Free name plaques offered to families as work begins on Legacy memorial gardens

DESIGN: How the memorial garden at Hull’s Northern Cemetery will look

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

People affected by the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors investigation can have a free named plaque installed at one of two memorial gardens being created in Hull and Beverley.

Construction has begun at the chosen Hull site at Northern Cemetery, with work expected to be completed by late September, while work at Lelley Fields Crematorium near Preston in the East Riding is expected to begin this month and be finished by the end of the summer.

Both gardens, which follow consultation earlier this year with affected people and the public, will also feature extra seating and bird baths.

Hull and East Riding councils also said they would “make every effort to include forget-me-nots during the planting phase” after a request by one person directly affected.

Tracy Meyerhoff, Hull City Council’s director of adult social care, who is leading the work to support the families and communities affected by the incident, said: “We wanted to make sure we’d taken on as many views as possible about the designs we proposed earlier this year, and we did receive a good amount of feedback during our consultation.

“Whilst the overall look of the gardens will remain largely the same, that feedback has led to some minor changes.

“We’re happy to make these suggested additions so that we can make sure that the gardens will be respectful and peaceful settings where ashes of those involved can be laid to rest, including the interment of ashes at the Hull site.”

A Humberside Police investigation launched in March 2024 led to the discovery of 35 bodies and cremated human remains at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors’ premises in Hull and Beverley.

There were a total of 33 responses to the consultation, and although they resulted in no “substantial” changes to the concept or general designs, suggestions have resulted in the introduction of free named plaques in the form of a porcelain butterfly. These will be fixed to a frieze around the trees in each garden, with options for personalised wording and colour.

A commemorative panel will also be installed at each garden, with the final wording “still under consideration”.

Angela Dearing, East Riding Council’s director of housing, transportation and public protection, and recovery lead for the incident, said: “We wrote to the families directly affected by this incident to seek their views ahead of opening up the consultation more widely to residents.

“Drop-in events were held in both Hull and Beverley to make sure that people had a number of ways to tell us what they thought, which included an online survey.

“With the designs now finalised, we’re pleased that the building work is underway.”

A private ceremony for families and loved ones to inter ashes at Northern Cemetery memorial will take place later this summer.

Next of kin will be offered a named plaque to honour their loved one and will receive a letter setting out their options, including which garden they want it to be located at.

• Robert Bush, 47, appeared at Hull Crown Court on Wednesday charged with 65 offences in relation to the investigation. He is due to appear again before the same court in October.