Dilemma over memorialising slaughtered innocents
Posted by Richard Rawlinson I wonder how Pope Francis felt about his duty last Sunday. His predecessor, Pope Benedict, announced the canonisation of 800 unknown people just before dropping the bombshell of his resignation. By carrying out Benedict’s decree in St Peter’s Square last weekend, Francis instantly broke the record for the pontiff who has created […]
Chowing down with the antecedents
Debate about attitudes to death, funerals and the commemoration of the dead has largely been colonised by a section of the liberally-educated chattering sector of the middle class. They’re the ones most likely to opinionate about this stuff; they’re the ones who like to think think they can get their heads around it. They are intellectual […]
When Robert was murdered
Posted by Richard Rawlinson There must be something in the air as I’m being uncharacteristically nostalgic about people I’ve known who have died. An early encounter was at prep school, aged 10. My heart sank when my best friend didn’t turn up at the beginning of term, and it wasn’t until assembly the next day that […]
MAB matters
The good people at the Memorial Awareness Board (MAB) have written to tell us all about their latest, very successful excursion. Here is their account: The Memorial Awareness Board (MAB) campaigns for memorials in stone and is the voice for all UK Memorial Masons. Exhibiting for the first time this year at the Who Do You […]
Oscar’s
“Oscar Wilde’s grave vies with that of Jim Morrison as the biggest tourist attraction in this graveyard of the great and good (Balzac, Chopin, Delacroix, Ingres, Molière, Piaf, and the lovers Abélard and Héloïse among others). It is regularly covered in red lipstick kisses and is both a lovers’ rendezvous and a rallying point against […]
Afore ye go
We think you’ll agree with us that RecordMeNow.org is a Very Good Thing. It’s downloadable software that enables you, using the little camera in your computer screen, to record your thoughts about your life, and other things besides, for your children, partner, family, you name it. The creators especially had children in mind, because children […]
Shrine on you crazy diamond
It’s amazing, really, just how terrifically buttoned-up Brits are when it comes to commemorating their dead. Other cultures offer us examples of observances, duties, rituals and practices which can teach us a thing or two. We really ought to take them up on it. One of these is the household shrine. We’ve touched on this before […]
A Giving Tribute For Lasting Memories
ED’S NOTE – Right back when A Giving Tribute was nobbut a concept, we loved the idea. Since those early days its creator, Liz Mowatt, has developed, trimmed and simplified her offer. She has persevered with the sort of grit and tenacity you’ve got to take your hat off to. We asked her for an […]
Merry Christmas, Mum.
Posted by Kitty I braved the crowds this morning to go shopping in Windsor. I bought my mum a Christmas present. All perfectly normal you might be thinking. Except that she died several years ago. As I walked past the Dogs Trust charity stall with its banners inviting people to sponsor a dog, I was suddenly […]
In Memory
Andras Schram, the maker, says: 7 years ago I lost my grand father, I was unable to make it to his funeral as I was travelling. The first moment I had a chance I visited his grave. It was late fall in Hungary and as I looked around I saw how beautiful the light was […]
