Harry Dunn’s ashes scattered on Portland as family say ‘final goodbye’

The 19-year-old motorcyclist has been the subject of an international controversy since he was killed in a road crash in August last year.

His mother Charlotte Charles and father Tim Dunn said they decided to scatter his ashes on Portland, his favourite place, and the family has spent the past few days in Weymouth, where the Dunns used to take their annual family holidays.

• Harry Dunn

July 29, 2019, was the last day the teenager was in his favourite town, and Mrs Charles described Wednesday as “the hardest day we’ve ever had to face in our lives”.

Mrs Charles and Mr Dunn, alongside their partners Bruce and Tracey, met with other extended family members and friends in Weymouth before scattering Harry’s ashes in a private ceremony on Portland.

• A private ceremony took place near Portland Bill  Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA

Mrs Charles said although they were “setting him free”, the “fighting will continue” to get US suspect Anne Sacoolas back to the UK.

Asked before the private ceremony if her son’s funeral provided any closure, Mrs Charles told PA: “No, and we were really numb back then – very much a bunch of zombies, to put it mildly.

“We don’t remember a lot about the first few weeks at all. Obviously we’ve been through so much since then – we’ve been to hell and back on many, many occasions.

“We’re not numb any more, we just hurt all day every day. The hurt is there constantly and it never, ever goes away.

“But now, 11 months on, today is going to be the hardest day we’ve ever had to face in our lives, and I can’t imagine it getting any harder.

“You shouldn’t have to scatter your own child’s ashes.”

 Speaking briefly on behalf of the family afterwards, Mr Dunn said the private ceremony was “beautiful” – adding “there was a lot of crying, it was very special”.

Mrs Charles asked for privacy after the ceremony.

Questioned before scattering his son’s ashes, Mr Dunn told PA: “From a very early age, Tracey and I first came with Harry and Niall to Weymouth on our first family holiday back in 2002, and every year we would come back on the same week.

“It became a tradition, and as we know poor Harry died last year and today is exactly the last day he was here – he came for a night with his friends… so it’s a year to the day since he was last in Weymouth and we’re here to scatter his ashes and let him ride free.”

Mrs Charles added: “We can rest assured that he’s definitely out there riding the skies and going everywhere that he wants to go.

“We’ve found a beautiful spot where we are going to take him and we’re sure that the wind will carry his ashes and the waves will be splashing up on the rocks to help him travel too.

“So we’ll feel like we’ve set him free.”

Commenting on what is next for the family, Mrs Charles said: “Proper closure. Which is to make sure that Anne Sacoolas goes through the UK justice system. That has to happen.

“You and I would have had to have done it – in my view she is no different.

“So we will keep fighting – today is going to be extremely tough, but the determination never wavers, ever.”

Fundraising

Harry’s brother Ciaran Charles, 31, will walk along the coastline to Portland Bill tomorrow to raise money for the British Biker Relief Foundation, a charity Ciaran says has provided ‘incredible support’ to his family. 
He originally set a fundraising target of £500 but this was quickly reached. He now hopes to raise closer to £1,000. 
Speaking to the Dorset Echo, Ciaran said: “Harry came down here every year with his dad to Bowleaze Cove. Portland Bill lighthouse was his favourite spot and he would always take pictures with his bike by the lighthouse so that’s where I’ll finish the walk.”

• Ciaran Charles will walk to Portland Bill in memory of his brother Harry Dunn

Speaking about Wednesday’s ceremony on Portland, Ciaran said: “The funeral was shrouded in the diplomatic immunity controversy. This was a chance to give him a nice proper send off. It was tough but we got through it.”

You can donate to Ciaran's fundraiser here.