Standing stones

Obviously it is a matter of regret that the headstone of Edward Groves has been laid flat at Liberton Cemetery (Letters, 16 October) but the responsibility for the maintenance of a headstone lies with the descendants of the person who purchased the lair.

It would have been obvious to Mr William W Groves, on visits to his grandfather’s grave, that the headstone was not as stable as it should be but he obviously did not take steps to rectify this.

The result, when the stability of all the stones was tested by the council – as it is every five years – was that it failed and the council took the appropriate action.

As for Mr E Groves expecting the council to rebuild his father’s headstone; well, the irony of the situation is that the council could consider that this responsibility is indeed his.

Alan McKinney

Beauchamp Road

Edinburgh