Graveyard worker retrieves stolen goods

A council worker has been presented with a certificate from the Lord Mayor of Manchester, after returning stolen belongings to their rightful owner.

Frank Simpson from Denton found the items including sports kit, football boots, CDs and school books strewn across grassland at Gorton Cemetery where he works as a gravedigger on behalf of Manchester City Council's Bereavement Services.

Super-sleuth Frank tracked down the owner of the items, Tilly Watts, to the Miles Platting area of Manchester after seeing the name of her son and his school written inside one of the books.

He called the school and managed to contact Tilly, whose car had been stolen days earlier with the lost items still inside. Not only did Frank break the good news that they had been found but also arranged to return them to her personally, as she no longer had any transport, and delivered them to her home during his lunch break.

Tilly Watts said: "I was just getting used to the idea that my car had been stolen and that I had lost everything in it for good when I got a call from my son's school.

Then Frank brought our things back and everything was there. I was really grateful and it helped restore my faith in people."

In recognition of his commitment and dedication, Frank was invited to a reception with the Lord Mayor at Manchester Town Hall. Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Glynn Evans said: "I was extremely proud to meet Frank and to present him with a certificate for all his hard work. It is an acknowledgement that is thoroughly deserved and I would like to thank him once again on behalf of Manchester City Council."

This isn't the first time that Frank has returned lost belongings, found in the cemetery, to their rightful owners. He returned a pair of spectacles worth £100 to a lady he traced through the grave ownership records and returned a wallet containing £100 to a man through his address which was also among the contents. Frank refused to accept a reward saying that honesty was just part of the job.

Councillor Mike Kane, Executive Member for Arts & Leisure whose responsibilities include cemeteries said: "Frank is an absolute credit to both the council and to Manchester. He is as humble as he is honest and frequently goes beyond the call of duty to help others."

Frank has been an employee of Manchester City Council for almost thirty years, having worked at Gorton Cemetery for 20 years and before that as a gardener at Debdale Park.

Media contact:

Claire Keegan, tel 0161 234 4014