Grieving husband wins wife’s grave battle

A pensioner has claimed victory in his battle to stop the ornamental border around his beloved late wife’s grave being removed.

Joe Grant, 85, lost his wife Blanche after an 11-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Joe, who was married for 58 years, built a decorative border around her grave in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, because it was “important, it looks nice in honour of her”.

But, more than a year after the decoration was completed, he was furious to be told the plot would have to be scaled back because it was too big and not in keeping with council policy.

The former Merchant Navy engineer vowed to stand guard over his wife’s grave to stop it being disturbed and now, three months later, he has claimed victory.

He said: “I am very pleased, I would rather have gone to court, I would not have let them get away with it.”

Joe has taken a taxi to Harton Cemetery every Saturday since Blanche died in 2012, but in October South Tyneside Council told him his ornamental garden, at five feet, is two feet longer than regulation.

Joe maintains he was unaware of the regulations when he took the plot and said he now hopes grieving families are told about the restrictions before work is done.

He said: “In the graveyard nearly all the graves are different, the only ones which are the same as each other are for soldiers.”

It’s not the first time Joe has fought battles on his wife’s behalf. In 2001, when Blanche was diagnosed Alzheimer’s Joe found the specialist care she needed was lacking and battled to give her the best possible quality of life, while also raising awareness of the condition.

His efforts were rewarded when he was invited to a Downing Street reception in December 2012 in recognition of his campaigning.

He said: “I spoke to Samantha Cameron about what we were doing and I said ‘By the way I know your husband well’.

“She said ‘Really, how’s that?’ I said it was because I am always writing him letters and she just laughed.”

A spokesperson for South Tyneside Council said: “We very much sympathise with Mr Grant and felt it appropriate to allow him some time to bring the decorations in line with the regulations, particularly as the Christmas period can be a difficult time following a bereavement.

“The regulations apply to everyone, to ensure that the cemetery is properly maintained and accessible to all. The full details are provided when a grave is purchased.

“If ornamental gardens are too long, it affects our ability to operate mowers effectively and maintain the area to an appropriate standard.

“Unfortunately, Mr Grant’s decorations exceed the maximum size and our team will be in touch over the next few days to remind him of the rules.”