The sacred role of the embalmer
“In an age when the materialistic threatens to undo the mystical, there is place for him who in that hour of deepest sorrow is able, by his art, his compassion, his wisdom and knowledge, indeed, by his very presence, to minister alike to the body bereft of soul and to those loved ones who need […]
Time the law caught up with the unmarried bereaved?
Joe Wilkins was killed by a car while out cycling. The motorist responsible admitted causing death by dangerous driving. In England, under the terms of the Fatal Accidents Act, a spouse, civil partner or the parents of a minor killed in an accident caused by the negligence of breach of duty of another are eligible […]
Warhol inspires from beyond the grave
Posted by Richard Rawlinson As the big chill looms in the UK, it’s already snowing in Philadelphia. I know this as I’ve stumbled across a Facebook page dedicated to Andy Warhol’s grave in a Pittsburgh cemetery. Here. It seems the page is updated daily with images taken by fans of the pop artist who visit the […]
Happy birthday to you!
Trawling through a stack of local papers of a weary Friday afternoon, the GFG’s gannet-eyed media monitoring team came across some advertorial in the Ipswich Star which gladdened their eyes. It was half a page of advertorial celebrating the first birthday of GM Taylor, Independent Funeral Director. They very much liked its directness and transparency. […]
Graveyard snappers: the finalists
The Memorial Awareness Board has asked us to publicise the following competition and, of course, we are very happy to do that. The Memorial Awareness Board have been hosting a national photo competition. With over 200 great entries the ten shortlisted have been confirmed and their photos are now published on the website. We invite you to have […]
Book Review: R.I.P. Off! By Ken West
RIP Off! is Ken West’s thinly-fictionalised account of his pioneering introduction of natural burial to Carlisle in 1993. It contrasts the enthusiastic reception his invention received in the media and among the public with the fear and loathing it stirred up in local undertakers. They didn’t understand it. They saw it as a threat to their […]
Masses banned at the crem
Posted by Richard Rawlinson Priests have been instructed to stop saying Mass for the dead at crematoriums. They’ve been sent a letter by their bishops saying the order is not rejecting crematoriums but aims to bring people back into churches. Priests will be able to say a short prayer at a crematorium, similar to a […]
‘Selfie’ at Mandela memorial service
Posted by RR Was it okay or beneath their dignity for Obama and Cameron to lean in to a selfie with the leader of Denmark (Kinnock’s daughter-in-law) at the memorial service of Nelson Mandela? Michele comes across best here, IMHO.
Each to their own
Darius, a king of ancient Persia, was intrigued by the variety of cultures he met in his travels. He had found, for example, that the Callatians, who lived in India, ate the bodies of their dead fathers. The Greeks, of course, did not do that – the Greeks practised cremation and regarded the funeral pyre […]
Think globally, act locally
All other things being equal, the manner of the death and the age of a dead person determine the response. Diana, sudden, young = vast outpouring of grief. Mandela, protracted, old = vast outpouring of celebration. They said when it was all over that a factor in the lamentation for Diana was unresolved grief — […]
