British gravedigger fired over topless photo

Nov. 22 (UPI) -- After the Shepton Mallet Journal published a photo of him happily working with his shirt off, British gravedigger Ray Loxton says that one of his regular employers has stopped contacting him about work.

Loxton, 59, has been digging graves in the Shepton Mallet area for 40 years. He says that Trotman Funeral Directors were calling him regularly until a few weeks ago.

“I hadn’t heard from them for a while so I gave them a call. I was told they are using someone else now,” Loxton said. “I am very hurt. I haven’t had a cross word with them in the last 30 years.”

John Weir from the National Society of Independent Funeral Directors spoke on behalf of Trotman. “Trotmans have taken a commercial decision -- they are reviewing their business practices generally,” he said.

When the picture of Loxton was published back in July, it sparked debate about whether the photo was disrespectful.

[Shepton Mallet Journal]