If life will imitate art, a vandal may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come for smashing a tombstone that marked the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Police in Shrewsbury in England are investigating how the grave marker, in place for 40 years after being used as a movie prop in "A Christmas Carol,” was destroyed.
The 1984 film, one of dozens of adaptations of the Charles Dickens' classic, starred George C. Scott as the cold-hearted curmudgeon. After going to sleep on Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of past, present and future and shown the error of his ways to become a kinder, more generous person.
The future ghost shows Scrooge what will become of his life if he doesn't change. He’s eventually led to a cemetery where the ghost brushes snow from a gravestone that reveals his name. Scrooge, distraught by all he's seen, vows to turn his life around.
After filming, the stone was kept in place on the grounds of St. Chad’s Church where it had become a tourist attraction — particularly at Christmas.
West Mercia Police said the stone was vandalized sometime between Thursday and Sunday. Photos showed it broken into several pieces.
The appeal adds: “Officers are appealing for witnesses after the gravestone of the famous Charles Dickens’ character, Ebenezer Scrooge, was destroyed in Shrewsbury.
“The vandalism is believed to have happened within the last three days, where the headstone belonging to the fictional character has been broken.”
PC Jono Lightfoot, said: “We are carrying out a number of enquiries to understand what led to the gravestone being destroyed, and we are appealing to the public for their help.
“If you were in the area between Thursday 21 November and yesterday (Sunday 24 November), and witnessed any unusual behaviour, please get in touch as it may help with our enquiries.
“You can contact me by emailing me at jono.lightfoot@westmercia.police.uk quoting incident number 288i of November 24, 2024.”
