Harry Margaret spent 56 years together before her sad death
Margaret Welsh
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 received Margaret’s ashes in 2021 following the funeral I was relieved to have Margaret home as I was lost without her. We had been together 56 years and I spent the last seven years caring for her.
Margaret was my everything. I still talk to her photo every day and tell her what sort of day I’ve had. When I received the news from the police to say I had been provided with the wrong ashes, I was devastated and in tears. I completely lost it.
I’d been taking care of a stranger’s ashes for three years. I believed it was Margaret and found comfort in talking to her and having her still with me.
To find out it wasn’t my dear Margaret almost destroyed me and still to this day has a huge impact on me. The man responsible must be the lowest of the low which is an understatement.
This incident has affected my whole family including my four sons, two granddaughters and all of Margaret’s siblings and family. We are beyond devastated as a family and cannot believe a person could be so cruel and careless.
It’s hard to put into words my feeling towards this man without using bad language. I cannot begin to describe the impact this horrific ordeal has had on me. I will never forget it and most certainly will never forgive him.
Harry Welsh