Genealogy Chat

My grandfather died in hospital in England in 1982.On the death certificate it states a name as informant but I do not think they are related to him as it gives her address as General Infirmary Stafford. It also states Causing body to be cremated. The birth date is slightly off which leads me to believe there was no NOK. I have only recently found this information but can any one tell me if he would have been cremated in Stafford and where would they have disposed of the ashes. He lived in Stafford before his death. Is there anywhere I can find out information in Stafford as we are visiting soon as we live in the Scottish highlands and would like to visit his resting place.
Thank you Vicki Edwards

Seems he had no known kin so his deatn was reg by a member of the hospital personnel

He would have been cremated at the nearest crematorium to the hospital . Would think his coffin would have been transferred to a local funeral director and then from there . His ashes would be scattered at the crematoria

It was probably paid for by the local council

You could try the parks and cemetery's dept of the local council ,giving the details from the cert , they should,be able to find the details

They may make a charge though as councils have realised they can make money from family researchers

Thank you. I am sad that we never met him and he was alone at his death but I will try the council when we are down and see what info I can get. My mother would very much like to find out any thing about him but alas that is not an easy task after all this time. My grandmother was a married woman when she gave birth to my mother but he was with her and registered the birth but my mother was abandoned in Glasgow in 1942 by her mother and she went back to Stafford. Seems he never married and died alone :-(. Thank you for your help

Probably better to ring them they may need you to have an appointment if you just turn up

http://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/bereavement

If you read down the page they have only one crematorium and they make a charge for genealogy queries

You could try ring the crem directly . These day records are online so they may be able to find the info quickly

Tixall Rd, Stafford ST18 0XZ
01785 242594

IF he died alone, and there were no known relatives, there MIGHT have been notices put in local newspapers appealing for anyone who knew him to come forward.

If you have not tried this, may I suggest you try the following ....

Google his name .... it's surprising what you can find

contact the newspaper(s) local to the area where he died (and lived if you have that information), and ask if they could check microfiches or digitised records for checks of Obituaries, and Legal Notices (which may occur up to several years after the death). There may be a charge for this

Contact the Local Archives and Study Centre(s) to see if they will search their records

Check the British Newspaper Archives, to see if a) they have papers as recent as the 1980s, and b) if you can find his name


That may give you some leads.............. especially the Obituary.



He may have died alone, but that doesn't necessarily mean he was alone .... or that he had not married or had other children. Relatives might not have lived in London, or indeed in England or the UK.