A GRIEVING mother says she is still waiting for a letter of apology or explanation, six months after a funeral firm failed to pass her son’s funeral collection to the Salvation Army.

Penny Woodcock has written to Dignity Caring Funeral Services to complain she had heard nothing from the company, despite assurances she would be kept fully informed about an internal investigation into the problems following her son Brent’s funeral at York Crematorium in February.

She said: “I am disgusted by the way we have been treated by your company. We have heard nothing, not even the courtesy of a letter of apology for all the distress this has caused me and my immediate family.”

The Press revealed in June how Richard Rymer, a director of J Rymer Funeral Service, which is owned by Dignity, had resigned after failing to ensure that hundreds of pounds collected at the funeral of Mrs Woodcock’s son was handed over to the Salvation Army.

Mr Woodcock’s brother, Dean, of Flaxton, said about 300 people had attended the service after Brent had died suddenly and put money very generously in the collection plate at the end. However, he had discovered later that nothing had been handed to the charity by the firm.

Dignity yesterday said it was sorry the family had “suffered doubt and anxiety”, but said two senior managers had met them in person to apologise and were willing to meet them again if they wanted to resume discussions.

A spokesman also said it had conducted a thorough investigation, in which it had involved police. He said: “Neither we, nor the police, can find proof of any wrong-doing.”

He said it had been agreed Dean would contact the firm if he or other family members wanted to resume discussions, but it had had no communication from them since May 25.

“Although wrongdoing could not be established, we offered the family a substantial additional sum for them to donate to charity which they chose not to accept.

“Our internal auditors have conducted a thorough investigation and no other charitable donations have been affected.”

North Yorkshire Police said officers had concluded their inquiries, and found insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.