I want my son laid to rest

10:01am Tuesday 5th February 2008

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THE body of a Worcester man who died in a car accident in October is still lying in a morgue because of a bitter rift between family members.

The family of 44-year-old Duncan Hartshorne cannot agree on how and where his funeral should take place.

His mother Gill Gardner said all she wanted was for her son to be laid to rest - but an agreement cannot be reached with her ex-husband and older son as to whether he should be cremated or buried.

There is also a dispute over where his grave should be - in Worcester where he was born or in Leominster where he had been living.

The matter is now in the hands of solicitors, and could be decided by a court.

As previously reported in your Worcester News, Duncan died when his car, a blue Citroen C2 was in collision with another car on Saturday, October 20, on the A44 Pembridge to Kington road.

Mrs Gardner, aged 69, of Barbourne, said: "I miss him terribly, and all I want is for his body to be laid to rest.

"I was only told the next night that he had died and fainted when I heard the news. I was broken hearted."

Mrs Gardner was divorced from her first husband and Duncan's father Derick Hartshorne in 1973 - and since then she said there had been a rift in the family.

"We told the two boys they could live with either parent.

"Nigel the eldest went with his father and Duncan came with me. It was their decision," she said.

Duncan was not married and had no children - and now both parents are in dispute as to which is his official next of kin and should decide on the funeral.

"It is heartbreaking, said Mrs Gardener.

"I want closure, I just want a funeral. I have had his mates here crying and wanting to know when his funeral is.

"People I speak to just can't believe it.

"This is a terrible situation to be in.

"I don't want to think of him being 12 months in a cooler. Who wants that?

"I just want him laid to rest. I want him back in Worcester near me, his family, cousins, friends."

Mr Hartshorne, of Glenthorne Avenue, Brickfields, declined to comment on the details but said it was now up to the courts to decide the outcome.

The inquest into Duncan's death has not yet been opened due to the outcome of the funeral arrangements.

Herefordshire coroners office said they were unable to comment on individual cases.