Lynn Farmery’s husband tragically died after contracting Legionnaires Disease on following a holiday
Families of Robert Bush’s victims outside court following his sentencing hearing(Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Mirror/Reach plc)
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.
My husband Ian was only 57 when he died on 1st October 2022, after contracting Legionnaires Disease following our holiday to Gran Canaria. Within a week of getting home, tragically he ended up in an induced coma in Hull Royal Infirmary (HRI) then, not long after that I had to agree to have his life support turned off.
I was distraught at his unexpected death and struggling to cope. There were so many legal investigations to take care of in relation to where he contracted the disease as well as emotionally coping with his loss.
Ian had always been the one to take care of our finances and I didn’t know where to turn. A friend recommended Mr Bush as they had previously used him. Bush appeared to be very kind and empathetic.
My head wasn’t in the right space, and I never noticed anything unusual about him, or questioned anything he said; even when he came up with excuses as to why his chip/pin machine not working. He talked about doing a good deal for me as my friends recommended him.
I thought he was being genuine and kind. I trusted him. I was so vulnerable, and he was the professional. He took advantage of me when I was at my most vulnerable which disgusts me.
I am living every day with no answers as to where my husband caught Legionnaires Disease and also why I have no ashes. Bush has made a horrendous situation so much worse for me.
Why would someone do this? He promised me he would take of Ian and of his remains. He lied. He let us both down. This feels like a living nightmare.
It’s soul destroying to know that I cannot give Ian his final wishes. He wanted his ashes to be scattered in his favourite place up in the Lake District where we always went on holiday and where we scattered our old dog’s ashes.
Sadly, this was the only thing I knew Ian wanted if he went before me as we never discussed death. I can’t accept I have no answers and that I will never have closure. For that I will never be able to forgive Robert Bush.
Bush’s actions have left me with trust issues, and I question everything and everyone. I shouldn’t have to live like this. He has put us all through so much trauma at our most vulnerable.
Lynn Farmery