London’s finest independent funeral directors
Posted by Richard Rawlinson I’m posed with a dilemma here, a choice between topicality or taste. Oh, publish and be damned. Forgive the timing in this, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year, to raise the subject of Her Majesty’s official undertakers, Leverton & Sons, a 200-year-old family firm of funeral directors that has served London for […]
A bird’s-eye view: Jack’s funeral
Posted by Juno Gatsby Jack’s granddaughter called me and asked if I could recommend a venue for his funeral service. His family knew he didn’t want his last journey to be in a church or crematorium. He would be laid to rest in their local cemetery after his farewell ceremony. We talked about hotels and […]
Undertakers — what are they really like?
“In numberless instances the interment of the dead is in the hands of miscreants, whom it is almost flattery to compare to the vulture, or the foulest carrion bird.” Writer in Leisure Hour, 1862
Top tips for funeral shoppers
Josh Slocum, Executive Director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance in the USA, is a major hero to all who toil at the GFG-Batesville Tower. Here he is talking on the telly about funeral pricing and home funerals. It’s interesting to note the similarities with the British funeral industry, in particular consumers’ disapproval of the marking […]
They fit into a spread hand, yet reach into eternity
Posted by Rupert Callender, owner of The Green Funeral Company. As human beings, we look for meaning everywhere, superimposing it over everything that comes into our lives. The Australian aborigines believe that the world was vocalised into existence, literally sung into creation, and that the song needs to be continued so that reality can flourish. […]
Image management
The Undertaker This is for the Undertaker Who’s story is sad to tell, For what he does is never mentioned, And often overlooked as well. He’s not at all what you might picture, He’s not wrinkled, old and grey, His face is not pasty white, Like storybooks portray. Some people laugh and make their jokes, […]
Plus ça change…
“It is curious that long association with the sadness of death seems to have deprived an occasional funeral director of all sense of moderation. Whether the temptation of “good business” gradually undermines his character—knowing as he does that bereaved families ask no questions—or whether his profession is merely devoid of taste, he will, if not checked, […]
Wrong coffin with a twist
Here’s an extraordinary thing. A funeral director brings the wrong coffin to the crematorium. The crematorium staff spot that it’s the wrong coffin on arrival, and inform the funeral director. So far, so banal. What happens next? The service goes ahead with the wrong coffin. At the conclusion thereof the coffin is not burnt but, […]
Got something to say?
Have you recently lost a loved one? How was the funeral? Did it go well as could be expected or were there problems you felt you shouldn’t have had to deal with? I’m a journalist working for a small independent television production company. We are currently looking into funerals and we want to hear about […]
Let’s make the case for funerals
Guest post by Rupert Callender, owner of The Green Funeral Company. Often this blog can trot nicely along with the usual suspects commenting dryly from the sidelines, a good natured conversation amongst friends. It’s easy to forget it has a wide, international readership, easy that is, until a seemingly innocuous post unleashes a Bay of […]
