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A WIDOW has won an appeal to have her husband's ashes moved to their local churchyard - 23 years after his death.

Alan Brown died in 1985, shortly after he and his wife made a temporary move from Darlington to Northumberland. He was buried in Alnwick, though he had always hoped to be laid to rest in his home town.

A Church of England hearing on Monday ruled that his ashes could be exhumed and re-interred at West Cemetery, Darlington, in line with his dying wishes.

His widow, Kathleen, 72, said she was delighted that Mr Brown could now "come home".

"We had so many happy memories in Darlington, and we always hoped we would be buried together here," she said. "It has taken a while, but I am very pleased that this decision has been made."

Mr Brown, a services veteran with the Royal Signal Regiment, died aged 50, while he and his wife were living in Longhoughton. Mrs Brown was taken seriously ill, and the decision was made to bury her husband locally.

Mrs Brown said she had always hoped his remains could be moved, but did not know how it could be arranged.

She wrote to Church authorities last year, and an ecclesiastical court hearing was held before the Chancellor of the Diocese of Newcastle, David McClean, who approved the appeal.

Mr McClean said the Church would usually rule against applications to have people's remains moved, but he accepted that the burial in Northumberland had been a mistake.

Mrs Brown, a retired nurse who lives at Hunstanworth Road, Darlington, said she was awaiting final approval from Alnwick Town Council to have the ashes exhumed.

She and her three daughters hope to hold a memorial service in Darlington.

"When we get his memorial stone and ashes, I am hoping to ask a vicar to say a little service when he is reburied," she said. "This has taken a while, but it has been worth it. This is what we both always wanted and I'm very happy that we can now bring him home."

5:06pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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