The GFG Blog
2014Jul
A greener way to embalm?
Charles
Jul
09
No Comments
Guest post by Hatty Stafford Charles of Naturensbalm Embalming is used in a number of circumstances and for a variety of reasons. If the body is to be viewed before or during the funeral, embalming will sometimes be necessary. If the person has died after an accident or debilitating illness,
Responsibility for your own conduct
Charles
Jul
08
2 comments
By celebrant Wendy Coulton of Dragonfly FuneralsThe Plymouth Herald ran a story recently about a family complaint that the funeral service for their relative was disrupted by the loud and distracting sound of laughter and conversation outside by a large number of people waiting to attend the next funeral. They included senior
Statement by the FBCA
Charles
Jul
08
No Comments
The Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities has received much criticism on this blog in the past week. I have received an assurance from the FCBA Secretary that a response will be forthcoming.
Tradesmen and their tools – another adventure in the life of the vintage lorry hearse
Charles
Jul
07
2 comments
Posted by David Hall Whilst initially many people using Vintage Lorry Funerals were former Lorry Drivers, the recent business expansion has involved individuals from across the whole spectrum of employment and social backgrounds. In fact Lorry Drivers only account for 40% of the current profile, which includes Tradesmen and their Tools.
Crem says no
Charles
Jul
04
4 comments
Up at Sunderland crem there’s a book where you can write little messages to whoever you’ve come to visit. Isn’t that great? Linda Johnson has been popping in and writing little messages to her mum for the last eight years — and to her dad since Christmas. As she says,
About time too?
Charles
Jul
04
No Comments
Lord Bonomy’s exasperation with the NHS, cremation authorities and funeral directors, whose ill-informed advice and guidance led so many thousands of parents of babies who had died to suppose that there would be no ashes after cremation, caused him to recommend the establishment of an inspectorate of crematoria: Scottish Ministers should appoint an
Tim Morris of the ICCM on the baby ashes scandal
Charles
Jul
03
No Comments
We are pleased this morning to publish the responses of Tim Morris, Chief Executive of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management to four questions we emailed him last weekend concerning the recommendations of the Bonomy Report which was set up in the aftermath of the Mortonhall Investigation Report. We are extremely
All that remains
Charles
Jul
01
No Comments
There is no legal definition of ashes. Perhaps you prefer to call them ‘cremated remains’. Or ‘tangible remains’. Or even ‘total recoverable remains’. Selecting just one term and assigning an exact definition to it was one of the jobs Lord Bonomy set himself in his report. The fact that there
2014Jun
Baby ashes scandal: responses to Bonomy
Charles
Jun
30
No Comments
The Bonomy report lays bare the reasons why some crematoria have been able and willing to recover ashes from infant cremations and others haven’t. Given the enduring and agonising distress and uncertainty this has caused to an uncountable number of parents, it can only be a matter of time before the
The science of what works
Charles
Jun
28
1 comment
We’re the last people to gloat over the mortal remains of the Funeral Business Innovation Show, slated to happen at Olympia in November this year. The organisers recently wrote to those who signed up to it: The event was designed to benefit the funeral industry in a big way, at
