Don’t miss this!
Brighton looks like the place to be for anyone with half an interest in funeralworld this May – GFG favourite Liz Rothschild is performing her one-woman show Outside The Box at the Brighton Fringe Festival from May 14th – 17th. Billed as ‘A live show about death’, Outside The Box is a spoken word performance of […]
Elephant in the Room event success
Posted by Wendy Coulton The elephant had well and truly left the room when the first event of its kind about dying matters was held in Plymouth to challenge the taboo which comes with the D word. A positive unexpected outcome came from bringing together likeminded people under one roof which has now planted the seed […]
The last word in bucket lists
It was nice to have Ann Treneman write for us last week about the vital importance of specifying where you want your dust or ash to repose. But I’m afraid I’ve got a big problem with her book, Finding the Plot: 100 Graves to Visit Before You Die. Dang it, you pick it up for a gentle browse and […]
Funerals for peace?
Posted by Vale Why don’t we want to fight any more? After centuries of sending out the gunboats, the bombers or the troopships, with a wave, a cheery heart and perhaps a chorus of ‘Goodbyee’ suddenly we are not so keen. Britain’s reputation is at stake. Has the British bulldog turned into a lapdog? The […]
What would you like to see on your TV?
When media people phone the press office here at the GFG-Batesville Shard, their requests for information often conform to whatever they suppose to be trending. “We’re doing something on living funerals. Are these catching on?” “No.” “We’re doing a documentary about the dying process and we want to film someone actually dying. Can you help […]
ITV Exposure Responses FPL & NAFD
The following statement was read out after the Exposure programme 24.10.2012 ‘Last month in ‘The British Way of Death’ Exposure went under cover in the funeral industry at Funeral Partners Limited revealing racism and disrespect of bodies and the bereaved. FPL who own the branches in Slough and Tooting, where we’d been filming, have apologised, five people have been […]
Buried in a ‘Wasp Rockery’
Posted by Vale Gore Vidal died at the end of July aged 86. Although he would have wanted to be remembered as a writer and thinker, he was perhaps better known as a raconteur and wit with a vicious line in put downs. He had a long feud with writer Norman Mailer and once goaded […]
In jest?
Lockwood woman’s colourful funeral request – including a jester to walk in front of hearse Funeral director Debbie Ingham dressed as a jester at the funeral of Margaret Harper IT WAS a fitting end to a colourful life. Lockwood grandmother Margaret Harper had only one dying wish – that no-one wore black to her funeral. […]
All in a state funeral
Posted by Vale When is a state funeral not a state funeral? Back in 2008 there was speculation in the press about plans for a state funeral honouring the life and achievements of Lady Thatcher. The rumours were denied at the time but have never gone away or stopped being controversial. Look at the reactions […]
Drive thru’ funeral
Posted by Vale They’ve been operating in Los Angeles (where else?) since 1974. Lately though they’ve become especially popular with local gangs – many of whom are killed in drive by shootings and who feel safer behind the bullet proof glass. Found on the web here.
