Widow’s journey to bury late husband’s ashes at Disney World ruined when Virgin lose suitcase

A widow’s harrowing journey to bury some of her late husband’s ashes and their wedding rings was ruined after an airline abandoned her suitcase.

Joyce Jackson, from Abergele, North Wales, planned to fly to Florida at the beginning of the month to leave the momentos at their favorite vacation spot – Walt Disney World in Orlando.

But she claims Virgin Atlantic accidentally left her suitcase – containing her husband’s rings and some ashes – at Manchester Airport.

Ms Jackson thinks it was because the airline’s own “thin” label, which loops around a luggage handle, has come off.

Ms. Jackson, whose husband Gordon died at the age of 78 in a tragic accident, had planned the trip to the US in his memory.

The idea was to get close to what would have been his 80th birthday and their wedding anniversary.

She planned to bury the treasured objects in a special place where they had been together three times – the garden of the Caribbean Beach Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando,

The widow, also 78, told North Wales Live: ‘Gordon absolutely loved it there. He would talk to the characters. It wasn’t a pilgrimage, but I wanted to bury some of his ashes and our wedding rings there.

“But it was like Virgin Atlantic didn’t care.”

Though she didn’t have a suitcase—with its precious cargo—to pick up at the Orlando airport, Ms. Jackson was determined to enjoy her trip. She said, ‘Gordon would have said, ‘Good of you.”

Ms Jackson traveled to Manchester Airport on October 4 to fly to Orlando with some of Gordon’s ashes in a single gray suitcase.

The main shipment of ashes remains in her home in Abergele.

Ms. Jackson, whose husband Gordon died at the age of 78 after a tragic accident, had planned the US trip in memory

‘At Manchester Airport I was told to use the self-service bag drop. I did and got a luggage tag. A man put it on. It wasn’t a sticky label where you loop it around a handle and tape both ends together. It looked more like a paper copy. But it must have come off.

“I came to Orlando, and no luggage. I travel light and I only had what I was carrying – not even a toothbrush.

“But the worst part was that the axle and washers were in the trunk. I know you can’t take a person’s ashes, so I only had a few ashes and our wedding rings.

‘I buried them in a garden of Caribbean Beach Resort. The main ash is in a rose pot in our garden.’

Ms. Jackson has filed a complaint with Virgin Atlantic, telling them there were sentimental items in the case.

She added that as soon as Walt Disney World staff learned what had happened, they were helpful.

But Mrs. Jackson said, ‘I had to wash my underwear with shower gel every night. But Disney was very good, since it wasn’t their problem.

Joyce and Gordon were married for 57 years and were married on 26 September 1964 at St John’s Baptist Church in Sussex Street, Rhyl.

“They gave me a toothbrush and arranged a taxi to take me to a supermarket so I could buy hairspray and toothpaste. I also bought three dresses, a T-shirt and a bag.

“But I don’t need these clothes here—they’re summer dresses.”

Ms Jackson estimates she has spent about £700 extra on clothing and toiletries to replace those in her lost suitcase.

She says it was not found until a duty manager in Orlando traced it to Manchester Airport – where it had always been. Ms. Jackson flew home on October 13 and has now been reunited with her luggage.

The widow thinks it was the last chance to bury those few ashes and sentimental rings. She said, “I can’t go back because I can’t afford it and I’m 78.”

However, Ms. Jackson said she was determined to make the most of her trip, despite the baggage setback.

‘I couldn’t stay in a hotel room. I did go out every day. I had to enjoy it. I went on the boats and the ziplines – I went to the places we loved. It was not a pilgrimage. It wasn’t sad until they lost the suitcase.’

Ms Jackson estimates she has spent around £700 extra on clothes and toiletries to replace those in her lost suitcase

Joyce and Gordon were married for 57 years and were married on 26 September 1964 at St John’s Baptist Church in Sussex Street, Rhyl.

He was vocalist and rhythm guitarist in the band Brian Sharpe and the Senators and later vocalist and bassist in his own band Mr Blue in the 1980s.

Joyce owned JJ’s Bridal Veils store in Kinmel Bay and Gordon was a councillor. He later worked in retail sales until they left in 2009. Their daughter Tracey now runs it.

But disaster struck last year when Mr. Jackson had an accident and died on June 3, 2021.

Mrs. Jackson said: ‘We had a long walk in Pentre Park in Abergele. We got into town and Gordon wasn’t feeling well. He held on to a lamppost.

“I turned my head away and he passed out and fell backwards on the road. He suffered a fractured skull and did not regain consciousness.’

North Wales Live contacted Manchester Airport, which referred callers to Virgin Atlantic airline, which handles checked baggage as part of its service. Virgin Atlantic has been asked for comment.