Grieving husband hits out at heartless graveside thieves

Dec 27 2012 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

grave

A grieving husband has hit out at heartless thieves who stole two flower holders from his wife’s graveside.

William Laidlaw went to tend to wife Mary’s grave at Mid Calder Cemetery last week and was horrified to find the flower cones, which are normally spiked into the ground to hold floral tributes, were missing.

The 69-year-old’s wife died just two days before the couple’s 49th wedding anniversary in August and he regularly visits the cemetery to tend to her family burial plot.

“Whoever has done this obviously don’t have much respect for the people who have died,” a distraught Mr Laidlaw said.

“I went down last Thursday to just tidy up and I immediately noticed that something was wrong.

“Mary is buried next to her mother and father and there are usually three flower holders there but two were missing and there were just holes in the ground where they used to be.

“They left a silver one but I’ve taken that home, just in case it goes missing as well.

“One that was taken was from her step-sister that was inscribed with the words ‘in loving memory’.

“I think what’s happened is terrible and people should know what has happened. I would hate for it to happen to anyone else.

“It’s not long since my wife passed away and I’m really upset by this. I can’t believe anyone would does this to a grieving family.”