Susan’s heartbroken husband David said: “It’s hard to believe a person needs more permits to sell burgers than to deal with the dead”
A line of floral tributes outside Legacy Funeral Directors on Hessle Road, Hull(Image: 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.
When I first received the knock at the door, it was unreal, I didn’t really take it in at first. There was no certainty initially if Susan was there or not, the numbers of bodies kept rising. I started to think that I hoped Susan was there.
This was the worse thing that could have ever happened from Susan’s point of view, but might be the easiest thing for me to live with in the future if she was identified. I had to ring Sara (Susan’s daughter) and that’s when it struck home what was happening.
There are no words for how I felt at the time, I cannot describe my emotions how I felt. One word – abused – springs to mind. I feel sad and disappointed, but mostly guilty because I was unable to fulfil my wife’s last request, that I deal with her death quickly and arrange her cremation as quickly as possible at her request, because as Susan would say, “You know I do not like the cold”.
This would have been her worst nightmare what happened to her, she did not like the idea of lying there or being retained at the premises as she was. I am emotional giving this statement, it upsets me to think about this.
I wanted the ashes back quickly for Susan’s sake, so I could scatter her on the Friday. I was reassured they were the ashes of Susan when I picked them up, I made sure I asked this question.
This was what struck me when I first realised, I had scattered the wrong ashes. I do not know if the male responsible for handing me the ashes was involved or had knowledge. It is the not knowing.
Susan’s request was that she wanted to be scattered with her son at Little Switzerland, near to the Humber Bridge. I had already scattered what I believed to be her ashes there.
When it was finally confirmed that Susan had been identified, it was relief, but realisation set in. I have had the uncertainty of not knowing who, or what I have scattered over the ashes of Susan’s son, I have no idea. Who was that? One person? More than one? I have heard stories of other people who have scattered what they believe to be their loved ones, but the truth is, nobody knows.
I feel angry that Mr Bush is the one who has the answers and feel sad that so many people will never know the truth as to whose ashes they have had, scattered, or retained. He will never probably tell anyone. I know I am one of the lucky ones who can confirm I have my wife’s ashes. At least I have this relief because the alternative doesn’t bare thinking about, I feel sad for the people that do not know.
Those responsible for this atrocious breach of trust seem to work in an industry that is (hopefully was) totally unregulated. Who knew that was the case? Certainly not me. It is hard to believe a person needs more permits to sell burgers than to deal with the dead. Learning the funeral director’s industry is unregulated makes me feel angry. How he has managed to do this and get away with this is beyond me.
Why were no checks made and nobody raised any alarms before this? He knew what he was doing yet still acted normally when dealing with the next victim. Has he shown any remorse?
There is no punishment suitable for him. It doesn’t matter how sorry he is, or what punishment he receives, nothing can replicate the suffering inside he has caused. There is no defence he can offer that will make any difference to how I feel.
David Alan Gorbutt