Newport family's plea over mother's dying wish

When Rachel Adio started to arrange her mother's headstone she was told by Newport Town Council it did not meet the regulation size.

However, the 44-year-old claims that her grandmother got permission for 10 of the larger-size headstones for family graves before she herself died 15 years ago.

The family say that the reason they have requested for Eileen's headstone to be around seven inches bigger than regulation size is because it is part of their Romany Gipsy heritage – and they are keen to keep the tradition alive.

Mrs Adio's mother, Eileen Talbot, died in March this year aged 65, after a three-year battle with bowel cancer.

She was well known across Newport and had held several jobs, but was best known for running a burger van in the High Street between Boots and the old Woolworths – which is now B&M Bargains – for 15 years until the early 2000s.

While she was fighting the disease she took the time to pick out her headstone, which shows the family's heritage.

Mrs Adio, who lives in Newport, said: "I don't know how she did it but my mother planned her whole funeral and even the headstone while she was fighting cancer.

"I know I couldn't do it and it took a lot of courage for her to do that, and one of the things she organised was the headstone, so all we want to do is follow my mother's wishes.

"We already have seven family members buried at Newport Cemetery, including my grandmother, with bigger headstones so I don't understand why my mother's is not allowed."

She added: "The town council say they don't have any record of us getting the permission 15 years ago, but the stonemasons who made my grandmother's headstone remember us, and are helping us by looking at their records."

"The stonemasons even showed how much bigger the headstone would be, and you can't even tell."

She added: "My mother wanted some angels on the headstone, and that is what makes it slightly bigger, but no-one would know unless you told them."

Newport town clerk Lee Jakeman said: "The original decision about the size of the headstone went to the councillors, who said the headstone was too big and out of keeping with that area of the cemetery.

"However, the council are currently in discussions with the family and the stonemasons about submitting an application that is in accordance with the family wishes but in keeping with the rules and regulations of the cemetery."