Bowman heartbroken after case with ashes goes missing

Radio DJ Edith Bowman says she is "utterly heartbroken" after a suitcase containing her grandfather's ashes went missing.

The 52-year-old said the case disappeared during a train journey from London Paddington to Kemble in Gloucestershire on Friday.

Bowman said the suitcase contained sentimental items in a jewellery box, including a pinkie ring with her grandfather's ashes in it, and made a tearful appeal on social media for it to be returned.

The former BBC Radio 1 DJ said: "It's the sentimental value and the irreplaceability of these items that makes it utterly heartbreaking to be honest."

She said she had been separated from a number of items "you can't replace".

"My mum, when my grandad passed away, she very beautifully got his ashes made into this ring for me. It's not like I can go to the shop and buy another one of those.

"And a ring from my husband was an anniversary present a few years back," she added.

Bowman said the incident happened on the 09:32 GMT departing train from London Paddington, which terminated at Cheltenham.

She said she reported the incident to British Transport Police. The force has been contacted for comment.

"If you are that person who took someone else's luggage off the train between London and Kemble, please can you return it to the nearest station? I'd really much appreciate that," she said.

Bowman described the suitcase as dark green with brown straps and appealed for anyone who saw someone get off the GWR train at Didcot Parkway, Reading or Swindon to get in touch with her.

The presenter is best known for hosting BBC Radio 1 shows from 2003 to 2014, when she left to work on other projects.

Bowman currently hosts podcast Soundtracking, in which she interviews guests about music and film.

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