Doing them justice
Over on the Mindfulness and Mortality blog, in a discussion about funeral eulogies, Gloriamundi asks a good question: “Why do we seem to feel the need to sum up a life and pass judgement on it?” He goes on: “The torrent of unqualified praise that falls on someone who has just died is an expression […]
Where to be
Dying Matters Awareness Week kicks off next Monday. Over at DeadSocial, James Norris is getting his awareness-raising in early. He’s holding another of his pop-up shops — venue: 69 Camden High Street, London. On Tuesday, there was an art exhibition. Yesterday, the Natural Death Centre did its thing — lots of good stuff […]
Many Flowers in Carshalton (part 2)
Another day in the life of the Vintage Lorry Hearse. Often David Hall, of Vintage Lorry Funerals, is asked what happens if it rains during a funeral. Although under the deck of the 1950 Leyland Beaver there is a slide out drawer with a purpose built translucent sheet, this has been used only once in […]
No-win
“In the UK, the size and number of cremators at a crematorium are selected to enable the ‘duty’ to be accomplished within a normal working day and so the cremator is used for about 8 hours per day and then shut down until the next day. This is not an energy-efficient way of working, and […]
A new choice of funeral venue for bereaved of Plymouth
Devonport’s historic Guildhall is to be offered as a venue for funerals. Built in 1822, the Grade 1 listed building has, over the years, served as a town hall, magistrates court, library and even a mortuary. It is now a community hub which hosts exhibitions, community group activities, events, weddings and conferences. The initiative has been […]
Go figure
The many lessons to be learned from Mortonhall
The report into the Mortonhall ashes scandal was released yesterday. To refresh your memory: from 1967 until 2011 parents of babies who had died antenatally or perinatally in Edinburgh were informed, on the authority of Mortonhall crematorium, that there would be no ashes after cremation. All the while (since 1934, actually) two privately-owned Edinburgh crematoria, Seafield and Wariston, […]
Say hello to the new normal
Bastards. That’s what we used to call them. Next, illegitimate. We don’t call children born out of wedlock anything any more because we don’t feel we need to make a distinction. Britain would be awash with bastards today if we still used the word because 4 out of 10 children are raised by unmarried parents. Happily the […]
In court today, the talented Mr Sage
At Blackfriars Crown Court today: Anyone there? All reports welcome.
The NFFD clarifies its position
NOTE: Views or opinions presented in this blog post are those of the NFFD and should not be construed as being the views or opinions of the GFG. What follows is a response to comments made on this blog post. We would like to extend our gratitude to all commentators for showing such a keen interest in […]
