Walsall Client Welfare Services Department have issued an appeal to trace the families of two Walsall residents who recently passed away in local care homes – Mr. Royston Coles aged 86, of Walsall and Mrs. Edna Thompson aged 96 of Leamore.

I realise these appeals are not immediately local, but relatives can be spread far and wide so these requests are essential, and I really feel for anyone who passes away alone.

Client Welfare Services  issued the following request this morning, 24th January 2019:

Assistance sought to find family or friends of deceased man

Local residents are being asked to help with the search for relatives and friends of a man who recently passed away at Crossways Residential Home on High Gate Road in Walsall. 

Client Welfare Officers are keen to get in touch with any family members or friends of Mr Royston Coles, aged 86, previously of 21 Autumn Close, Walsall, WS4 1DU. 

Officers extend their sympathy at this time and would be grateful to hear from relatives or friends of Mr Coles or anyone who might have helpful information about his family so that proper arrangements for his funeral can be made. 

If anyone has any information about Mr Coles they are asked to contact Walsall Council Client Welfare Services on 01922 655551.

This appeal was issued on Tuesday, 22nd January 2019:

Assistance sought to find family or friends of deceased woman
 
Local residents are being asked to help with the search for relatives and friends of a woman who recently passed away at the Willows Nursing Home in Darlaston.
 
Client Welfare Officers are keen to get in touch with any family members or friends of Mrs Edna Thompson, aged 93, previously of 297 Bloxwich Road, Leamore, Walsall, WS2 7BD.
 
Officers extend their sympathy at this time and would be grateful to hear from any relatives or friends of Mrs Thompson, or anyone who might have helpful information about her family so that proper arrangements for her funeral can be made.
 
If anyone has any information about Mrs Thompson’s family they are asked to contact Walsall Council Client Welfare Services on 01922 655551.

Thanks in advance. If anyone would prefer no to contact the council directly for whatever reason, email me at BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot come and I’ll pass any messages on.

Although such appeals by Councils are a legal requirement, I’ll always support them and run them; this blog has a large readership now, and someone out there may just unlock a mystery. It must be horrible to lose a parent, sibling or child and not know, whatever the relationship between you. Nobody should ever pass unmourned. Closure is important.

If you’re wondering why we suddenly see a lot of these, Walsall Council (as with any authority) have always had a legal duty to trace relatives in such cases, but formerly used classified adverts in local papers. Recently, they’ve wisely started using social media, too.

Thanks.