Mum's appeal to family after finding ashes of girl, 12, while on day out at park

03 February 2023 , 23:11

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The wooden casket contained the remains of Yvonne Harrison, who died 46 years ago (Image: Emma Lawless / Liverpool Echo)

A mum is desperately searching for the family of a 12-year-old girl whose ashes she found in a park.

Emma Lawless, 34, made the mysterious discovery during a day out with her daughters last June.

She stumbled across a wooden casket at Hesketh Park in Southport which contained the remains of Yvonne Harrison, who lived in Preston and died in February 1977.

As she got to the bottom of the ramp, Emma spotted the casket.

"It was just placed on top of weeds and ivy. It appeared from nowhere," Emma told the Echo.

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"I'd been a couple of days before and it wasn't there then. I went over and had a look.

"At first, I probably thought it was a dog's [ashes] or something and we went on our way. I went back the next week and it was there again.

Emma spotted the casket as she got to the bottom of the ramp (Liverpool ECHO)

"I thought I'd pick it up and see if it's empty or full, but it was full. It was very heavy."

Friday marks 46 years since Yvonne's death, and a search is ongoing to try and trace her family so they can be reunited with her ashes.

Emma said: "Me and my daughters always go to Hesketh Park.

"One is seven and one's one, so the park is free and it's local. It's great.

"This particular spot, there's a ramp to go down to the rose garden. My daughter came down on her scooter and I got down with the pram."

Emma initially put the casket back where she found it in the hope its owner would come and collect it, but when it remained in the same spot she alerted the park warden.

An engraving on the casket helped to reveal the identity of the ashes as Yvonne Harrison.

The ashes were taken to Southport Crematorium, followed by Preston Crematorium, where Yvonne lived.

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Emma said: "I just want to get her back with whoever has lost her.

"It's heartbreaking as I'm a mum myself, especially to girls, it's touched home.

"She was only 12 when she died, it's quite upsetting."

Cemetery worker Chris Brown told BBC North West: "We received a phone call from Southport crematorium.

"They asked if we had a record for this name. They gave me the date of death and all the information they had, and I found the deceased within our ledger."

The gold plaque on the front of the oak box reads 'Eyvonne Harrison'.

But Mr Brown said: "The authority card inside the casket confirms that the name is actually Yvonne."

The Register of Cremations names a James Harrison of Holme Slack, Preston, as the person who made Yvonne's cremation application.

It is hoped the information will lead to Yvonne's remains being reunited with her family at last.

Laura Sharman