The heartbreak of losing a child is unimaginable but for Nicola and Paul Gainard they know exactly what that feels like as they lost their son, Max, to sepsis in February after he was wrongly diagnosed with mumps.
Now adding more trauma to their loss, the family have been denied permission to engrave a picture of Thomas the Tank Engine on the three year old’s headstone.
Nicola described her son as a “popular and very much loved boy” who was a huge fan of the children’s character.
It was the families wish to have this engraved on their son’s headstone as to commemorate his personality and to remind themselves of the joy the show gave him.
However, Chancellor Diocese of Bristol, Justin Gau has rejected the plea despite there being another headstone in the same grave yard with a teddy bear engraved on it.
The family’s plea, even though supported by parish priest Reverend Tim Bell who conducted Max’s funeral service, was turned down by the Chancellor who approves matters relating to consecrated ground.
Nicola told the Bath Chronicle “his death has left us heartbroken and devastated and we cannot understand why a tiny five inch Thomas cannot be put onto his headstone.”
“Max’s death was a complete shock, we just want to lay him to rest appropriately in his village.” She added.
In response to the family’s plea the chancellor said “memorials placed in church yards must be fitting and appropriate not just for today but also the future.”
Acknowledging the teddy bear which was “unlawfully” engraved on another headstone, he continued to say “such behaviour cannot be allowed to set a precedent.”
A petition has now been started to support the Gainard family’s plea and they are due to meet with the Bishop of Bristol to discuss the appeal.
Chancellor Gau was very aware of the effects his decision would have on the grieving family and was sympathetic but concluded by saying “I am afraid I must refuse this petition."
"I know that this will cause Mr and Mrs Gainard a degree of heartache, but I must base my decision on the regulations that have been drafted and why they have been drafted.”
