Infamous serial killer Fred West's link to Coventry amid new Netflix documentary

NewsInfamous serial killer Fred West's link to Coventry amid new Netflix documentaryFred & Rose West: A British Horror Story is proving a hit with

viewerscoventrytelegraphBookmarkShareCommentsNewsByDanny ThompsonReporter12:31, 2 JUN 2025BookmarkFred West, the infamous serial killer, was secretly cremated in Coventry

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Fred and Rose West are perhaps the most infamous serial killers in modern British history. Together the evil pair murdered at least ten young people, including members of their own family,

with Fred admitting before he died there were more.

Their home in Gloucester, 25 Cromwell Street, proved such a gristly house of horrors, with dismembered bodies buried about the property, it was eventually demolished. It is a story known

around the world, even more so now following the airing of Fred & Rose West: A British Horror Story - a new Netflix true crime documentary released last month.

But for people in Coventry, it is a case with a dark connection to the city.

Read more: Nuneaton hospital rules out 'full merger' but massive change is on its way

Fred killed himself in his cell at Winson Green on 1 January 1995, before he could stand trial for his heinous crimes. He and wife Rose were the subject of such hate across the nation, it

was decided his funeral service and subsequent cremation should take place in a secret location.

That place was Coventry's own Canley Crematorium.

However the plan was eventually uncovered, and many were not happy about it - including the loved ones of other recently deceased people who were to be cremated on the same day at the same

venue.

One person whose friend had a funeral the same day said it was "an insult to her memory" while another mourner said it "undermines the reputation of Coventry".

Coventry Telegraph coverage from the archives show how we covered it at the time, including the shock and outrage that the body of the most hated man in the country would be cremated

alongside good, honest residents of the city.

Gladys Clifton of Tile Hill told the Coventry Evening Telegraph at the time: "I am absolutely appalled that this happened in Coventry.

"Not only was Coventry City Council approached in secret but it did not refuse the request.

"I cannot understand why the people in charge did not say no to the request."

Mary Vannart from Holbrooks was taking a friend to the crem for the funeral of local pensioner Alice Jones of Foleshill on the same day as West's funeral.

Ms Vannart said: "It is absolutely disgusting that he was cremated after this poor old lady who never did anybody any harm. It is an insult to her memory."

Gwendoline Curry of Woodway Lane said: "I do not think this is the place for people accused of mass murder.

"My heart goes out to the poor families who were having funeral services there yesterday. It undermines the reputation of Coventry."

According to reports at the time, dozens of families contacted the Telegraph to air their grievances. West's funeral was understandably a bleak affair, lasting a few minutes, with no

hymns and only a few close relatives.

The monster's body had been kept in a mortuary in Birmingham for three months before he was eventually cremated at the end of March. The funeral was attended by West's son and

daughter and was carried out by church officials from his native Gloucestershire.

It is thought his ashes were taken from the city by family, and some believe they were scattered in Welsh seaside resort Barry Island - made famous thanks to BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey.

Incidentally, the character of Stacey West and her family are named after the killers - a dark joke which themed the lighthearted series. It also features a character named Peter Sutcliffe,

after the Yorkshire Ripper, and Gavin's family are named Shipman - after the GP Harold Shipman who was convicted of murdering 15 of his elderly patients - though the actual figure is

thought to be much higher.

Oddly there were also rumours that plans were afoot for Shipman, who like West also committed suicide in jail, to be cremated in the city too when he died in 2004. However Labour councillor

Phil Townshend said he wanted no repeat of the West scandal, issuing an order that even if Shipman's family request it, the city council must refuse.

He said at the time: "We're not some repository for some of the most evil murderers in British penal history.

"At the end of the day, they've brought Fred West here. We're not having Harold Shipman here. I will use whatever influence of powers I may have to avoid such a situation

occurring. Having had Fred West cremated in Coventry, I think there's a limit to what can be expected of us."

Fred and Rose West's despicable crimes are ones that still linger, even thirty year after he took the coward's way out.

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