The GFG Blog
2012Oct
Tattoo – A friend in death?
Charles
Oct
23
No Comments
The Rise of the Maori Tribal Tattoo By Ngahuia Te Awekotuku University of Waikato, New Zealand Body adornment – swirling curves of black on shoulders, thighs, lower back, arms, upper feet, rear calves – has become an opportunity for storytelling as well. Some symbols represent children born, targets reached, places
Dunnarunna
Charles
Oct
19
9 comments
Special communiqué from the Guvnor of the GFG, Sir Basil Batesville-Casket KBE, CDM, RLSS (Bronze) Blog Ed has up and hopped it to the coast for what he tells us is a well-deserved break. We’ll be the judge of that. There won’t be a job for him when he gets
Death is a thank you
Charles
Oct
19
2 comments
From the New Zealand Herald: Greytown’s Mary Wait likes to be prepared for her adventures – death included. The 85-year-old has hand-painted her own coffin. Mary bought the coffin from a funeral director and painted it in 1994, although she was not expecting to die any time soon. “I think a
No smoke without…
Charles
Oct
19
3 comments
Hastings District Council has closed the chapel at the crematorium due to concerns over its earthquake strength. More here In Germany, a van carrying 12 coffins to a crematorium was stolen while the drivers enjoyed a comfort break. Here.
The kindness of strangers, UK vs US
Charles
Oct
19
5 comments
Alexandra Frean is The Times’ bureau chief in Washington. She is British. When her husband died suddenly, one of my first thoughts was: “We’re all alone in a strange place.” But I was wrong. We were not alone. News of our plight spread around our neighbourhood within hours because the
Gamble on the future
Charles
Oct
19
1 comment
The GFG sends its congratulations and very best wishes to Stroud funeral director Michael Gamble, his wife Clare and all of the team as they prepare for tomorrow’s ceremonial opening of their lovely new funeral home. There to do the honours and snip the tape will be… our own Richard
Call it quits
Charles
Oct
19
18 comments
From the Oxford Times: The former owner of Oxford’s last independent funeral directors has spoken of the difficult decision she made in selling the business. S & R Childs, which has four branches in the city, is now part of Dignity, the UK’s biggest provider of funeral services. Sandra Homewood
Thoughts of a funeral-goer
Charles
Oct
19
2 comments
Posted by Lyra Mollington After last week’s trials and tribulations, I was looking forward to a week of rest and reflection. Mr M suggested a short break. Unfortunately, at our age, the stress of packing and travelling cancels out any benefits of getting away from it all. In any case,
Outraged tweet
Charles
Oct
18
10 comments
Michael Sadgrove (@Sadgrovem) 18/10/2012 18:38 At funeral undertakers push coffin in & out of Cathedral in procession on a trolley. Don’t deceased deserve dignity of pallbearers any more? Michael Sadgrove is the Dean of Durham Cathedral. Hat-tip: Tony Piper
Bring on the best
Charles
Oct
18
No Comments
The US version of the NAFD is the NFDA. The NFDA has a Pursuit of Excellence Program. Here’s what they say about it: Pursuit of Excellence is the premiere recognition program for funeral service, setting standards of excellence that motivate funeral home staff, inspire innovation and sustain consumer confidence in
