Vandals attack thegrave of ex-miner
VANDALS wrecked the grave of a grandfather who died after a battle with leukaemia.
Former miner James Brown is buried in Lynemouth cemetery, but twice in the last week his grave has been vandalised by yobs, bringing misery to his family.
In the first attack last weekend a photograph of Mr Brown that was attached to his grave was smashed and destroyed and then, just a few days later, his headstone was pelted with stones, chipped and kicked over.
Mr Brown’s widow, Mary, 72, of Dalton Avenue, said she had been unable to sleep because of what had happened.
She added: “I just don’t know what to think. I don’t know why anyone would do this to my husband, he never did anybody any harm.
“He was a good man and a good husband, and we were married 52 years.
“I haven’t slept since it happened. It is such a worry because you don’t know how much it is going to cost to repair.
“The grave had his photograph in it but that is destroyed. It is the only grave to be damaged and I just don’t see how they could do this to my husband.”
Mr Brown, who had two sons and a daughter, died from the disease aged 69 in 2002.
His son, also James, 52, said he was angry at what had happened.
He said: “It is just disgusting and you could not get any lower.
“He was well liked by everybody and it has especially upset my daughter, his granddaughter, Linda, who is six.
“She understands exactly what has happened and when we told her she just screamed.
“It has left me upset and full of hatred. We will be able to get a new photograph and a new headstone, but you are just scared it will happen again.
“He was a hard working miner who spent his life in the pit. He was also a tremendous athlete, both a boxer and a runner, and you wonder how anyone could do this.”
James’s wife, Tracey, added: “He just didn’t deserve this. It has upset the whole family.”
She added that the family had looked at the other graves in the cemetery, and that her father in law’s appeared to be the only grave to be desecrated.
A police spokesman last night confirmed that both incidents had been reported and added: “Further inquiries are being carried out. Anyone with any information should contact Ashington police.”
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2007/10/08/vandals-attack-thegrave-of-ex-miner-61634-19913937/
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