by Hayley Robinson

hrobinson@thekmgroup.co.uk

A vicar mixed up his dates and didn't turn up to a funeral - so the undertaker had to step in.

Nora Marsh, 81, was already finding it hard to come to terms with the death of her husband John.

But she was even more distraught on Monday after being left with 30 other mourners standing outside the Garden of England Crematorium in Bobbing.

The Rev John Streeting, who has since apologised to the family, had written down the wrong date and was in Devon.

Andy Hyland, manager of G Hogben and Sons funeral directors, frantically phoned around trying to find another vicar but with no luck.

It was then he suggested stepping in to conduct the service if Mr Marsh's daughter Janet Williams and her son Kevin could give a eulogy.

After the family looked through a prayer book and spoke to the organist about the order of the service, Mr Marsh's coffin was finally taken into the chapel and mourners took their seats.

Mr Marsh died suddenly on May 2 from a heart attack at the age of 75.

Mrs Williams, 54, of Kent Avenue, Minster, said: "Andy stepped in and did a marvellous job but that's because he had to really.

"Any apology won't change anything. It was very distressing and I felt afterwards that my dad wasn't laid to rest in a proper manner - it was all kind of hurried."

Mrs Marsh, of Estuary Road, Sheerness, said: "I'm very hurt over everything that happened and I'm very angry."

A Canterbury Diocese spokesman said: "This is a very unfortunate mistake and I know the Rev John Streeting feels terrible about what has happened.

"Mr Streeting agreed to take the funeral on Monday but through human error misplaced the appointment in his diary for the following Monday.

"Mr Streeting has already sent a letter of apology to the family along with flowers.

"In his letter Mr Streeting has expressed his deep regret and has explained to the family how very sorry he is.

"Mr Streeting has not sought to make excuses but to simply explain that the mistake arose from his diary mix-up.

"Mr Streeting also visited the funeral directors first thing Tuesday morning to apologise."

A complaint has been lodged against the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford after three of Mr Marsh's rings went missing.

Mrs Marsh wanted the rings to remain with her husband after his death.

But when the family were handed a bag by hospital staff containing his belongings, the rings were missing.

Daughter Janet Williams said: "We know he had them on the night day before he died but we discovered they were missing when we picked up his personal items.

"My son Kevin has written a letter of complaint to the hospital."

A spokesman for the hospital said: "The Trust apologises unreservedly to Mr Marsh's family for the distress this has caused.

"It has launched an investigation to try to locate the missing rings."