The Ashes Register Launches UK’s First ‘Uncollected Ashes’ Database in Collaboration with A.W. Lymn
The Ashes Register is thrilled to announce the launch of the UK’s first ‘Uncollected Ashes’ database in partnership with A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service. This groundbreaking initiative addresses the longstanding issue of unclaimed ashes in the funeral industry, providing a platform where these remains can be recorded and, hopefully, reunited with their rightful families.
For years, the issue of uncollected ashes has posed a significant challenge for funeral directors across the UK. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of unclaimed urns sit in funeral homes, some dating back to the 19th century. With the launch of this database, the Ashes Register aims to bring these ashes out of obscurity and offer families a chance to connect with the remains of their loved ones.
A.W. Lymn, an award-winning independent funeral director based in the Midlands, has taken the lead in this initiative by uploading information on 136 sets of unclaimed ashes, with the oldest dating back to 1952. Among these is the ashes of Air Commodore George Lawson CBE MC, a decorated veteran, highlighting the poignant nature of these unclaimed remains.
Matthew Lymn Rose, Managing Director and a fifth-generation family member at A.W. Lymn, expressed the deep sense of responsibility that comes with holding onto uncollected ashes: “As a family business that has been supporting the bereaved for nearly 120 years, we feel a deep sense of responsibility and duty of care to look after cremated remains in our possession, in the hope that they will one day find their way back to someone. We strongly believe that everyone deserves a final resting place, which is why we are so passionate about this new register.”
The Ashes Register, founded by Richard Martin, is a free service that allows the public to register and mark the location of ashes that have been scattered. The uncollected ashes section, now spearheaded by A.W. Lymn’s participation, offers a new dimension to the platform, making it possible to document the whereabouts of unclaimed ashes and potentially reunite them with their families.
Richard Martin emphasized the broader mission of the Ashes Register: “Our goal is to reunite as many people as possible with the ashes of their relatives or loved ones. A.W. Lymn has set an industry precedent, and we hope other funeral directors will follow their example. We feel so passionate about history not being lost in time, which is why we set up this website to provide a space for people to document someone’s final resting place.”
The Ashes Register also offers a solution to the often-overlooked issue of unclaimed ashes in the UK, ensuring that these remains are not forgotten. By participating in this initiative, A.W. Lymn is not only preserving the memory of those who have passed but is also paving the way for other funeral directors to adopt similar practices.
This partnership between the Ashes Register and A.W. Lymn marks a significant step forward in the funeral industry, offering a dignified and lasting solution for uncollected ashes. For more information or to participate in this initiative, please visit The Ashes Register.