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| Elephant Man's mother gets headstone in Leicester | Elephant Man's mother gets headstone in Leicester |
| (12 days later) | |
| A new memorial headstone has been unveiled on the Leicester grave of the mother of Joseph Merrick, who became known as the Elephant Man. | A new memorial headstone has been unveiled on the Leicester grave of the mother of Joseph Merrick, who became known as the Elephant Man. |
| The family of Mary Jane Merrick were unable to afford a headstone when she died in 1873. | The family of Mary Jane Merrick were unable to afford a headstone when she died in 1873. |
| A group dedicated to keeping her son's memory alive organised the event at Welford Road Cemetery. | A group dedicated to keeping her son's memory alive organised the event at Welford Road Cemetery. |
| Joseph Merrick died in 1890 at the age of 27. His name has also been inscribed on the gravestone. | Joseph Merrick died in 1890 at the age of 27. His name has also been inscribed on the gravestone. |
| Merrick, who suffered from a rare bone disorder, spent four years at a Leicester workhouse before he persuaded a showman to exhibit him. | Merrick, who suffered from a rare bone disorder, spent four years at a Leicester workhouse before he persuaded a showman to exhibit him. |
| He was dubbed the Elephant Man before being rescued by London surgeon Frederick Treves. | He was dubbed the Elephant Man before being rescued by London surgeon Frederick Treves. |
| Merrick's bones are stored at the Royal London Hospital, in Whitechapel - Queen Mary University of London's medical school. | |
| Jeanette Sitton, founder of the Friends of Joseph Merrick, said: "This gravestone will finally allow floral tributes to be laid in a cemetery, in his name, on his mother's grave." | Jeanette Sitton, founder of the Friends of Joseph Merrick, said: "This gravestone will finally allow floral tributes to be laid in a cemetery, in his name, on his mother's grave." |
| The group says it is committed to educating people across the world about Merrick's life and legacy of courage, to increase tolerance of people with disabilities. | The group says it is committed to educating people across the world about Merrick's life and legacy of courage, to increase tolerance of people with disabilities. |