Tristan Essex’s Nanna was one of Robert Bush’s many victims
Flowers left outside Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hessle Road, Hull, on Tuesday March 12 2024.(Image: Donna Clifford / Hull Live)
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 feel tormented by what has happened with Legacy, and what Robert Bush did. Memories that I had of my Nanna are tainted by Legacy Funeral Directors. I should be having different thoughts of my Nanna and not these types of memories.
My Nanna was a smiling, laughing, and giggling person. This has been traumatic for me and family members. I feel guilty that even though I mentioned some concerns to Robert Bush, that he did nothing about it. I found some of my conversations with him distressing and inappropriate.
I witnessed situations regarding my Nanna that I should never have done. This was torture for me. I am angry, and I feel like my nanna was left to rot, and that her dignity was taken away. I feel that there was no emotion, that no respect was shown by Robert Bush. I feel that I was completely misled by his persona and now I know that this is the opposite to the kind of person that Robert Bush really is.
Not having the chance to say goodbye in private to my Nanna, because I could hear Bush rattling in the room whilst I was viewing my Nanna’s body made me feel that I couldn’t let go of my emotions how I would have wanted to have done. The lies that Robert Bush told me over time. My Nanna would like to be warm and all I can think about is her being cold while she was in the hands of Legacy.
I have guilt on a regular basis because I had to go with Legacy, as I couldn’t afford to use any other Funeral Directors. I wished I could have afforded another company and I beat myself up all the time. Hindsight plays a huge part in my daily life, I wished I’d have done this. I have doubt for the future, that if any other family member or friend passes away, that the chosen funeral director can’t be trusted.
I think about the words ‘Bless ya’, which he would say those words at the end of every sentence. Now when someone sneezes, I can’t stand those words being used.
I had to have a second funeral for my Nanna and when this took place, the bishop who led the service, said ‘Bless ya’ and this upset me, even though it wasn’t his fault. There was further expense with the second funeral service because the family and I bought special flower arrangements, like we had done the first time. I find myself scrutinising many things that I would never usually do.
Tristan Essex