Animal wakes and funerals
Posted by Vale When Dorothy the chimp died at the sanctuary in the Cameroons, other members of her troop looked on as she was buried, comforting each other with touches and caresses. Animals don’t just grieve; new studies suggest that they might mark a passing too. Mark Bekoff of Colorado University has written that: I […]
Grief in animals
Posted by Vale The photo shows a swallow grieving for its mate who had been killed in collision with a car. In a series of shots (see them here) we see him first try to feed his mate and then, when he realises that she is dead, seems to cry out. But how can an […]
Good Funeral Awards opening address
The Good Funeral Awards opening ceremony comprised a cavalcade of alternative hearses, a flower arranging contest, a dove release and a performance by the green fuse choir. It culminated in this address by funeral celebrant Belinda Forbes. You had to be there, of course, to get the full 120% because Belinda’s delivery is very compelling. […]
Good Funeral Award 2012 winners
Posted by Charles Good Funeral Award 2012 Winners Most Promising New Funeral Director Bryan and Catherine Powell Poppy Mardall Embalmer of the Year Mark Elliott Julie-Anne Lowe The Eternal Slumber Award for Coffin Supplier of the Year Greenfield Creations Crazy Coffins Ecoffins Most Significant Contribution to the Understanding of Death in the Media (TV, […]
Thoughts of a funeral-goer
Posted by Lyra Mollington I was fascinated to read about the Good Funeral Guide Awards ceremony. What a wonderful idea! To all the finalists: well done and my very best wishes. And if you win one of the awards, try not to look too elated or smug: just a serene acceptance that your brilliance has at […]
Something for the weekend
Posted by Vale I was at a service a little while ago that included this lovely tribute from a wife to a husband: To My Dear Loving Husband – Anne Bradstreet If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were lov’d by wife, then thee. If ever wife was happy in a […]
Quotes of the day
Posted by Vale The book of the week on Radio 4 this week has been the Winter Journal by Paul Auster. I was struck by two quotes from Joseph Joubert included in today’s excerpt. Joubert, who was living in the early 1800s, published nothing in his lifetime but a book of Pensees was culled from […]
When in doubt
Posted by Richard Rawlinson Doubt: a short, meaning-packed, medieval, Anglo-French word (origin douter) which I doubt many foreigners could pronounce if only seen in written form. Adapted as a verb, noun, adjective and adverb (to doubt, a doubt/doubter, doubtable, doubtably) it, of course, means to be uncertain, consider questionable, hesitate to believe. None of us being […]
The Grim Biker’s on the telly
When I was asked if I would permit a crew to film a real biker’s funeral, complete with real mourners I was very cautious and indeed dubious to say the least. Funerals are not there to serve as PR opportunities so I was not keen at all, but while I was with the BBC a […]
A neglected grave
Posted by Richard Rawlinson To Clergy House for a council meeting of the Friends of Westminster Cathedral. It’s the council’s job to organise fundraising events from concerts to barbecues for the upkeep of said cathedral, and to plan the best ways to spend the money raised. There are separate charitable initiatives that support the London homeless […]
