This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/8425613.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Michael Howard's father exhumed Michael Howard's father exhumed
(about 4 hours later)
The body of the father of ex-Tory leader Michael Howard has been exhumed from a vandalised Jewish cemetery and moved to Hertfordshire.The body of the father of ex-Tory leader Michael Howard has been exhumed from a vandalised Jewish cemetery and moved to Hertfordshire.
Mr Howard's father Bernard was buried in Townhill Jewish Cemetery in Swansea in 1966.Mr Howard's father Bernard was buried in Townhill Jewish Cemetery in Swansea in 1966.
The Kent MP wanted his father to be buried in Bushey Cemetery with his recently-deceased mother.The Kent MP wanted his father to be buried in Bushey Cemetery with his recently-deceased mother.
The Swansea cemetery was also restored to a "much more dignified condition" by group United Synagogue, Mr Howard said.The Swansea cemetery was also restored to a "much more dignified condition" by group United Synagogue, Mr Howard said.
Mr Howard, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, was John Major's home secretary in 1993 before becoming the Conservative leader in 2003.Mr Howard, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, was John Major's home secretary in 1993 before becoming the Conservative leader in 2003.
'Desecration' This very old and important Jewish cemetery has been restored to a much more dignified condition Michael Howard MP
He asked London-based Jewish group United Synagogue (US) to exhume his father's body and help restore the Swansea cemetery.He asked London-based Jewish group United Synagogue (US) to exhume his father's body and help restore the Swansea cemetery.
The 18th Century cemetery had been vandalised and was overgrown with brambles, the group said.The 18th Century cemetery had been vandalised and was overgrown with brambles, the group said.
A US spokesman said: "On learning of the desecration, the US staff spent two days restoring Townhill Cemetery back to a dignified state, with the support of Mr Howard who offered to pay for some of the team's expenses."A US spokesman said: "On learning of the desecration, the US staff spent two days restoring Townhill Cemetery back to a dignified state, with the support of Mr Howard who offered to pay for some of the team's expenses."
Its head of burial services, Melvyn Hartog, said: "The restoration of a non-US cemetery is not something we would normally get involved in but we felt we couldn't leave the cemetery in such disrepair."Its head of burial services, Melvyn Hartog, said: "The restoration of a non-US cemetery is not something we would normally get involved in but we felt we couldn't leave the cemetery in such disrepair."
Mr Howard said he could not "speak highly enough" of the team.Mr Howard said he could not "speak highly enough" of the team.
"The cemetery was in a state of disrepair but after the team's extremely hard work, this very old and important Jewish cemetery has been restored to a much more dignified condition," Mr Howard said."The cemetery was in a state of disrepair but after the team's extremely hard work, this very old and important Jewish cemetery has been restored to a much more dignified condition," Mr Howard said.