Bring on the best
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 the funeral profession. NFDA’s Pursuit […]
Looking out for your own
Bradford undertaker David Birch, who died last weekend aged 74, will be borne into church by six undertakers at his funeral tomorrow. It’s a touching tribute to a man who was described as a ‘perfectionist’. The Bradford Telegraph and Argus adds: Although Mr Birch had retired in his sixties, he never let go of the […]
The eleventh commandment is ‘don’t get caught’
Posted by Richard Rawlinson What a time it’s been for the funeral industry on the tellybox. Apologies made and inquiries launched by Co-operative Funeralcare after Channel 4’s Dispatches: Undercover Undertakers. Ditto by Funeral Services Partnership-owned Gillman Funeral Service after ITV’s Exposure: The British Way of Death. These spy camera investigations of sneaky sales practices and disrespect […]
Dead Good Culture?
Posted by Simon Smith What is affecting practices in the funeral industry and how can we improve them? There has been a deluge of bad publicity for the funeral industry in recent weeks with the two programmes, Dispatches on Channel 4 and Exposure on ITV1. This was at least partly offset by the positive view […]
Is it fair to portray our funeral industry in this way?
“That Funeral Director on your local High Street that looks like a trustworthy and caring family run business probably isn’t…this is an unregulated world in desperate need of reform.” Fair comment? You can read the ITV news http://www.honeytraveler.com/buy-propecia/account of the programme here. All responses welcome — we practise no censorship here. Please do not make […]
Rum do in the valleys
A burglar is engaged in his work of ransacking a chapel wherein lies a dead person awaiting their funeral. He is disturbed, mid-rampage, by the arrival of the undertaker coming to get everything ready for the service. The burglar, panicked, attempts to climb into the coffin… What happens next? Read the unlikely, unsavoury and true […]
Know your foe
Overheard at the Joy of Death convention: “I wish all these conventional funeral directors weren’t here, I think this event should only be for progressives.” My heart sank. We don’t need another postcode gang in Funeralworld. It’s beginning to feel like Peckham. Name-calling, in-fighting, backstabbing. Somebody ought to do something about it. And scapegoating. There are […]
Low cost is the price of low value
Barnet funeral experts are unsurprised by news that London is the most expensive place in the country to die. Emma Sargant, Director of Churchills Family Funeral Directors in East Barnet Road said: “I haven’t put my prices up since 2008.” However, Barry Broad of Brooks Funerals in Church Hill Road said there are options for […]
You, the good news and Channel 5
We are pleased to pass on to you this appeal from a TV production company making a good-news documentary for Channel 5. We’ve spoken to them at length and like them. If you have created a really special funeral, or are a funeral director or a celebrant who has collaborated, or is currently collaborating, with […]
Reports reach us that Britain’s first-ever charitable funeral director, Norfolk Funerals, has failed to display vital signs for some time; the premises have a Marie Celeste air; the phone goes straight to answer machine. We looked at Norfolk Funerals in May of this year. Does anyone know what’s happened?
