What’s for love and what’s for money?
If there’s one thing that really vexes people in the funerals business it’s the question of who gets paid for what – and how much. Take the business of conducting a funeral. In England, when C of E clergy moved their fee up to £160 + travel, lots of people howled. Everyone in England is […]
Are secular rituals too churchy?
Posted by Richard Rawlinson ‘Organising atheists is like herding cats’. Richard Dawkins Every so often, civil celebrants here revive the debate about rituals in secular funerals. Some point out there’s plenty of spirituality already in a unique eulogy and individually-chosen readings and music, and enough symbolism with the procession of the coffin, the lighting of candles, […]
Don’t expect Dignity to solve funeral poverty
Yesterday we let the interns loose on the blog and they impulsively passed on an appeal to readers to write to Mike McCollum of Dignity plc and ask him to do his bit in the fight against funeral poverty. What they conspicuously failed to do was identify a single reason why Mr McCollum and Dignity […]
It’s your line to Mike McCollum
Church Action on Poverty and Quaker Social Action are holding an event which will bring together charities, communities, policy-makers and the funeral industry to seek joint solutions to the growing problem of funeral poverty. They say: “It’s really important that all sides are represented at the event and participate in finding solutions. Unfortunately, Dignity Funerals […]
He’s still at it!
Britain’s most infamous undertaker Richard Sage is awaiting trial at Blackfriars Crown Court on 28 April on a charge of fraud by false representation. He stands accused, among other things, of having posted a series of bogus adverts looking for young people to work with him. It is alleged the adverts asked for a £400 administration […]
Lighten our darkness
Last Friday I met the theatre lighting designer who’s interested in helping undertakers light their chapels of rest more effectively. I shall call him Wayne, for that is his name. 20 years in a senior position with the Royal Shakespeare Company and now freelancing in Europe and beyond. Our venue was the chapel of rest at […]
Keep the red flag flying
Posted by Richard Rawlinson The late Tony Benn and I share in common Bristol City FC, a team in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. Known as the Robins due to their red home strip, I came late to their fan-base as a part-time resident of Clifton, whereas Benn supported the team […]
The Co-op is dying, long live the co-op
“Every private equity company in the country has been in touch to try and buy its funerals operation.” Lord Myners In recent times the Co-op’s reputation has been kept afloat by sentiment fostered by its of-the-people-for-the-people origins, fortified by ‘ethical values’ and holier-than-thou policies on fair trade. Fondness has blinded people who should know […]
Does distance disadvantage the bereaved?
Guest blog post by civil funeral celebrant Wendy Coulton More often the next of kin I work with to plan non-religious funeral ceremonies live in another part of the UK but this week I have had my first experience of discussing and planning arrangements with relatives living on two different continents! Creating trust and an […]
Future funerals: technology to boost personalisation and sustainability
Posted by Richard Rawlinson Five generations living now are neatly labelled as follows: Traditionalists (born 1925-45) Example: great grandparents, born in the mid-1930s. Brought up during WWII, a culture of patriotism and waste-not-want-not. Faith in institutions and a job for life. Strong work ethic and stubbornly independent. Slogan: Keepers of the Grail. Baby boomers (born 1946-64) […]
