| Location | Lytham St Annes |
| Age | 8 years |
| Cause of Death | Suicide |
| Date of Death | 11/2008 |
| Visitors | 4,601 since 03/12/2008 |
| Creator |
Joshua Aldred, of Lytham St Annes, near Blackpool, in Lancashire, was found dead in his bedroom
within minutes of "having a strop" about doing his homework.
His death came 11 weeks after his mother, Sarah, 42, died from breast cancer and three months before
the first anniversary of his grandfather dying in a hospice.
The coroner for Blackpool, Anne Hind, said: "In nearly 20 years I think it is the saddest story I
have ever heard".
She told the child's remaining family: "We know Joshua missed his mummy very much, but he was coping
very well. He was going on with his life and his school marks had not deteriorated.
"I have heard the tragedies that have beset this family. Within a year Jason Aldred has lost his
father, his beloved wife and his only child. Mrs Aldred has lost her husband and grandson. This is a
terrible, terrible tragedy. I cannot tell you how my heart has gone out to you and how I have prayed
for you."
Mrs Hind acknowledged that Joshua had intended to hang himself, but recorded a verdict of death by
misadventure on the grounds that he had not understood the consequences of his actions."
The child's father, Jason, 41, said he thought his only child had slipped a tie over his bed rail
"because he missed his mother's hugs".
He was too upset to give evidence in person. Instead, he sat crying in the courtroom has his
statement was read out.
Mr Aldred, an IT architect, recalled how the family decided against hiding news of his wife's
illness from their son.
Four years ago she learned that as well as breast cancer she had developed cancer of the skin. Her
condition meant that doctors had to remove her ovaries.
"This was when Josh asked Sarah and myself if he could have a brother or a sister. We told him why
he couldn't."
In the summer of 2006 Mr Aldred's father, John, was admitted to a hospice. Joshua visited him there
but seemed to cope with the situation. He attended his funeral when he died the following
September.
Six months later, on March 17, Joshua lost his mother when she developed first cellulitis and later
septicaemia.
"I decided to let him finish his school day as normal," said his father. "At 4.30pm I picked him up
and we took him to Fairhaven Lake. I told him that his mum had died that day. He sat on my knee and
we both cried."
That evening the little boy attended football training as normal. "It may have been then that he
said he missed his mother's hugs," said his father.
Over the next few weeks Joshua occasionally awoke during the night, and on two occasions slept in
his father's bed. At his mother's funeral he appeared no more upset than the rest of the family.
He seemed to carry on as "a normal, happy, well-adjusted little boy", and became excited at the
prospect of he and his father going sailing around the Mediterranean for two years.
But on June 5 he had a "strop" with his grandmother when she insisted he did his homework rather
than watch television.
He eventually stormed off to his bedroom. Mrs Aldred let him go, intending to let him cool off
before sitting down with him so they could talk about it.
About five minutes later she went upstairs and found him lying dead beside his bed.
----HAPPY NEW YEAR
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When tomorrow starts without me
And I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today
While thinking of the many things
We didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you.
And each time that you think of me
I know you'll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name
And took me by the hand.
If we could bring you back again,
For one more hour or day,
We’d express all our unspoken love;
We’d have countless things to say.
If we could bring you back again,
We’d say we treasured you,
And that your presence in our lives
Meant more than we ever knew.
If we could bring you back again,
To tell you what we should,
You’d know how much we miss you now,
And if we could, we would.
Our memories build a special bridge
When loved ones have to part.
To help us feel we're with them still
And soothe a grieving heart.
Our memories span the years we shared,
Preserving ties that bind.
They build a special bridge of love
And bring us peace of mind.
As New Year approaches
It seems harder this time of year
We miss you so much more
The only thing that gets us through
Are the memories of before
So here's a card just for you
To show how much we care
I know your waiting with the angels
One day I'll see you there.
Thoughts Today Memories Forever
Angela(Christopher-John Rowe)Mum
I would like to thank everyone for all the candles, tributes gifts and kind words they have left on Christopher’s website I appreciate every single one.
I would also like to wish you all A Happy New Year & my best wishes for 2009.
Angela X
Friday 2nd January
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…………..*♫*.
………, • '*♥* ' • ,
……. '*• ♫♫♫•*'
….. ' *, • '♫ ' • ,* '
….' * • ♫*♥*♫• * '
… * , • Merry' • , * '
…* ' •♫♫*♥*♫♫ • ' * '
' * ' • Christmas . • ' * ' '
' ' * • ♫♫♫*♥*♫♫♫• * ' '
MERRY CHRISTMAS ANGEL....XX
The Ornaments
By Lyndie Sorenson
Ornaments all packed away
Labeled fragile handle with care
As I open up the special box...
It has been another difficult year
I carefully unwrap each ornament
Place them lovingly on the tree
My mind drifts back to holidays
When you were here with me
The ornaments you made in school
Those with your sweet face
I hold them close against my heart
As If it's you I do embrace
The tears again begin to flow
This pain is deep within
Each ornament that shines so bright
The way our lives had been
The Christmas music softly plays
Outside the snow does fall
Inside my heart still broken
It shall never mend at all
I place the final ornament
Upon the Christmas tree
I wish I wish upon a star
That you were here with me
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND EVERYONE
Our Lives changed, the very moment you passed away.
We couldn't stop it; there was nothing we could say.
You've touched our lives so deeply to a point you will never know,
We try to think about you when we are feeling down and low.
Sometimes when our day gets hard we will think about your beautiful smile
And if we listen hard enough we will hear your voice after a while.
It's you who give us a reason to go on with our day,
And now if we want to see you we'll bow our heads and pray.
We catch ourselves looking for you still, in the halls and at the front door,
But when we call your name there is no reply any more!
We never thought a day would come where we would be apart,
God has you in his keepings, we have you in our hearts.
Life will go on, but never will be the same,
Your beautiful smile is gone, but it will always remain.
You're our angel from up above.
You'll always be missed, but most importantly... loved.
Just one more minute, God, is all we ask- why can't you give them back;
It seems like such a simple task. We guess people are right when they say God only takes the best,
We know enough now that you're peacefully at rest.
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
You can shed tears that they are gone,
Or you can smile because they lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that they will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that they have left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see them
Or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember them and only that they are gone
Or you can cherish the memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what they would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
I'm writing this from heaven, where I dwell with God above.
Where there's no more tears or sadness, there's just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy because I am out of sight
Remember that I am with you every morning, noon and night.
And I will stay beside you, every day, week and year
And when you're sad I'll still be there to wipe away your tears.
When you think of my life on earth and all those living years
Because your only human their bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry it does relieve the pain
Remember there wouldn't be flowers unless we first had rain.
I wish I could tell you of all that God has planned
But even if I were able to, you wouldn't understand.
When your going down the street and you've got me on your mind
I'm walking in your footsteps and only half a step behind.
And if you feel a gentle breeze or wind upon your face
Remember it's only me with a loving and soft embrace.
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Thoughts Today Memories Forever
Angela(Christopher-John Rowe)Mum
Rest In Peace.
Rest in Peace Joshua now you have been reunited with your Mum. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family left behind. May you find peace one day soon.
Have A Good Weekend Everyone
If I Knew
If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.
If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.
There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance to say
our "Anything I can do?"
But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,
That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear
Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.
Thoughts Today Memories Forever
Angela(Christopher-John Rowe)Mum
THE BRIGHTEST STAR
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Little Joshua
What a sad story for little Josh to feel that life was not worth living. I hope he and his mum are now together and look down on Josh's dad and send him compassion. He must be distraught.
Love and kisses from Linda xxxxxxxxx
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