Son leaves dad’s ashes in taxi after day in the pub

James Rice forgot the ashes after celebrating his father's memory at a pub in Dundee. Picture: Gordon Fraser

James Rice was collecting his dad’s ashes from an aunt who brought them from London in order to honour his dad’s wishes to bury him with his mother in Balgay Cemetery in Dundee.

However, after getting a taxi home having spent a day in town drinking with his family, 23-year-old James left his father’s ashes in the back of the cab – only to realize what he had done the next day.

He said: “When it happened I felt absolutely gutted – it completely slipped my mind when I stepped out of the taxi.

“I only realized I had left them behind the next morning after I got up. I’m now desperate to get them back.

“We were collecting his ashes from all our family members so we could honour his last wishes to bury him with his mum.

“The ashes were in four little containers inside a floral purple bag and were left in a silver cab.”

Brian Rice died aged 67 and was cremated at Dundee crematorium. His ashes were then shared between his family.

When Brian’s sister Pearl returned the ashes to Dundee she was met by family members and they thought it was right to celebrate Brian’s memory and went to the pub.

James added: “We met at the train station then went to celebrate the memory of my dad.

“After coming out of the pub we went to a takeaway then over to the taxi rank. We just jumped in the first taxi and went back home.

“My mind must have gone blank after that because I just don’t know how I could have forgotten something like that.

“If anyone could help find my dad’s ashes and hand them into the police station or to the taxi rank, it would appreciated so much.”