By Dan Bell BBC News Rev Nick Martin, Michael Disney's prison chaplain, conducts the funeralEvery year thousands of recently deceased people are buried not by their loved ones, but by their local council - often because they have no known family to make the arrangements. Who attends these funerals and how are they organised?
By Dan Bell BBC News Rev Nick Martin, Michael Disney's prison chaplain, conducts the funeralEvery year thousands of recently deceased people are buried not by their loved ones, but by their local council - often because they have no known family to make the arrangements. Who attends these funerals and how are they organised?
As the plain wooden coffin holding Michael Disney's body is lowered slowly into an unmarked grave, the mourners who knew him are out-numbered by people there because they are paid to be.
As the plain wooden coffin holding Michael Disney's body is lowered slowly into an unmarked grave, the mourners who knew him are out-numbered by people there because they are paid to be.
If he had any family, none of them turned up. The handful of friends hunched against a chill wind under a granite-grey autumn sky knew Michael from the streets or from prison. The rest are from the funeral directors or the council.
If he had any family, none of them turned up. The handful of friends hunched against a chill wind under a granite-grey autumn sky knew Michael from the streets or from prison. The rest are from the funeral directors or the council.
The only sign of his grave in the small cemetery outside Exeter is now a mound of freshly-dug earth. Soon you will not be able to find it at all.
The only sign of his grave in the small cemetery outside Exeter is now a mound of freshly-dug earth. Soon you will not be able to find it at all.
Homeless and a heroin addict, Michael was found dead in a park in Exeter aged 30. With no known relatives, he became one of hundreds of people each year whose final resting place is a multiple grave paid for by the government. Ultimately, Michael's burial spot will hold four bodies.
Homeless and a heroin addict, Michael was found dead in a park in Exeter aged 30. With no known relatives, he became one of hundreds of people each year whose final resting place is a multiple grave paid for by the government. Ultimately, Michael's burial spot will hold four bodies.
For many the grim scenario will resonate with echoes of the Beatles classic song Eleanor Rigby, about an elderly woman buried in a pauper's gave.
For many the grim scenario will resonate with echoes of the Beatles classic song Eleanor Rigby, about an elderly woman buried in a pauper's gave.
Millionaire's death
Millionaire's death
But that was more than 40 years ago. These days, with DNA databases and social networking, and Britain dubbed by some a "surveillance society", it seems hardly credible that someone could die with no-one to bury them. But there are still many people who end their lives in such circumstances. PUBLIC HEALTH FUNERALS Manchester, 400 - 450Birmingham, 300Edinburgh, 150Glasgow, 100 - 150Liverpool, 100Lambeth, London, 25 - 35
But that was more than 40 years ago. These days, with DNA databases and social networking, and Britain dubbed by some a "surveillance society", it seems hardly credible that someone could die with no-one to bury them. But there are still many people who end their lives in such circumstances. PUBLIC HEALTH FUNERALS Manchester, 400 - 450Birmingham, 300Edinburgh, 150Glasgow, 100 - 150Liverpool, 100Lambeth, London, 25 - 35
There are no figures for how many people are given so-called public health funerals, but a straw poll of local authorities suggests they run into the thousands.
There are no figures for how many people are given so-called public health funerals, but a straw poll of local authorities suggests they run into the thousands.
There are those, like Michael, whose desolate deaths are the tragic end to lives withered by addiction. Some are pushed to the fringes of society by mental illness; others simply outlive everyone they know.
There are those, like Michael, whose desolate deaths are the tragic end to lives withered by addiction. Some are pushed to the fringes of society by mental illness; others simply outlive everyone they know.
But according to Brenda Dickens, who oversees 300 public health funerals a year for Birmingham City Council, there is no such thing as a "typical case".
But according to Brenda Dickens, who oversees 300 public health funerals a year for Birmingham City Council, there is no such thing as a "typical case".
Her office has carried out burials ranging "from a placenta that's been discarded in a public place, to someone who dies in their own home in luxurious surroundings and doesn't have any relatives and hasn't made a will".
Her office has carried out burials ranging from a foetus "that's been discarded in a public place, to someone who dies in their own home in luxurious surroundings and doesn't have any relatives and hasn't made a will".
One council reported burying someone who turned out to be a multi-millionaire.
One council reported burying someone who turned out to be a multi-millionaire.
There may be more ways than ever to stay in touch, but none of them are compulsory and many are superficial.Michael Disney, one of thousands each year buried in public health funerals (Pic courtesy Express & Echo)
There may be more ways than ever to stay in touch, but none of them are compulsory and many are superficial.Michael Disney, one of thousands each year buried in public health funerals (Pic courtesy Express & Echo)
"If somebody chooses to become anonymous, then that's what happens," says Ms Dickens.
"If somebody chooses to become anonymous, then that's what happens," says Ms Dickens.
"It is possible that we are referred a case with someone's name, but they may have three or four or five aliases.
"It is possible that we are referred a case with someone's name, but they may have three or four or five aliases.
"And you may have your own name and date of birth and still have dropped out of society because there is no compunction on someone to register with their GP or claim their benefits."
"And you may have your own name and date of birth and still have dropped out of society because there is no compunction on someone to register with their GP or claim their benefits."
In one recent case in Exeter an elderly man lay undiscovered in his flat for three weeks. In August a man's body was found at a home in Lancashire after lying there for two years. His bills and council tax had been paid by direct debit.
In one recent case in Exeter an elderly man lay undiscovered in his flat for three weeks. In August a man's body was found at a home in Lancashire after lying there for two years. His bills and council tax had been paid by direct debit.
Without hard figures, it is impossible to tell whether there is an upward trend in these lonely deaths. But what is clear is that with the break-down of many traditional families and an aging population, more people than ever are living alone.
Without hard figures, it is impossible to tell whether there is an upward trend in these lonely deaths. But what is clear is that with the break-down of many traditional families and an aging population, more people than ever are living alone.
He said to my wife: 'In prison there is always someone you can talk to, you're a somebody. Out here, you're a nobody' Rev Nick Martin
He said to my wife: 'In prison there is always someone you can talk to, you're a somebody. Out here, you're a nobody' Rev Nick Martin
Michael had not dropped as far from sight as some.
Michael had not dropped as far from sight as some.
While Michael was in prison Reverend Nick Martin, the prison chaplain who led the funeral, saw him every day. But that soon ended when he got out.
While Michael was in prison Reverend Nick Martin, the prison chaplain who led the funeral, saw him every day. But that soon ended when he got out.
Shortly after his release, Rev Martin's wife saw Michael back on the streets, looking emaciated. She bought him pureed food normally eaten by the institutionalised elderly. Her small act of generosity touched Michael.
Shortly after his release, Rev Martin's wife saw Michael back on the streets, looking emaciated. She bought him pureed food normally eaten by the institutionalised elderly. Her small act of generosity touched Michael.
"He said to my wife: 'In prison there is always someone you can talk to, you're a somebody. Out here, you're a nobody.'"
"He said to my wife: 'In prison there is always someone you can talk to, you're a somebody. Out here, you're a nobody.'"
Just weeks later, in a park behind Exeter Central station, children out playing among the neatly-kept lawns and colourful flowerbeds found Michael's dead body.
Just weeks later, in a park behind Exeter Central station, children out playing among the neatly-kept lawns and colourful flowerbeds found Michael's dead body.
Scars and tattoos
Scars and tattoos
It seems Michael was well-enough known for confirmation of his identity to be relatively simple. But that is not always the case.
It seems Michael was well-enough known for confirmation of his identity to be relatively simple. But that is not always the case.
It can take months to name an un-known body, with a coroner stitching together an identity with anything from scars and tattoos, to prison records and a person's final steps. The City of London Coroner has kept hold of a corpse for a year.A statue of Eleanor Rigby in Mathew Street, Liverpool
It can take months to name an un-known body, with a coroner stitching together an identity with anything from scars and tattoos, to prison records and a person's final steps. The City of London Coroner has kept hold of a corpse for a year.A statue of Eleanor Rigby in Mathew Street, Liverpool
The Home Office says the problem of identifying bodies found without personal effects would unlikely to be solved by the introduction of ID cards. But realistically, would someone in Michael's condition hold an ID card?
The Home Office says the problem of identifying bodies found without personal effects would unlikely be solved by the introduction of ID cards. But realistically, would someone in Michael's condition hold an ID card?
Eventually, however, the investigation will end and it will fall to the local council to deal with the body. Under disease-control legislation, authorities are required to do no more than ensure a corpse is buried or cremated.
Eventually, however, the investigation will end and it will fall to the local council to deal with the body. Under disease-control legislation, authorities are required to do no more than ensure a corpse is buried or cremated.
In practice councils are less callous.
In practice councils are less callous.
According to the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management most will pay for a hearse, a casket and a professional mourner to lead the ceremony. For Michael, Exeter City Council also bought a simple wreath and placed an obituary in the local paper. It says each funeral costs about £2,800.
According to the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management most will pay for a hearse, a casket and a professional mourner to lead the ceremony. For Michael, Exeter City Council also bought a simple wreath and placed an obituary in the local paper. It says each funeral costs about £2,800.
If there are no other mourners, Ian Quance, a bereavement services manager for the council, often attends the funeral himself. It is a matter of pride that the occasion should be treated with dignity, he says.
If there are no other mourners, Ian Quance, a bereavement services manager for the council, often attends the funeral himself. It is a matter of pride that the occasion should be treated with dignity, he says.
"I would like to think you can't tell the difference fro a normal funeral. At the end of the day, we come into the world equal and we should go out equal. We should all have the same dignity."
"I would like to think you can't tell the difference from a normal funeral. At the end of the day, we come into the world equal and we should go out equal. We should all have the same dignity."
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