Man's ashes stolen during burglary in Bury

A widow is making a desperate appeal for help to find the ashes of her late-husband, after they were stolen during a break-in at her home in Bury.

Officers were called to reports of a burglary on Brandlesholme Road on Tuesday 19th September, where it's believed a number of power tools were stolen from the garage, along with the ashes; which were resting on a wooden work-bench.

Nigel Hill passed away earlier this year after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He and his wife Susan had been married for nearly fifty years, and the family had been waiting for the end of the cricket season, before planning to spread his ashes at Woodbank Cricket Club.

In a statement, Susan said: “Nigel’s death has completely devastated our family, and to say we are heartbroken would be an understatement.

“On Tuesday 19th September 2023, I discovered that the garage at the rear of our home had been broken into and a number of power tools had been stolen from inside. Also stolen from inside the garage, from the wooden workbench, were Nigel’s ashes.

“Nigel’s ashes were in a mint green coloured box, inside a burgundy coloured tote bag.

“Nigel spent the majority of his time in the garage, he was a passionate handyman who would turn his hands to absolutely anything and loved spending time at his workbench. When we received Nigel’s ashes, we decided as a family that we would place them on his wooden workbench in the garage, as this is where he loved to be, and where he was his happiest.

“One of Nigel’s last wishes was that he wanted to have his ashes scattered at Woodbank Cricket Club. A place which held a special place in his heart, he loved spending time here.

“As a family, we decided that we would wait until the cricket season was over to scatter Nigel’s ashes, and now the season is over, we cannot fulfil his wishes as someone has stolen them from us.

“I am appealing to the local community and the people of Bury, and I ask that anyone with any knowledge of this crime come forward with information. There must be someone who knows or has any information about this.

“I am not interested in the return of the power tools, all I want is for my husband’s ashes to be returned to us, so as a family we can fulfil his last wish and lay him to rest.

“I have already lost my husband, and now I have lost him for a second time.”

Police are asking anyone with information to get in touch by calling 0161 856 8222 quoting log 2738 of 19/09/23.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.