Firework funeral celebrates man's life with a bang

Janet Jones and Stuart Jones loved watching fireworks together

A family used an unusual way of scattering their loved one's ashes - by putting them in 200 fireworks to create an unforgettable show.

Janet Jones used the show to celebrate the life of husband Stuart, who said going up in a rocket would be a "great way to go".

The West Midlands family have always enjoyed celebrating Bonfire Night, so incorporating Mr Jones' ashes into a display was the perfect send-off.

Mrs Jones said: "It was the best way to honour him and we all still talk about the night now."

Talking to BBC Radio WM, Mrs Jones the family always enjoy watching organised firework displays, one of which led Mr Jones to remark: "That would be a way to go wouldn't it - up in a rocket."

The funeral display was organised by Jennifer Ashe & Son, a funeral director in Willenhall, and held over the lake at Himley Hall in Dudley.

Inspired Mrs Jones' story John Ashe, managing director at the funeral home, suggested the idea of implementing the ashes in fireworks.

He said it was "an honour to fulfil Janet's wishes" by working with Heaven Stars Fireworks to ensure "Stuart had a lovely send-off that filled the skies and left a lasting memory on the family".

'Look at fireworks with a smile'

Mrs Jones said: "I couldn’t believe it, because I’d never heard of it. Nobody has ever told me of anybody else that had it done.”

She said the firework funeral was a "celebration of [Stuart's] life" and feels she can now "look at bonfires and fireworks with a smile instead of a heavy heart".

"I was so glad to have had him, and met him, and spent a lot of my happy times with him," Mrs Jones said.

"I wanted people to see how much I loved him, how much I thought of him, and I thought it was the best way to honour somebody instead of the normal traditional way."