Christmas wish

TOUCHING gesture . . . Sinead Lofthouse with her gran Sandra and the urn

A schoolgirl has brought solace to her grief-stricken grandparents whose son was tragically killed in a motorbike accident.

Sinead Lofthouse, a 14-year-old pupil at Waterhead Academy, sent a heartbreaking letter to the Chronicle, which joined kind-hearted Saddleworth Round Table to grant Christmas wishes to deserving readers.

Sinead’s uncle Michael Lofthouse (27) died in a motor scooter accident two years ago. Sinead has lived with her grandparents Sandra and Keith Lofthouse in Hayfield Close, Moorside, for the last four years.

Her letter read: “My grandparents have become depressed and I would like to bring some sunshine and happiness into their lives. They are both very special to me and deserve the best.”

Her wish was for her grandmother to have her youngest son’s ashes interred in a proper funeral urn.

“It is something nana and grandad could treasure forever,” she said.

Matthew Sykes, chair of Saddleworth Round Table, was so touched he contacted Sam Massey, funeral directors Raymond Massey and Son in Dukinfield.

With their help, a tasteful dark blue funeral urn was selected for Sinead to make a surprise presentation to her grandmother.

Sandra (62), pressed her hands to her cheeks to quell the flood of tears as Sinead clutched, hugged and kissed her.

Mrs Lofthouse said: “I’m completely overwhelmed. It’s such a wonderful, sensitive thing to do. I don’t know what to say. It’s really lovely to know my son’s remains won’t be kept in a toffee jar anymore. He’ll have some dignity now. Sinead is such a caring child. I was deeply touched by what she wrote and said.”

Her husband Keith (63) said: “When I saw the urn I was speechless. I was completely stunned.”

And Matthew, who has been chair of Saddleworth Round Table for more than six months, said: “Sinead’s letter really captured the true essence of our Christmas Wishes initiative. Mr and Mrs Lofthouse can be really proud of Sinead.”