The remains of a body which had been used for medical testing and study over a number of decades has been buried near Warwick.

The articulated bones of the man's head and upper body had been in the care of a local doctor for some decades and were laid to rest at Sun Rising Natural Burial Ground this week.

The body was given to the doctor as an "educational aid" while they were at medical school.

It was used by many of her fellow students and by her daughter when she went to medical school. A neighbour used the skeleton when working through an anatomy course, and a colleague through ear, nose and throat postgraduate exams.

Nothing is known about the skeleton, other than that it is of a human male.

"Nonetheless, on the day, the burial was carried out with as much dignity as if his own family had been present," the Sun Rising team said. 

"We chose a spot along Molly's Hedge, with glorious views, where in time he will become a part of the shrubs and trees as they develop, surrounded by birdsong."

They added: "It was a very real and tender experience, acknowledging that these bones had been a living human being, whom we were able to lay to rest in the peace and beauty of the nature reserve."

advertisement

While nothing was known about the body, his origin, or religion, the team felt it was right to name him and settled on the name 'Conroy' which some say means 'wise advisor'.

A slate memorial plaque installed at the grave will read: 'In gratitude for your contribution to medical education'.

"It was standard practice to use genuine human bones in medical studies for hundreds of years," Sun Rising explained. 

"In Britain, the bones are most likely to have come from India and other parts of the former Empire, where criminals, paupers or victims of crime had no family able or willing to step forward and claim the body when the person died. 

"Thankfully, this became illegal in the mid 1980s.

"However, thousands of human skeletons are still in cupboards and attics around the country. 

"When the local doctor felt it was time to let this one go, she was sure that there must be a respectful way of doing so, and approached our local independent funeral directors, R Locke and Son.  

"While an unusual request, Colin Locke felt it was the right route to take and called us at Sun Rising, knowing we would share the same sincerity and compassion. Together, a burial was arranged."

advertisement