A recent story has stuck sad chord with us at Scattering Ashes. A mother sent the ashes of her son in the post and they were lost by the Royal Mail
Let’s be honest. This is one of those stories you read with a sinking heart. For those families, it’s not just the loss of a parcel—it’s the loss of something priceless. Irreplaceable. A deeply personal connection, suddenly gone in the bureaucratic fog of parcel tracking and warehouse sorting. And for us? It’s heartbreaking. But also sadly not surprising.
Cremated Remains Are Priceless—But Not to the Post Office
The ashes of a loved one aren’t just ashes. We all know this. To most of us they carry meaning, memory, emotion. They are, in many ways, what’s left—and losing them is akin to losing the person all over again.
The Royal Mail doesn’t see them that way. Neither do most courier services. To them, it’s a “prohibited item.” Or, at best, a “non-compensated” one. If they go missing, there’s no insurance, no way to make it right.
And in fairness to them—it’s one of the reasons Royal Mail explicitly bans the sending of human ashes. Not out of disrespect, but because they understand the devastation that follows when something goes wrong.
So when something does, it’s not just a logistical failure—it’s a deeply emotional one.
They offered the lady £50 compensation as a goodwill gestures, this was picked up and the media called it derisory . Well it is, but what are they supposed to do? What is the correct price £50? £500? £5000? £5m? You see there isn’t one.
What’s also worth noting is that what was lost in the post was only a portion of the ashes— (roughly a fifth). They didn’t mention that. the lady sent $00g out of around 2.5kg.
Still, to the family, it can feel like everything. I get that, but hopefully they still have some, well most in fact.
What’s the Best Advice?
We don’t want to scaremonger—but we do want to advise carefully.
If you are thinking of sending ashes:
Do not use standard post—Royal Mail prohibits the sending of ashes and will not insure them.
Use a dedicated courier service that specifically handles cremated remains. Yes, it’s more expensive—but it’s built for the task.
If you’re sending abroad, same as above
Ashes for Jewellery or Robin – you can send 50g in the lost. However that wont be able to compensate for tat either
In Sympathy, And In Support
To the family affected, our heartfelt sympathies.
To others reading this—we know ashes are precious. That’s why we treat them with the care, respect, and quiet reverence they deserve. Whether it’s a scattering at sea, a ceremony in the countryside, or simply helping you find the right urn—we do it with this understanding:
It’s not just what’s in the urn. It’s who.
If you need help transporting or scattering ashes—safely, legally, and with care—contact us here. We’re always here to help, because no one should ever have to go through this.