A GRIEVING pensioner says he is leaving his wife's body in the hospital morgue because he can't afford a funeral.
Harry Clarke says even the small amount needed for a pauper's burial would leave him too poor to eat, so wife Kathleen will remain in the mortuary.
He said: "It's a choice between eating or having the funeral - and I have to eat."
The devoted 75-year-old, who cared for Kathleen for years as she suffered from cancer, will hold a wake at a pub in Edgeley, Stockport - but there will be no service beforehand.
His wife died on May 5 and her body is at the Stepping Hill morgue.
Harry, of Neston Grove, Adswood, Stockport, said: "We can't get her laid to rest so she will have to lie there and we will carry on with the festivities. I wash my hands of it.
"The funeral directors are trying to get £1,600 out of me and I don't have 1,600p - I haven't got any money at all.
Infirm
"I'm old and infirm myself, and I have to pay a carer."
Harry met his wife when he was working as a showbiz promoter in the late 1960s. Kathleen rang him up looking for work as a singer.
"We fell in love over the phone and when I first saw her, I was literally left breathless," he said.
"From that day on we were together. Everybody used to say she was like Julie Andrews. I knew every move she would make and she knew every move I would make. This is what she would have wanted.
"The same thing can happen to me. In fact, we won't even bother with funeral directors when I go - I am just going to tell my son to throw me in the river at Bramhall."
Harry went to a private funeral director and was quoted £2,000 for Kathleen's funeral.
He says he then went to social services and was told he could have a free funeral - only to be later told it would actually cost £1,600.
A council spokesman said social services had simply been a point of contact between Mr Clarke and the hospital's bereavement services.
He said: "We appreciate this a very difficult and emotional time for the family. We will continue to work closely with the family."
Stockport Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital's bereavement services, was unavailable for comment.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (20/05/2009 at 10:39)
lebist, Blackley (20/05/2009 at 10:40)
Jomov (20/05/2009 at 11:06)
Guten Tag, Manchester (20/05/2009 at 11:22)
CorneredAllTheLuck, Tameside (20/05/2009 at 11:59)
Pushkin (20/05/2009 at 12:20)
Didsburyman, Pendlebury (20/05/2009 at 12:25)
Blue Caz, Fallowfield (20/05/2009 at 12:52)
Mr Manchester (20/05/2009 at 12:58)
lebist, Blackley (20/05/2009 at 13:11)
cutiepie, Manchester (20/05/2009 at 13:21)
Guten Tag, Manchester (20/05/2009 at 13:33)
If I was in Mr Clarke's shoes, I'd leave his wife were she is out of principle. What are they going to do, dump her body outside his house? Honestly, what happened to the 'Great' in Great Britain?
Ace Shakespeare , manchester (20/05/2009 at 13:38)
The Very Cheeky Monkey, in the trees (20/05/2009 at 13:42)
The answers are manifold. One is that the 'great' was overwhelmed by people who decided and were encouraged to not bother looking after themselves but to expect the state to pay for them. Here is an example I think.
mancman (20/05/2009 at 14:08)
and if what i have read so far is right the comment from other users implying that he should have not payed out for a wake and put it towards fueneral costs when the average room hire in a pub is what £200-300 maybe even if he did that he still couldnt pay for the feuneral . those of you who have suggested that should hang your heads in shame as you lot would have the guy who has just lost hes wife then go and beg for contributions off family and friends to meet the fueneral cost can you imagine how imbarassing that would be for him.
for those who didn't imply that sorry for the rant.
Jay B, oldham (20/05/2009 at 14:50)
the pension system has about 20 years left and then it'll be scrapped. then what will we do for money!
my advice is start saving now! but not in pensions!
Gervaise, Ashton under Lyne, Lancs. (20/05/2009 at 14:55)
"It's a choice between eating or having the funeral - and I have to eat."
As a widower he will get a minimum of £130 a week Pension Credit. There is no need to starve and £30 a week will see his beloved wife laid to rest.
Guten Tag, Manchester (20/05/2009 at 15:01)
As another after thought, maybe Mr Clarke should go and collect his wife from the morgue and wheel her to the local social services office and ask for help. Then I suspect, he'll leave the office cash in hand and Mrs Clarke can finally rest in peace.
Angelene19, Manchester (20/05/2009 at 15:30)
To be fair though, the state (taxpayer) cannot pay for the funerals of everyone who says they can't afford it. This man and his wife worked when they were younger and it would have been sensible to put a few pounds away each month in an insurance policy for their funerals. My parents and grandparents did it and it can be done today for as little as £10 per month, if not less. People really need to do this so they do not burden their families for the costs or in the worse case scenario, leaving the dead in a morgue. I'm sure this lady deserves more respect than this.
WAF (20/05/2009 at 15:32)
When I die, I don't care what happens to my "shell". I'll have left it, so they canburn me in the hospital incinerator for all I care.
Esso Blue, Manchester. (20/05/2009 at 15:40)
red one (20/05/2009 at 16:09)
david bakey (20/05/2009 at 16:20)
Andanotherthing, Mcr (20/05/2009 at 16:39)
peter-pie-eater, Wigan (20/05/2009 at 17:35)