MY wife Annie died four years ago on May 29.

Annie’s ashes were buried in front of the memorial stone in Wetheral churchyard.

Since then, I have placed flowers at the memorial stone on Annie’s birthday, Christmas Day, our wedding anniversary, and on May 29 each year in two black vases (that I placed there to keep the flowers from wilting).

I try to visit the churchyard at least once a fortnight. I find I am once more with Annie, at least in thought and spirit, while sitting on the bench near the stone, I can reflect on our life together.

The flowers my daughter and I placed in the vases this year were removed (possibly stolen as the flowers for someone else’s loved one had been left).

I am not angry. My feelings are above that.

Instead, I find it sad that a person should go to a place (where I and others find tranquillity and peace for a few precious moments) and remove these symbols of our love for someone whose memory is so dear to us.

David Hammond
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