Ashes to Ashes

January 12, 2009

The first letter arrived at Julie Strange's house about a year after he son Paul died. From England's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and addressed to Paul, it claimed he had not sent in required information on a vehicle he owned. She called the agency and explained her son was dead and had not owned any vehicle. But the letters kept coming, scores of them. She even sent a copy of his death certificate, but nothing changed. Finally, Paul received a court summons. Julie Strange went, and when her son's name was called she held out a small casket with his ashes. The prosecutor asked that the charges be withdrawn.