tried to find some comfort in believing she had been treated with dignity and respect after her death and that her cremation had taken place as we were told. Her son even received some ashes.
Seven months later that belief was completely shattered. To find out my sister had not been cremated and was found on Legacy premises was extremely distressing and something I still struggle to understand or put into words.
The shock of that moment is something I will never forget. Instead of remembering my sister with fond memories, I am left with distressing thoughts about how she was treated. It upsets me greatly that Maureen was not treated with the dignity and respect that everybody deserves.
I feel angry, heartbroken and a deep sense of injustice that a man in a trusted position would do this to families for his own gain. My sister wasn’t just a body, she was a loved family member. Knowing how she was treated has affected me deeply.
This has had a devastating and lasting impact and will be something I will always carry with me for the rest of my life. I hope the court understands the depth of the harm this has caused to myself and my family.
Sandra Spamer