‘Why can only 20 people come to my dad's funeral when 60 are packed into the pub?’ Edinburgh family planning funeral ask Scottish Government for answers

(L-R) Channing, Ian, Caroline, Jaimi and Keanna Jackson in June 2019

A grieving family is looking for answers after being told they are only allowed 20 people to attend their father’s funeral - when more than 60 people can pack inside pubs as indoor hospitality reopens.

Ian Rodrick Jackson sadly passed away last Thursday, aged 59, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

His family who are now organising his funeral have been told that due to coronavirus restrictions, a maximum of 20 people will be allowed to attend.

Ian with his children in Florida in 2002

Ian’s son Jaimie Jackson, from Craiglockhart said: “Under normal circumstances it would have been a big funeral, he was 59 years of age and a big figure in the local community, there would have been at least 500 people.

“We were told by directors of Mortonhall Crematorium that only 20 were allowed inside and when we spoke to Warriston Crematorium, we were told that only 20 were allowed in as well but before phase three had been announced the maximum was 25.”

When the First Minister announced that Scotland could begin to move into the third phase of lockdown restrictions being lifted she advised that indoor hospitality could reopen with social distancing in place and up to 50 people could attend places of worship - which could in theory be up to 50 individual households.

While they accept that funerals may not be as large as they would be in normal circumstances, they made the point that 25 attendees could allow just one more household to the funeral.

“We don't find it fair.” Jaimi said, “Last night we went out on a walk as a family and passed the local pub to see about 60 people sitting in there, enjoying themselves and having a drink.

“Knowing that some of my dad’s friends are in there and won’t be able to see him at his funeral is very upsetting.”

31-year-old Jaimi described his father’s final weeks as ‘distressing’. Due to Ian having stage four cancer, he had regular chemotherapy which he had to visit hospital for.

He also became ill to the point he required hospital treatment four times during lockdown, but was lucky to be able to go home for days at a time between.

Jaimi added: “When he did take unwell, we took him to hospital and said our goodbyes not knowing if we would see him again. Every time we hoped that he would get back out.

“The hospitals were obviously locked down and now allowing visitors, but we were lucky that he was strong enough to FaceTime and text regularly up until about two weeks ago, that’s when we lost contact with him.

“When he spoke to us he was telling us he felt so lonely in hospital and would look forward to the tea lady coming in or a nurse because he was sitting for about 10 hours a day on his own.”

After catching two infections, Ian became very unwell, but when he was moved to hospice care his family were informed and were able to visit to say their goodbyes.

“The doctor invited us to the hospice at Fairmilehead, we had to go in to see him in full PPE, it was very distressing and upsetting and it was the last time we saw him. We had visors on and gloves and suits, it’s not the way you want to say goodbye.”

On Thursday 9 July, at 5am Ian’s family received the call that he had passed away.

“Watching the news to see that potentially 50 households can go to places of worship, and that people can now meet up and go inside to the pub, but we can’t gather together to say goodbye to our dad is so upsetting.” Jaimi added, “We have a big family and my dad has two brothers and sister and it has been over four weeks since they last saw him, not to mention his many friends.”

As the family prepare for Ian’s funeral, they are now looking for an explanation from the Scottish Government as to why the number of people allowed to attend funerals in a socially distanced manner has not increased, when hospitality, leisure and worship begin to get back to a sense of normality.

Ian Jackson’s funeral will take place on Thursday 23 July at Mortonhall Crematorium.

The family remain hopeful that the Scottish Government will make changes to the number of people allowed to attend funerals ahead of that date.

A spokesman for The Scottish Government said: “We recognise that the current restrictions on funeral services are extremely difficult for people.

“However, limiting the number of people present at funerals remains necessary to prevent and mitigate the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in situations where families and communities come together.

“These restrictions are being kept under review and will not be in place a day longer than is necessary for essential public health reasons.”

The Scottish Government has been asked to provide further scientific guidance on the decision made regarding the number of people allowed to attend funerals.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Subscribe to the Edinburgh Evening News online and enjoy unlimited access to trusted, fact-checked news and sport from Edinburgh and the Lothians. Visit https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director