Making an impression
From Wikipedia: Franz Reichelt, also known as Frantz Reichelt or François Reichelt (1879 – February 4, 1912), was an Austrian-born French tailor, inventor and parachuting pioneer, now sometimes referred to as the Flying Tailor, who is remembered for his accidental death by jumping from the Eiffel Tower while testing a wearable parachute of his own design. Reichelt had become fixated on developing a suit for aviators that […]
RIP Waldo
A special funeral was held at Joint Base Charleston. It wasn’t for an airman but instead for a member of the base’s security team. There wasn’t a 21-gun salute but instead just three guns fired three times. Heart-felt salutes were offered by members of the base andTaps was played. Even the howl of a fellow comrade […]
These rituals are for us all to re-imagine
Extracts from the speech delivered by Ru Callender at the launch of the 5th edition of the Natural Death Handbook at the Horse Hospital, London, 4 July. In the west, the idea of celebrating our ancestors has weakened along with our religious beliefs. We are less sure of our place in the natural order, less sure […]
Thoughts of a funeral-goer
By Lyra Mollington On Sunday I woke up feeling out of sorts and very parched. With this humid and unsettled weather, viruses will be having a field day. In these situations, I find the best course of action is complete rest and lots of green tea (Yutaka Midori – ordered online from Japan). I stayed in […]
Final lap for Luke
The Rev Paul Sinclair takes Luke Leary for a last spin at Brands Hatch, at speed, before Luke’s funeral. Luke, 24, was killed in an accident. According to KentOnline: Around 50 machines and at least the same number of cars lined up at the entrance to Brands Hatch as 24-year-old Luke Leary’s coffin was brought […]
You know my methods, Watson.
David Holmes, funeral director to the discerning folk of Surrey, recently got into a waterfight with the water board. Click on the photo to bring it up to full size.
Briefest of Lives
Here is the entire brief life of Dr Richard Stokes: Scholar to Sir William Oughtred for Mathematiques (Algebra). Made himself mad with it, but became sober again, but I feare like a crackt glasse. Became Roman Catholique. Married unhappily at Liège, dog and catt, etc. Became a sotte. Dyed in Newgate, prisoner for debt, April […]
RIP Eric Sykes
“For me there’s a daffodil in every dustbin.” Eric Sykes, who died today.
The Undertaker
The midnight hour, the darkest hour That human grief may know, Sends forth it’s hurried summons- Ask me to come—I go! I know not when the bell may toll, I know not where the blow may fall, I only know that I must go In answer to the call. Perhaps a friend—perhaps unknown- ‘Tis fate […]
What the faith?
Posted by Reverend Noel Lockyer-Stevens, One Spirit Interfaith Minister Ed’s note: Noel is writing in response to Richard Rawlinson’s challenging post here. The undertaking of a funeral service is for me one of the most privileged roles I undertake within my ministry in Dorset. I am sure that every minister, ordinand and priest feels the […]
