Son taking flowers to his parents’ grave finds ‘mountain’ of soil and clay piled on top of it 

A grieving son was left horrified when he went to take flowers to his parents’ grave but found ‘a mountain of soil and clay’ piled on it.

John Phelps, 71, wanted to pay his respects to his mother and father but was ‘furious’ at the ‘disrespect’ shown by gravediggers who dumped rubble on their shared gravestone.  

He said the plot was left looking like ‘a rubbish tip’ after council workers piled up dirt from a neighbouring grave.

John Phelps, 71, wanted to pay his respects to his mother and father but was ‘furious’ at the disrespect shown by gravediggers who dumped a mound of rubble on their shared gravestone

Mr Phelps, who was visiting the plot at St Woolos Cemetery, in Newport, South Wales, said: ‘I just wanted to pay my respects to my dead parents.

‘There was about a ton of clay and mud across my parent’s grave and the one next to it. I think it was very disrespectful towards my family.

‘The cemetery office isn’t even in use anymore, but there are no signs up or anything about who to contact.

‘I tried to call the council, I wanted to speak to one of the chief executives, but I couldn’t get past the switchboard.

‘I’ve been told it’s been put on the highest priority, but I couldn’t speak to anyone.’

The retired office worker from Abergavenny in South Wales, added: ‘I think they need to respect the families and the graves people are visiting.’

Mr Phelps was visiting the plot at St Woolos Cemetery, in Newport, South Wales

Mr Phelps was visiting the plot at St Woolos Cemetery, in Newport, South Wales

A spokesman from Newport City Council said they will contact Mr Phelps to discuss the problem.

The spokesman said: ‘Unfortunately it is part of the cemetery management practice for graves to be opened two to three days in advance of a funeral.

‘These will be returned to their original positions once a grave has been backfilled.

‘The staff will also ensure that the area around the plot is cleared of soil and stones and where necessary headstones are cleaned. Where a mound remains, there is a period of time required for the earth to settle however following burial we can remove some material and the team will assess this during this week and remove excess soil material.’ 



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