Right the wrong of my mother’s pauper’s burial
Ed Thomas
FIFTY years after the death of her mother a Hampstead pensioner is still fighting for the right to visit her grave and properly grieve.
Rose Williams, 82, has never been to visit the place where her mother Rose Stripp was laid to rest because she died while an inmate at Holloway Prison and was given a pauper's burial behind locked gates in a corner of Highgate Cemetery.
Ms Williams, who lives in Fitzjohn's Avenue, hopes legal representatives can help in her quest for the remains to be exhumed, so she can say goodbye to her mother.
"This is becoming such an old case but it has never been resolved and now I've got solicitors involved," said Ms Williams.
"I've been trying to get my mother's grave transferred for years and I'm hoping my solicitor can win an exhumation order.
"We have a family plot in Hampstead Cemetery and there is a space waiting for my mother next to my late husband and other family members.
"In 50 years I have never been able to visit my mother's grave and I have never even laid one flower for her."
Ms Williams' mother gave birth to a stillborn child and ended up in a mental asylum. After escaping on various occasions, she was locked up in jail.
After becoming ill while behind bars, she was admitted to the prison hospital where she died in 1957.
Ms Williams said none of the family were informed at the time, and no-one was able to attend the funeral. To this day, no visits have ever been made to the unmarked grave.
Camden's new mayor and Frognal and Fitzjohn's councillor Dawn Somper is backing Ms Williams in her fight.
"This whole issue is terrible, it's a disgrace," she said. "Everyone should be able to visit their parents' graves.
"Ms Williams came to one of my surgeries a few weeks ago and told me about the situation which has been going on for 50 years.
She is also getting help from a solicitor and we want to do everything we can to help."
Simon Moore-Martin, manager of Highgate Cemetery, said a visit could be arranged if prior notice was given.
"In the past Ms Williams may have turned up and found the gates locked, but that doesn't mean she cannot visit the place where her mother was buried," he said. "All she has to do is contact us beforehand, and we will give her access.
"We have also allowed her to put up a plaque at the entrance to the cemetery.
"The problem with exhumation is, we cannot guarantee where her mother lies in the common grave. And we cannot just assume this lady is her daughter. That needs to be proved."
ed.thomas@hamhigh.co.uk
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