Armstrongs Independent Funeral Service

Halifax: the Titanic's undertaker

2012-01-12T13:40:00.002Z

Next April the Nova Scotia town will mark the centenary of its role in retrieving and burying the ship’s passengers,

During the 9/11 emergency, many flights scheduled to land at airports in the northern United States were diverted to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the eastern seaboard of Canada. For the people of Halifax this was a strange echo of the disaster that took place in the chill wastes of the North Atlantic 100 years ago next April 15: the sinking of the “unsinkable” passenger liner RMS Titanic with the loss of more than 1,500 lives.

The Titanic disaster, like 9/11, was an event that defined an epoch, and each April Halifax remembers the moment when it was dragged into the spotlight of history. Next year is the most significant anniversary of all, the centenary, and this proud maritime city is gearing up for a series of commemorations.

The role Halifax played in the Titanic story is little known on this side of the Atlantic. Yet it was a crucial one. Halifax was the Titanic’s coroner, undertaker and mourner. It gathered, identified and buried the bodies, and it did so with great diligence and respect. The poignant tales of love and loss uncovered in the process ensure that the sinking is remembered not just as a historic event but as a human tragedy on a colossal scale.

After Titanic clattered an iceberg at 11.40pm on April 14 1912 and sank at 2.20am on April 15, more than 1,500 (exact numbers are disputed) passengers and crew perished in the icy waters. The 700-plus survivors, crammed in lifeboats or clinging to wreckage, were picked up by RMS Carpathia and taken to New York. Behind them, in a seascape dotted with icebergs, they left a swirl of flotsam and human remains.

The task of dealing with this watery grave fell to the nearest major port, Halifax, 700 miles to the west. Titanic’s owner, the White Star Line, chartered several “cable ships” – usually used to repair transatlantic telegraph cables – to retrieve the dead. Theirs was a task grimmer than any ship’s in a horror story.

Loaded with coffins, ice, embalming fluid and body bags, these “death ships” recovered 328 bodies, of which 119 were buried at sea. “As far as the eye can see, the ocean was strewn with wreckage and debris,” a crewman recalled. “Bodies [were] bobbing up and down in the cold sea.”

As the ships and their grisly cargo returned to Halifax the city went into mourning. Black bunting was hung. Church bells tolled. Dotted across the city, sites associated with the tragedy can still be visited.

The Mayflower curling rink on Agricola Street, now an army-and-navy surplus store, served as a makeshift morgue, though the wealthiest victims, such as the American industrialist John Jacob Astor, received preferential treatment even in death: they were taken to the more salubrious surroundings of Snow’s funeral home on Argyle Street.

The original building is now incorporated into one of Halifax’s most popular restaurants, Five Fishermen, which buzzed with life on the Saturday evening I ate there (for an instantly sobering experience, ask to see the old coffin hoists still visible in the wine store). Opposite the former undertakers is St Paul’s, one of several churches where memorial and funeral services were held.

The bodies of 59 of the victims were reclaimed by their families. The remaining 150, from members of Titanic’s orchestra to coal stokers, were buried in three cemeteries in the city: Fairview, Mount Olivet and Baron de Hirsch. In Fairview, on an appropriately sombre Sunday morning of sheeting rain, I looked for the grave belonging to the great uncle of a friend, but I looked in vain as it turned out. The remains of 19-year-old Charles Davies, of the New Forest, were never found. He may lie still in the ocean, or beneath one of the 44 granite grave markers that say simply “Died April 15, 1912”, followed by a number (corresponding to the order in which the bodies were recovered).

A section of the Maritime Museum, on Halifax Waterfront, is a permanent memorial to Titanic. Exhibits include a piece of the life jacket reported to have been worn by John Jacob Astor, wood panelling from the first-class lounge, and a deckchair. This recliner is a metaphor in mahogany, for the notion of rearranging it and its phantom fellows has become an enduring emblem of futility.

The exhibition also confronts the uncomfortable truth that Titanic was a floating microcosm of the Edwardian class system, that “Despite the myth of 'women and children first [into the lifeboats]’ the survival rate for First Class men was higher than for Third Class children.”

It’s imagining the plight of these third-class children and their families, many of them forgotten and unable to reach the lifeboats, that brings it all home. The most poignant exhibit is a pair of baby’s shoes that belonged to “Body no 4”, a little boy whose identity has been the subject of much speculation down the years.

He was buried in Fairview Cemetery under a headstone inscribed “Erected to the memory of an unknown child whose remains were recovered after the disaster of the 'Titanic’…” Recent DNA tests have established that he was in fact 19-month-old Sidney Leslie Goodwin of Melksham, Wiltshire, whose parents and five siblings, all third-class passengers, also drowned.

But in a sense his identity doesn’t matter. Unknown Child, at the base of whose grave someone had left two fluffy toys and a dummy when I visited, stands not just for all the children who died on the Titanic, but for the death of innocence.

Woolly coffin sales have increased, says Pudsey firm

2011-10-07T15:00:00.000+01:00

A West Yorkshire textile company which makes woollen coffins said it has seen a marked increase in sales.

Pudsey-based family firm Hainsworth said sales had risen from 35 a month in April to 75 in August.

Adam Hainsworth, a director at the firm, said: "There's a market for alternative coffins and funeral directors are now more open to them."

The biodegradable fleecy coffins are now exported to America, Australia and Europe.

The firm said it saw a 29% increase in August after their range of woollen coffins were included in a brochure by a national chain of funeral directors in July.

Mr Hainsworth said: "People who've seen them like the look of them. Not only are they aesthetically nice to look at but they're also green."

Royal request

He said sales were now averaging between 70 and 80 coffins a month compared with 20 sales in 2009, when it first launched.

The coffins are made from British sheep's wool and recycled cardboard.

Prince Charles recently asked for the woollen coffins to be exhibited at an event in London promoting sustainable living.

In a speech, the prince who started a wool campaign earlier this year, said: "I was particularly insistent that the people who make woollen coffins were there."

A manufacturer of uniforms and textiles for the emergency services and the military for more than 200 years, Hainsworth drew inspiration from 17th century burial methods for their woollen coffins.

The 1667 Burial in Wool Act said the dead, except plague victims, should be buried in English woollen shrouds.

Burial of man hanged in Bristol in 1821 to take place

2011-04-13T12:27:00.001+01:00

A man who was hanged for murder in Bristol 190 years ago is due to be given a proper burial later.

John Horwood was sentenced to death in 1821, but because his body was used for dissection classes at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, he was never buried.

His skeleton has remained in a cupboard at the University of Bristol.

Mary Halliwell, from Leigh in Greater Manchester, was researching her family tree when she discovered she was related to Horwood.
'Disregardable and disposable'

He was the brother of Mrs Halliwell's great-great-great grandfather and lived in the village of Hanham near Bristol.

She discovered Horwood's skeleton was in a cupboard at the university, covered in cobwebs, with a rope around its neck.

"We did some more research and found a surgeon at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, Dr Richard Smith, had skinned the body, preserved and tanned it, before using it to bind all the papers referring to the case," Mrs Halliwell said.

The book, known as the Horwood Papers, is currently held by the Bristol Record Office.

Mrs Halliwell said she was saddened that while the "book of skin" was treasured by the city his remains were "disregarded and disposable".
John Horwood John Horwood's remains will be buried in the village where he lived

She contacted Hanham-based funeral director EC Alderwick which said it would help organise a proper burial for his remains.

Horwood was sentenced to death for the murder of Eliza Balsom, who also lived in the village.

Funeral director Austin Williams said Horwood's remains would be buried as part of a Christian service in a family grave alongside his father Thomas Horwood.

The funeral service is due to take place at Christ Church, Hanham, near Bristol, at 1230 BST.

Mr Williams said the burial would take place an hour later at 1330 BST, exactly 190 years to the hour when Horwood was hanged.

Venezuela's Carlos Andres Perez burial limbo continues

2011-01-27T13:10:00.000Z

The body of the former Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez will remain in a Miami funeral home until a trial in March to decide where he should be buried, a judge has ruled.

The body of Mr Perez is the subject of a legal stand-off between the two main women in his life.

His estranged widow wants to bring him back to Venezuela for burial.

But his long-term mistress insists he wanted to be buried in Florida, his home for more than a decade.

Lawyers for the two families have now agreed that his body will stay in a refrigerated unit in the funeral home until the legal stand-off is resolved, with the cost shared between them.

Mr Perez died of a heart attack in Miami on 25 December, at the age of 88.

The family feud erupted soon after his death.

Mr Perez's long-term partner Cecilia Perez Matos and their two daughters say he had made clear he did not want to be buried in Venezuela as long as President Hugo Chavez was in power.

But Mr Perez's estranged wife, Blanca Perez Rodriguez, whom he never divorced, insists she has a legal right to bring his body back to Venezuela. She and her children filed a suit to stop his burial in Florida.

Rocky presidency

Mr Perez served as president of Venezuela between 1974 and 1979, and again between 1989 and 1993.

His second term was marred by allegations of corruption. After standing down, he was sentenced to 28 months in prison for misappropriation of public funds.

He spent the first few months in a jail in Caracas, but was allowed to serve the rest of his term under house arrest.

He survived two coup attempts in 1992, the first of which was led by Mr Chavez, who was then a young army lieutenant colonel.

Based in Miami, Mr Perez fought extradition demands by the current Venezuelan government over his role in the suppression of riots in 1989, when hundreds of people were shot by the army.

Dog's presence at funeral home a surprise to some and a comfort to most

2011-01-26T10:34:00.000Z

Terry Palmer remembers it well -- the moment that validated his decision to allow, of all things, a dog into his funeral home.

Palmer was making funeral arrangements for a family, and when one of the family members started to cry, the dog walked over to the woman and gently laid its head in her lap.

In that moment, Wilson, a therapy dog in training, offered the sort of solace only an animal could provide, Palmer said.

That's why the yellow Labrador retriever has been a fixture at Fawcett, Oliver, Glass and Palmer Funeral Home since his arrival this past September.

"He adds an extra dimension to what we do," Palmer said. "We notice that families are more relaxed with him around."

Palmer said it's important for a funeral home to feel like a home, not a mortuary, and Wilson helps accomplish that.

During visitations, he joins Palmer at the door where mourners appreciate his understated greetings.

"He doesn't rush to approach people, and I think they like that," Palmer said.

And yet, it's not uncommon to find kids tugging on Wilson's fur or grown men, dressed in suits, sitting on the floor and petting him.

"We tell them (families) we have a therapy dog in training and ask if it's alright. We have not had a single family say 'no,'" said Kim Palmer, Terry's daughter-in-law and Wilson's main handler.

"We've received several 'thank you' letters that specifically mentioned him," said Jon Palmer, Kim's husband.

Terry Palmer said the three of them first discussed the idea of introducing a dog into the funeral home environment a couple years ago.

"The kids took it and really ran with it," he said.

Jon and Kim Palmer were recent mortuary school graduates last fall when they first saw Wilson at the Ross County Humane Society and Animal Shelter.

"It was by chance that we ran across him, and he just had that look," Kim said.

"He came to work the very next day," Jon said. "He's been here pretty much every day since."

Like so many rescue dogs, Wilson was underweight and skittish when the Palmers adopted him. A previous owner had neglected him and left him to fend for himself in the outdoors, they said.

Thanks to a steady diet, liberal doses of affection and some obedience training, Wilson still is a little skittish, "but he's coming out of his shell," Kim said.

Wilson is docile when he needs to be, but he hasn't abandoned his canine tendencies. He occasionally chases his tail and likes to get wound up before crashing for a nap.

"He has a job, but it's very important for him to be a dog," Kim said.

A convention... for fans of undertakers?

2011-01-24T14:52:00.001Z

BOURNEMOUTH is set to host the first ever convention dedicated to cult US television show Six Feet Under, which was set around a family-owned funeral business in California.

Organiser Brian Jenner hopes fellow fans will seize the opportunity to spend a weekend in the resort next August, and hear talks from an embalmer, an undertaker, academics, writers and former Daily Telegraph obituaries editor Andrew McKie.

He plans to offer them the chance to picnic in the “stunningly beautiful” Wimborne Road cemetery, sit in a hearse, watch a screening of the film Harold and Maude, and take part in sessions to discuss their favourite characters and episodes.

Although planning is in the very early stages, he also hopes to persuade some of the cast members and others involved with the programme to turn up.

HBO series Six Feet Under was created and produced by Alan Ball, who also wrote the 1999 Oscar-winning movie American Beauty and created the more recent TV hit True Blood.

Its 63 episodes – each starting with a death – revolved around the dysfunctional Fisher family and screened in the USA between 2001 and 2005. The stellar cast included James Cromwell, Rachel Griffiths, Mena Suvari, Patricia Clarkson and Kathy Bates.

Writer Mr Jenner said the programme had nearly half a million fans on Facebook, and some were already expressing interest in attending the convention.

“I was at school with Sam Mendes, director of American Beauty, which was Alan Ball’s first big hit. The fact that Alan Ball has written to me and wished me good luck I feel is an endorsement. The next step is to write to all the key members of the cast.”

Tickets are not due to go on sale until March.

Pioneering coffin cart unveiled.

2011-01-18T12:49:00.006Z

A supplier of environmentally friendly funeral items is using the National Funeral Exhibition in June to showcase two of its latest products, one of which is new to the UK market.

Fine Timber Products, which is based on the border of Shropshire and Worcestershire, will be unveiling its pioneering coffin cart at the funeral service exhibition (stand C2A), as well as a water hyacinth and cane coffin which is a new addition to the firm’s portfolio.

Owner of FTP, James Meynell, said: “I can not think of a more appropriate event at which to display these products to the trade than at the NFE, though we will also be exhibiting our core range of seagrass, wicker and bamboo coffins.

“I am sure that the coffin cart, which is made of wicker and soft wood, will raise a few eyebrows but only because they are new to this country – I am pretty confident that there will be a positive reaction.

“I introduced the cart to our product list because there is often quite a distance for coffins to travel on these sites, and the carts are light, easy to manoeuvre and surprisingly robust.

“This is important because they will need to stand up well to the terrain of natural burial, which is where I see them being particularly useful. I personally like their appearance and I think they would blend in extremely well at both green and traditional funerals.”

FTP is also introducing oval examples of the water hyacinth and cane coffins to its existing range and Mr Meynell is confident that they will prove extremely popular.

“ They are certainly visually pleasing and robust, but perhaps more importantly their harvest actually aids the environment,” he said.

“We are procuring them from China where water hyacinth has to be controlled or it potentially clogs up lakes and waterways, blocking out sunlight which is vital for plants and starving the water of oxygen. Furthermore it grows like a weed and therefore it replenishes extremely easily.”

The ultimate hearse?

2011-01-18T12:40:00.002Z

It’s been around a little while now, but I finally got a photo of the Maserati hearse from Intercar at Funexpo. The late Polish President Lech Kaczynski took his final journey in one, and for £250,000!!!!!!! I'll have two please.

We are back!!!

2011-01-13T16:11:00.004Z

Sorry for lack of posts. I've been busy with other projects to help the cause of the independents!

This is interesting.

but.....we are ok in Suffolk!

2010-01-08T17:03:00.002Z

for now anyway!!!

Big freeze puts burials on hold - Portsmouth News

2010-01-08T17:00:00.002Z

Burials in Fareham have been cancelled this week because the ground is too hard to dig a grave.

Funerals at all 11 cemeteries run by Fareham Borough Council have been postponed because the ground has frozen solid in parts, including Roman Grove Cemetery in Portchester, pictured.

A review will be taken on Monday to see whether next week's burials will take place. Some cemeteries, like Anns Hill Cemetery in Gosport, were also shut yesterday because cemetery managers were worried about people slipping and hurting themselves on gravestones.

Most funeral directors have been unaffected as more families opt for cremations. But Coghlan funeral directors in Fareham have had to cancel two burials, one yesterday and one today, because of the freezing conditions.

Funeral director Geoff Collins said: 'We've had to cancel because the ground is so frozen you can't dig in the earth. We will rearrange but it's difficult because it's predicted the icy weather could last for a couple of weeks. We have to keep the bodies for longer but we're coping for the moment.

'But if the freezing weather carries on for much longer then it might become difficult.'

There are no burials in Havant this week.

Havant Borough Council will do a daily review to see if it's safe for next week's burials to go ahead.

In Gosport the next burial isn't until Wednesday. The borough council will make a decision next week whether funerals can safely take place.

Samantha Voller, who is in charge of cemeteries at Gosport council, said: 'Our graves for next week have already been dug so we don't have any issues with the hard ground.

'We're still taking bookings. But we'll make the decision next week about whether they can go ahead because if the weather is icy it may not be safe to carry coffins and for the families to walk on the frozen ground.

'We closed Anns Hill Cemetery yesterday because we didn't want people to slip and hurt themselves falling on gravestones or the hard ground.'

But burials in Portsmouth have defied the weather with two taking place yesterday.

Cemetery managers at Portsmouth City Council have also said upcoming burials will take place if it is safe to do so.

Portchester Crematorium has largely escaped the effects of the sub-zero weather.

Five funerals were cancelled on Wednesday because families struggled to reach the crematorium through the snow.

But they've all be rescheduled and funerals yesterday were not hindered by the icy roads.

So far there are no issues with storing bodies.

Hospital mortuaries have been unaffected as the majority of bodies for burial are kept at local undertakers.

But if the freezing weather continues and undertakers start to fill, then more bodies will have to be stored at mortuaries.

Meanwhile, youngsters are being warned not to walk on frozen ponds in Portsmouth after reports of kids skating on them.

The city council says the ice on Canoe Lake and Baffins Pond is not thick enough or safe to skate or play on.

Magpies 'feel grief and hold funerals'

2009-10-21T14:19:00.002+01:00

Magpies feel grief and even hold funeral-type gatherings for their fallen friends and lay grass "wreaths" beside their bodies, an animal behaviour expert has claimed.

Dr Bekoff, of the University of Colorado, said these rituals prove that magpies, usually seen as an aggressive predator, also have a compassionate side.

The discovery raises the debate about whether emotions are solely a human trait or whether they can be found in all animals.

Previous studies have suggested that gorillas also mourn their dead while rats have empathy and cats form friendships.

Dr Bekoff said he studied four magpies alongside a magpie corpse and recorded their behaviour.

"One approached the corpse, gently pecked at it, just as an elephant would nose the carcase of another elephant, and stepped back. Another magpie did the same thing, " he said.

"Next, one of the magpies flew off, brought back some grass and laid it by the corpse. Another magpie did the same. Then all four stood vigil for a few seconds and one by one flew off."

After publishing an account of the funeral he received emails from people who had seen the same ritual in magpies, ravens and crows.

"We can't know what they were actually thinking or feeling, but reading their action there's no reason not to believe these birds were saying a magpie farewell to their friend," he wrote in the journal Emotion, Space and Society.

Those who see emotions in animals have been accused of anthropomorphism – the attribution of human characteristics to animals.

However, Dr Bekoff said emotions evolved in humans and animals because they improve the chances of survival.

"It's bad biology to argue against the existence of animal emotions," he said.

He also claims to have seen emotions in elephants. While watching a herd in Kenya he noticed an injured cow elephant who was only able to walk slowly.

"Despite her disability the rest of the herd walked for a while, stopped to look around and then waited for her to catch up.

"The only obvious conclusion we could see is the other elephants cared and so they adjusted their behaviour," said Dr Bekoff.

New web site!

2009-10-10T23:44:00.003+01:00

I've just started putting together a new web site at:-

http://www.funeralchoices.co.uk

I have only hosted the home page so far and would appreciate any advice, ideas and comments. I will be adding more over the next few weeks and I will put a post on here when I feel the site may be worth re-visiting.

More on "Bluehenge"

2009-10-10T00:11:00.000+01:00

This is an artists impression provided by the University of Manchester, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009, of the Blue Stonehenge in western England. The drawing shows how scientists believe the “Blue Stonehenge” discovered by a team of archaeologists on the west bank of the River Avon in September 2009 may have looked. Researchers say a new find near the famous Stonehenge monument shows the religious significance of the site. The smaller prehistoric site is being called "Bluehenge" because of the color of the stones that were placed there thousands of years ago but have since disappeared. All that is left are the holes made when the stones were put in place. Researchers believe the newly discovered stone circle and the larger Stonehenge circle may mark a "domain of the dead" that was linked to the "domain of the living" by the River Avon. Experts say the stones were incorporated into the circle in about 2,500 B.C

Find: Stonehenge could be part of funeral complex

2009-10-09T00:04:00.000+01:00

LONDON — The discovery of a small prehistoric circle of stones near Stonehenge may confirm the theory that the mysterious monument in southwest England was part of a massive funeral complex built around a river, researchers said Tuesday.

The new find shows that the second stone circle — dubbed "Bluehenge" because it was built with bluestones — once stood next to the River Avon about 1.75 miles (2.8 kilometers) from Stonehenge, one of Britain's best loved and least understood landmarks.

The find last month could help prove that the Avon linked a "domain of the dead" — made up of Stonehenge and Bluehenge — with an upstream "domain of the living" known as Durrington Wells, a monument where extensive signs of feasting and other human activity were found, said Professor Julian Thomas, co-director of the Stonehenge Riverside Project.

Project director Mike Parker Pearson said it is possible that Bluehenge was the starting point of a processional walk that began at the river and ended at Stonehenge, the site of a large prehistoric cemetery.

"Not many people know that Stonehenge was Britain's largest burial ground at that time," he said. "Maybe the bluestone circle is where people were cremated before their ashes were buried at Stonehenge itself."

There were very few signs of human life found around Stonehenge and Bluehenge, researchers said, lending credence to the idea that it was used as a funeral site, especially since there were signs that many human beings were cremated there.

A five-university team has been excavating the greater Stonehenge site since 2003 in a bid to unravel its meaning and use.

"This find certainly confirms the idea we've put forward that the river is of fundamental importance and links everything," Thomas said. "Everything is related to the river. That suggests that even before Neolithic time it may have had spiritual or religious significance. This find enhances the idea that all the monuments in this landscape are linked in various ways."

Researchers did not find the actual stones used to mark the smaller circle found by the river, but they did find holes left behind when the stones were removed.

The scientists believe the massive stones used for Bluehenge were dragged from the Welsh mountains roughly 150 miles (240 kilometers) away. There were clear indications that the gigantic stones from the Bluehenge site were later removed whole for use in the construction of Stonehenge, Thomas said.

They hope to use radiocarbon dating techniques to better pinpoint construction dates.

Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a favorite with visitors from throughout the world and has become popular with Druids, neo-Pagans and New Agers who attach mystical significance to the strangely-shaped circle of stones, but there remains great debate about the actual purpose of the structure.

Rare excavation work at the actual Stonehenge site was begun last year in a coordinated effort to unearth materials that could be used to establish a firm date for when the first set of bluestones was put in place there.

Edgar Allan Poe finally getting proper funeral

2009-10-07T00:00:00.002+01:00

BALTIMORE — For Edgar Allan Poe, 2009 has been a better year than 1849. After dozens of events in several cities to mark the 200th anniversary of his birth, he's about to get the grand funeral that a writer of his stature should have received when he died.

One hundred sixty years ago, the beleaguered, impoverished Poe was found, delirious and in distress outside a Baltimore tavern. He was never coherent enough to explain what had befallen him since leaving Richmond, Va., a week earlier. He spent four days in a hospital before he died at age 40.

Poe's cousin, Neilson Poe, never announced his death publicly. Fewer than 10 people attended the hasty funeral for one of the 19th century's greatest writers. And the injustices piled on. Poe's tombstone was destroyed before it could be installed, when a train derailed and crashed into a stonecutter's yard. Rufus Griswold, a Poe enemy, published a libelous obituary that damaged Poe's reputation for decades.

But on Sunday, Poe's funeral will get an elaborate do-over, with two services expected to draw about 350 people each — the most a former church next to his grave can hold. Actors portraying Poe's contemporaries and other long-dead writers and artists will pay their respects, reading eulogies adapted from their writings about Poe.

"We are following the proper etiquette for funerals. We want to make it as realistic as possible," said Jeff Jerome, curator of the Poe House and Museum.

Advance tickets are sold out, although Jerome will make some seats available at the door to ensure packed houses. Fans are traveling from as far away as Vietnam.

The funeral is arguably the splashiest of a year's worth of events honoring the 200th anniversary of Poe's birth. Along with Baltimore — where he spent some of his leanest years in the mid-1830s — Poe lived in or has strong connections to Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Richmond.

With the funeral angle covered, the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond staged a re-enactment last weekend of his death. Those with a more academic interest in Poe can attend the Poe Studies Association's annual conference from Thursday through Sunday in Philadelphia.

Visitors in Baltimore for the funeral can enjoy a new exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art, "Edgar Allan Poe: A Baltimore Icon," which includes chilling illustrations to "The Raven" by Edouard Manet.

Baltimore has a decided advantage over the other cities that lay claim to Poe, notes BMA director Doreen Bolger. "We have the body," she said.

This week, that's true in more ways than one. Jerome said he's gotten calls from people who thought he was going to exhume Poe's remains and rebury them.

"When they dug up Poe's body in 1875 to move it, it was mostly skeletal remains," Jerome said. "I've seen remains of people who've been in the ground since that time period, and there's hardly anything left."

Instead, Jerome commissioned local special-effects artist Eric Supensky to create an eerily lifelike — or deathlike — mock-up of Poe's corpse.

"I got chills," Jerome said Monday upon seeing the body for the first time. "This is going to freak people out."

The body will lie in state for 12 hours Wednesday at the Poe House, a tiny rowhome in a gritty section of west Baltimore. Visitors are invited to pay their respects.

Following the viewing will be an all-night vigil at Poe's grave at Westminster Burying Ground. Anyone who attends will have the opportunity to deliver a tribute.

On Sunday morning, a horse-drawn carriage will transport the replica of Poe's body from his former home to the graveyard for the funeral.

Actor John Astin, best known as Gomez Addams on TV's "The Addams Family," will serve as master of ceremonies.

"It's sort of a way of saying, 'Well, Eddie, your first funeral wasn't a very good one, but we're going to try to make it up to you, because we have so much respect for you,'" said Astin, who toured as Poe for years in a one-man show.

The service won't be a total lovefest, however. The first eulogy will come from none other than Griswold.

"People are asking me, 'Jeff, why are you inviting him? He hated Poe!'" Jerome said. "The reason is, most of these people defended Poe in response to what he said about Poe's life, so we can't have this service without having old Rufus sitting in the front row, spewing forth his hatred."

Eulogies will follow from actors portraying, among others, Sarah Helen Whitman, a minor poet whom Poe courted after his wife's death, and Walt Whitman, who attended the dedication of Poe's new gravestone in 1875 but didn't feel well enough to speak. Writers and artists influenced by Poe, including Arthur Conan Doyle and Alfred Hitchcock, will also be represented.

Jerome expects to cry — one reason he won't be speaking. Even his rivals are impressed with the scale of the tribute.

"Annoyed as I am with Baltimore sometimes, I have to give them credit," said Philadelphia-based Poe scholar Edward Pettit, who argues his city was of greater importance to Poe's life and literary career. "Baltimore has done an awful lot to maintain the legacy of Poe over the last 100-some years."

Two feet in the grave

2009-10-01T21:40:00.001+01:00

I've added the Open University booklet that accompanied the programme on BBC1 with Richard Wilson. It's actually not a bad read!!!!

http://www.funeralhelp.co.uk/Downloads.html

Please have a look.

2009-10-01T09:14:00.002+01:00

I have just added something I feel is very important to the following pages on our site.

http://www.funeralhelp.co.uk/Green%20Funerals.html

http://www.funeralhelp.co.uk/eForests.html

Please have a look and sign up if you feel it's worthwhile.

Thanks,

Nick

People's ashes left uncollected for years

2009-09-25T10:55:00.002+01:00

The Canterbury Star

City crematoriums and funeral directors are storing the cremated remains of hundreds of people whose relatives fail to collect them.

The macabre reality of uncollected ashes is part of a national trend, with some firms in the country holding the remains of up to 1000 people.

Many funeral directors are now being forced to put measures in place to ensure they are not holding onto ashes for families for long periods of time.

In Christchurch, crematoriums storing ashes include the Canterbury Crematorium in Linwood, which currently stores 545 sets of ashes, and the Harewood Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, which holds 488.

Most funeral directors in the city could also hold anywhere from 10 to 100 sets of ashes they have collected for families at any one time.

Nationally, between 60% and 70% of people are now cremated rather than buried.

Funeral Directors’ Association vice president Tony Garing, from John Rhind Funeral Directors in Christchurch, said the number of ashes left uncollected was astounding.

He said the onus was on the families to make a decision about what to do with the ashes, and many funeral directors would often collect ashes from the crematoriums on the relatives’ behalf.

However, because of the logistics of storing large numbers of ashes, many funeral directors were now not collecting them unless they had clear instructions what to do with them.

Mr Garing said they currently held well over 100 sets of ashes in their storeroom, some dating to the 1960s.

“If you went to any funeral home you would find ashes,” he said. “It’s a very emotive thing, that’s the problem.

“It is also very hard to contact families. Many (contacted) think it was dealt with years ago.”

Cremation Society of Canterbury manager Barbara Terry said common reasons for people failing to collect “cremains” was that it was too traumatising, the deceased had no relatives or friends left, or people may want the ashes to be held until a surviving spouse passed away so the ashes could be buried together.

Some people also waited until the anniversary of a death or a birthday to collect ashes.

Mrs Terry said a couple had come into the Cremation Society earlier this year looking for information on their genealogy, and were horrified to find a grandmother’s ashes had being waiting for collection for nearly 30 years.

“They were horrified,” she said.

Mrs Terry said the “respectful thing” for any deceased was for a decision to be made on what to do with their remains.

“You don’t arrange a burial then leave the casket beside the grave and walk away,” she said.

But the reality was, the decision to collect ashes was up to the families.

“There are no rules. They (the ashes) are in safekeeping. We do take the guardianship of ashes very seriously.”

She said all ashes were meticulously stored in an urn and given an identification number.

“Every five to 10 years, depending how the volumes are looking, we try again to contact families. If we have no success we inter the ashes into a grid in a set location,” she said.

However, these could be retrieved if someone came to collect them.

From Malta.....Horse-drawn hearses back from the dead

2009-09-22T10:31:00.002+01:00

The next time you spot a somewhat eerie carriage, being drawn by black horses, clad in black feathers and a cloak, driven by a man in a black suit and top hat, don't be fooled into thinking it's a scene out of Dracula.

The chances are you will spot one on the roads some time soon. Horse-drawn carriage hearses were last seen on our streets some 40 years ago but an undertaker has dug up his collection and is breathing new life into them, following public demand. Louis Borg's resurrection of the horse-drawn hearses comes in the wake of the liberalisation of the motorised market, which led him to diversify, giving him the edge over double the competitors he had before.

But he does not want to create another monopoly and is willing to extend the service of his restored carriages to other undertakers everywhere if their clients ask for it.

In fact, he does not mind if he fails to make money "as long as I revive the tradition," he said, touring his Sliema garages, piled with carriage paraphernalia including papier-mâché angels and equestrian equipment.

All he wants is to unearth that sense of respect for the dead that comes with the carriages. On their first appearance after four decades last week, they commanded much reverence from the man in the street, Mr Borg pointed out.

"Everyone bowed their heads, made the sign of the cross, looked in awe and moved aside. Normally, when we use the cars, it could be any other vehicle on the road. Nobody gives way," he continued.

Mr Borg has been driving the dead for 30 years and had never experienced such a scenario, which he deems fit for a funeral.

Some of his carriages are up to 120 years old and, unlike other undertakers, who sold them overseas and stripped them when they stopped using them in 1970, the Borg family had the foresight to keep theirs in storage.

Now he is bringing back from the dead his first-class carriage (tal-kewba), which was used by "rich Sliema residents"; the prima and sekonda, which are for lower levels of society respectively, but equally elaborate to the fresh eye; and the white version for babies and single women.

The set comprises the priest's carriage, which would also transport the altar boy dressed as he would have back then and carrying the large cross, sticking out of the window as tradition would have it.

In a €60,000 investment, Mr Borg is restoring them to their original state, using nothing but antique items, even down to the bolts and buttons.

In two weeks, a set of four carriages should be rearing to go and the whole project should be complete in nine months, when the undertaker would be able to carry out three funerals of the sort simultaneously. It cost Mr Borg around €5,000 to restore the prima and €3,500 for the priest's carriage, which comes complete with an old bell to function as a horn in case a driver gets distracted.

"This did not exist in the original but at least it is old too," he said, determined to remain in the past. It still has the original number plate - 260 from 1901.

He is even buying rubber tyres from overseas to put round the wheels to reduce the noise and be able to drive into Mdina and Valletta.

In fact, he plans to drive the carriages everywhere, according to requests. "We can go from any church in the area to the cemetery but would probably drive by car from Mater Dei Hospital to avoid the hills," he said.

His first carriage funeral from Msida to the Naxxar cemetery took 25 minutes - only 10 minutes more than it would have by car - and ran smoothly, he said.

"I am using traffic police each time," he said. "But anyway, everyone just moves out of the way."

Between 1959 and 1970, the public had the option of the motorised and horse hearses but then the latter were buried because it was more comfortable for undertakers to turn the key in the ignition and drive off.

"I have been receiving requests for these carriages for the last 15 years, particularly from the elderly in the villages. Mercedes and Rolls Royce are nothing next to them in their view," Mr Borg said.

Despite the added hassles, the carriage funerals are expected to cost "only a bit more" than the common cars.

Mr Borg already has six horses in his extensive fleet and is buying more from overseas. Now, all he needs is the government to provide him with a hangar in the Marsa area, where he can display all the options for clients to make their death wish.

Modern memorial art

2009-09-09T10:51:00.006+01:00

Many people wish to mark the death of a loved one with a beautiful and personal memorial, but don't know how to go about it. A new exhibition, Art and Memory, brings together the first national collection of modern memorial art. Artists were commissioned to create fitting memorials, from a circle of rugged stones, to a triptych in green slate, or a simple engraved pebble. The Memorial Arts Charity helps the public to work directly with artists to create individual memorials.

The collection is at West Dean, Sussex, until November. From spring 2010 the works will be divided between six permanent sites, with four pieces remaining at West Dean. They will be found at University Botanic Gardens, Birmingham; the Memorial Garden, Canterbury Cathedral; Grimsthorpe Castle Memorial Garden, Lincolnshire; Blair Castle, Scotland; and the Monnow Valley Art Centre, Herefordshire

Guitarist Quits Heavy Metal Band To Become A Funeral Director

2009-09-06T10:33:00.002+01:00

Quinn Lukas leaves Icarus Witch...

Guitarist Quinn Lukas has announced he's quitting heavy metal band Icarus Witch to become a funeral director.

A statement from the Pennsylvania rockers' says Quinn will leave the band on September 17 following his last ever live show in their native state.

Quinn had already started training in mortuary science before joining Icarus Witch but will now finish his studies.

The statement reads: "When Quinn joined the band in 2006, he put his mortuary science schooling on hold.

“Now Quinn's going back to school to become a funeral director, and Icarus Witch will enter the next chapter in our twisted tale as we prepare to release our fourth CD in time for a full U.S. tour this winter."

Icarus Witch formed in 2004 and despite numerous line-up changes have released two cult albums – 2005's Capture The Magic and 2007's Songs For The Lost.

A date for the diary …………

2009-07-21T10:47:00.000+01:00

By Royna Hill, West Suffolk Crematorium Manager.

West Suffolk Crematorium has been open for 20 years in August and to mark this special occasion we will be holding a Funeral Fayre” on Saturday 1st August from 10.30am onwards. This event is intended to be a friendly and informative day, at which members of the public can learn about all aspects of the funeral business, from a wide range of professionals who will be attending.

We will have exhibits of funeral transport – from the past and present – along with a variety of coffins and caskets, showing the latest styles and trends. There will be professional advice from, for example, CRUSE Bereavement Care, St Nicholas Hospice, along with many of our local Funeral Directors.

But we want the day to be informal and uplifting, and will therefore have displays of woodcarving, calligraphy and masonry as well as a display from a local Falconer. There will be refreshments available throughout the day.

During the day we will run small informal tours of the crematory, where you will be able to see what happens once the curtains have closed – this will help to allay fears and dispel the myths.

Weather permitting, we also plan to hold a series of small, informal memorial services in our gardens where we can remember those we have lost, and these services will be lead by a number of our local ministers and officiants.

We hope to see you there!

Funeral Fayre at The West Suffolk Crematorium

2009-07-19T10:50:00.003+01:00

The West Suffolk Crematorium will be holding a funeral fayre on Saturday August 1st.

Details from Royna Hill (manager) to follow but with my insider info :-) I can reveal that amongst other things there will be stands from various funeral directors, horse drawn hearses, coffin displays (both traditional and alternative) floral tribute displays and demonstrations.......and "behind the scenes" tours!

More info to come!!!

Graveyard etiquette - from the BBC

2009-07-19T10:41:00.004+01:00

Claims that tourists have been picnicking on a war grave in Scotland have prompted a hostile reaction from some. But what are the rules for behaviour at a burial ground?

How should you act where the dead are under foot?

When it comes to visiting burial grounds, many people are unsure exactly what is suitable behaviour. While some attend to pay their respects or remember lost loved ones, many visit cemeteries and churchyards for less profound reasons - a leisurely walk, to take in the view or just out of curiosity.

There are codes of conduct - it's just not always clear what these are.

When, last month, a church in Wimbledon, south London, invited motorists to park in its grounds, pictures of cars tightly packed next to headstones prompted outrage in the press. This week, visitors to Culloden Battlefield, near Inverness, were criticised for picnicking where soldiers had died in the 18th Century.

Burial ground etiquette is governed by a combination of convention, common sense and the law - both local and national.

The 1977 Local Authority Cemeteries' Order, which applies to England, Scotland and Wales, sets down some basic laws of conduct. Creating a disturbance in a churchyard, committing a nuisance, wilfully interfering with burials or graves, or playing games or sports, are all finable offences.

But the public are rarely aware of the order and, to complicate matters further, other rules are set out in bye-laws - locals laws that vary from place to place.

Even so, there has always been an underlying understanding - whether you're a mourning relative or just a visitor, says Peter Francis, spokesperson for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).

Unruly children

"The correct behaviour almost dictates itself - most of it is common sense. Visitors are expected to be responsible, dignified and have a respectful manner," says Mr Francis.

The CWGC cares for hundreds of thousands of graves and encourages the act of remembrance. Mr Francis lumps playing football and having a picnic together as "inappropriate" behaviour when at a CWGC site. Whether "everyone knows" these rules, as he claims, could be up for debate.

Certainly, not everyone adheres to the unspoken guidelines. And the CWGC's current efforts to host school visits has not pleased everyone.

One recent letter to the commission complained: "[The children] ran about shouting and chasing each other around the graves and climbed all over the monument… I fear before long the cemeteries will become some sort of theme park for children's war games."

While games and dining are out - touching headstones and plaques is acceptable, says Mr Francis.

"[They] were made to be read and looked at - to commemorate lives. It is just a case of knowing when to draw the line."

But Lee Snashfold, director of Kensal Green Cemetery, in London, says the line between what is inappropriate or not changes with society's shifting values.

'Outrageous behaviour'

"There are three types of rules. Firstly the bye-laws, secondly the cemetery regulations at each site," explains Mr Snashfold. "Then there are the rules of etiquette - common sense - that's anything that is an inconvenience to the people using the services."

He cites the example of how changes to shop opening hours have had a knock-on effect on how people remember the deceased. Shops used to close mid-week, and families would take the time to visit dead relatives, says Mr Snashfold.

"I suppose there's been a shift away from the tradition, but the underlying expectations and respect is there. It may have eroded over the years, but it will always be there."

Sometimes, though, decorum has clearly been forgotten.

"I've seen some outrageous behaviour," says Mr Snashfold. "There was once a photographer and model who were taking photos without permission. He was clicking away as a service was going on."

Even those who might be expected to know the customs inside-out, can find they have misjudged society's views. When, in June, St Mary's church, in Wimbledon Village, charged tennis fans £20 a day to park in its burial ground, it justified the decision by saying the graves were 200 years old or more. No living relatives would be offended, it said. It also gave the money to charities.

But faced with public distaste, the church called a swift halt to the scheme.

No matter how much has time has elapsed it should not affect conduct, says Canon Tim Barker.

"Churchyards are still special places - consecrated ground - whether a grave is a year old or from the 1840s, whether there are living relatives or not."

Some churchyards do fall into a state of disrepair, in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, a town church has become an antiques centre. The surrounding graveyard is now used as a public area, so the accepted conduct is more lenient.

"If a churchyard is closed for burials it may affect the public's view," says Canon Barker, "But most people know it is still somewhere to be respected and naturally adapt their behaviour."

Fundraising at West Suffolk Crematorium

2009-07-09T21:22:00.002+01:00

Fundraising at West Suffolk Crematorium – by Royna Hill (Manager)

About a month ago I came across a leaflet describing the Tea Parties that are held every year to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. As they do such a fantastic job, and we were in the middle of a heatwave, I thought it would be a good idea to have a Garden Tea Party at my home and invite family, friends and colleagues.

We started with a nice donation from my Managing Director and invested in some items to sell to raise funds. I visited Risby Fruit Farm, where Dave very kindly sold me around 40 mixed hardy fuschias at a very discounted rate. I found some little galvanised-type pots from my daughter’s wedding to put the plants in and they were ready to sell.

I then visited Westley Fruit Farms and explained about the Tea Party and they sold me some punnets of strawberries at a knock-down price – all ready for strawberries and cream at the party.

Nick Armstrong, from Armstrongs Funeral Service, gave us a donation, which I used to buy items for a couple of hampers that I could then raffle.

Philip Fuller, from Southgates of Newmarket, lent me a gazebo to create our cake tent.

Myself, Vicky and Jacqui at the crematorium baked cakes, as did my sister.

Sunday came and the weather stayed fine. We guessed how many sweets were in the jar, sold raffle tickets, had a bring and buy sale and served Afternoon Tea to our guests. The cakes and plants that weren’t sold were brought into work the next day and were sold for a donation. My sister took cakes to her work also and raised money from donations.

I have had a call today from Pat at L. Fulcher who are also giving us a donation.

So I am pleased to say, that from a very small idea, we have raised £300 to date. It is worth doing and if everyone did something similar each year, lots of money could be raised.

Hindu healer loses funeral pyre court battle

2009-05-09T09:16:00.003+01:00

For more on the story please scroll down to our previous posts starting on 31st March.

A devout Hindu today lost his high court battle for the legal right to be cremated on a traditional open-air funeral pyre.

Davender Ghai, 70, told a judge at a recent hearing that a pyre was essential to "a good death" and the release of his spirit into the afterlife.

The spiritual healer, from Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, challenged Newcastle city council's refusal to permit him to be cremated according to his Hindu beliefs.

Mr Justice Cranston, sitting in London, dismissed the challenge, saying pyres were prohibited by law and the prohibition was "justified". He gave Ghai permission to take the case to the court of appeal, but warned: "I don't think there is a real prospect of success."

In his ruling, the judge said: "The Cremation Act 1902 and its attendant 2008 regulations are clear in their effect: the burning of human remains, other than in a crematorium, is a criminal offence. This effectively prohibits open-air funeral pyres."

Ghai is currently in India receiving medical treatment. In a statement after the ruling, he said: "I respect the decision of the court but, for me, this is quite literally a matter of life and death. I shall appeal until the very end, in the faith that my dying wish will not go unheard. This is the beginning, not the end.

"I have been pitted against the might of the ministry of justice and Newcastle city council – but I take solace from the fact that, with faith, a David like me can ultimately overcome the Goliath of state machinery."

Ghai brought the challenge under article 9 of the European convention on human rights, which protects religious freedom, and article 8, which covers the right to private and family life.

The justice secretary, Jack Straw, who had resisted Ghai's challenge, argued that others in the community would be "upset and offended" by pyres and would "find it abhorrent that human remains were being burned in this way".

Ghai's lawyers said that "with time, education and publicity" the public would recognise that open-air funeral pyres were "a practice worthy of respect".

However, the judge said those in favour of pyres would have to engage with the political process and attempt to change "the present balance of interests".

He ruled that article 8 did not apply to the case because an open-air pyre would not only affect family and private life but have "a public character".

Protesters stage mock funeral march

2009-05-09T09:14:00.000+01:00

Protesters staged a mock funeral, to demonstrate against the possible loss of a cemetery should a third runway be built at Heathrow Airport.

Around 150 campaigners followed an empty hearse from Trafalgar Square in central London down Whitehall to the Houses of Parliament.

Cherry Lane Cemetery near the M4 in Hayes is under threat from a proposed access road which is part of plans for the third runway.

The History Of Gravestones

2009-05-09T00:42:00.002+01:00

Scots 'bucking funeral pop trend'

2009-04-16T11:51:00.001+01:00

Scottish mourners are bucking a trend for pop music at funerals with more and more choosing traditional hymns, a study by a funeral director suggests.

In Scotland the number of funerals with hymns rose from 54% to 56% last year, according to Co-operative Funeralcare.

But its survey of 242 funeral homes and 30,000 services showed 58% of people in England and Wales chose pop music.

Frank Sinatra's My Way was most played song at funerals last year and The Lord Is My Shepherd the top hymn.

The Co-operative Funeralcare survey found that since its last study four years ago, the number of people in England and Wales choosing hymns to be played at funerals dropped by 6%, from 41% to 35%, while the number opting for pop music rose from 55% to 58%.

In Scotland the number of funerals accompanied by hymns rose from 54% to 56% and those with pop music fell from 37% to 36%.

The funeral top 10 was headed by Frank Sinatra and included My Heart Will Go On, sung by Celine Dion, I Will Always Love You, by Whitney Houston and You'll Never Walk Alone, sung by Gerry and the Pacemakers.

Alexandra Burke's chart-topping cover version of Hallelujah appears at number 26, two months after it first aired on television.

More than a quarter of funeral homes surveyed received unusual requests during the year, including television themes from Emmerdale, Top Gear and Only Fools and Horses; Doctor and the Medics' Spirit in the Sky, AC/DC's Highway to Hell and So Long, Farewell, from The Sound of Music.

The study also revealed about one in every 10 requests for pieces of music were rejected because clergy conducting the funeral felt the choice was inappropriate.

The Co-operative Funeralcare's Lorinda Sheasby said the study reaffirmed that trends in funerals were changing.

"Today's tear-jerking chart topper is extremely unlikely to be tomorrow's funeral classic, but it's quite possible it will figure highly in the months or even years to come," she said.

"As more people choose non-religious funerals, so they incline towards contemporary songs with which they closely identify," she added.

"Our aim is to make more people aware of the options and choices open to them, so that ultimately the funeral service reflects the life of the individual, which is of great benefit to the bereaved."

The History Of Hearses

2009-04-14T19:09:00.003+01:00

Who's Who?

2009-04-14T18:29:00.004+01:00

Hi, Nick here.
I've just added a handy who's who to our downloads page

http://www.funeralhelp.co.uk/Downloads.html

This is a list of some of the people who will be helping you after the death of a loved one.....its not a glossary but its similar....i think! Have a look :-)

A tough crowd? Comic turn at funeral!

2009-04-03T23:30:00.000+01:00

A FAMILY said goodbye to their mum with smiles on their faces — after booking comic Dominic Collins for her funeral.

Stuart Hargreaves asked the singing postman from Droylsden to perform at his mum Norma’s wake . . . in front of dozens of mourners.

After the service at Dukinfield crematorium, relatives gathered at Stalybridge Labour Club where Dominic was waiting with a guitar and a bagful of gags.

The songwriting funnyman admitted he was stunned by the request, but was happy to oblige. And he soon turned the tears of sadness into joy.

He said: "I’ve done some tough gigs in my time, but that takes the biscuit. I must admit I was really apprehensive beforehand. Everyone came in looking really sombre. But they left grinning and laughing, thank goodness. They left looking a lot happier than when they came in, at least."

Norma, 66, of Newton, Hyde was a huge fan of Dominic, according to son Stuart, 43.

"We wanted the wake to be a celebration of her life. Mum would have absolutely loved it. She had all his CDs and used to collapse in laughter listening to them. We’ve been to a few of his shows and he’s even staged one of his trademark living room gigs in my house. He’s very funny"

Can Britain accept funeral pyres? Pt 3 of 3

2009-04-03T23:03:00.001+01:00

'Complex issues'

In 2006, Mr Ghai and the AAFS escaped prosecution after cremating the body of a 31-year-old Sikh man at a secret location in Stamfordham, Northumberland.

Northumbria Police raised no objections to the service at the time, but subsequently said it may have been illegal. The Crown Prosecution Service decided proceedings against Mr Ghai would not be in the public interest.

When Mr Ghai first lodged his application for a judicial review, opinion among the more than 500,000 Hindus in the UK was divided.

Since then, the influential UK Hindu Council organisation, as well as some Sikh temples, have backed him.

The Hindu Council recently stated it recognised that the "individual choice of those Hindus who follow the directives of Hindu scriptures and wish to have open air funerals, should be honoured".

As a "priority" it is also pressing for existing rules to be changed so that the "performance of a small fire ceremony in an open coffin" could take place at crematoriums.

However, some Hindus see the AAFS's approach as a backwards step.

Jay Lakhani, from Hindu Academy educational body said: "Hindu scriptures should be interpreted judiciously and teaching does allow interpretation in a modern way."

He said he could not understand why UK Hindus would want to dispose of bodies in an "antiquated" manner although he would not object to outdoor cremations taking place if legally permitted.

Newcastle City Council is not commenting ahead of Tuesday's case.

The government said it had no plans to change the law on cremations.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "There are inevitably competing views on the appropriate arrangements for disposing of bodies stemming from different views about religion, morals and decency.

"The current law requires that cremations must take place in a crematorium and open air funeral pyres are not allowed. The government considers that this requirement is justified, taking into account the complex social and political issues raised."

At his Gosforth council house, Mr Ghai has been preparing for the High Court hearing.

He has described the case as "provocative, least of all in a nation as notoriously squeamish towards death as our own".

"I fully respect that many Hindu-origin people will prefer the speed and convenience of crematoria but for practicing Hindus like me, receiving last rites is quite literally a matter of life and death," he said.

"Far beyond my own death, I hope my struggle will provide a legacy for those who would not be in a position to undertake such an enormous challenge."

Can Britain accapt funeral pyres? Pt 2 of 3

2009-04-01T18:57:00.000+01:00

'Tokenistic symbolism'

Under the Cremation Act, the burning of bodies in England and Wales is restricted to designated crematoriums. Similar acts are in force in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

This has resulted in some UK Hindus sending the bodies of deceased relatives to India for a ceremony which dates back some 4,000 years.

In South Asia, most cremations for Hindus and Sikhs are held outdoors, often on the banks of a river regarded as holy. Hindus in particular see open-air cremations as the best way to liberate the soul from the body.

At the High Court, lawyers for Mr Ghai intend to argue that open-air cremations are not "necessarily unlawful".
The funeral pyre of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Allahabad, India , February 2008
The rituals at a Hindu cremation date back some 4,000 years

They will cite past cases that were not subject to prosecution, including the 1934 open air cremation of the Nepalese ambassador's wife in Surrey.

According to Andrew Singh Bogan, the AAFS's legal adviser, parts of the 1998 Human Rights Act covering freedom to practise religious beliefs could also be relied on.

At a Hindu cremation, the corpse is bathed, usually dressed in traditional white clothes and decorated with sandalwood and flowers.

"There can be some tokenistic symbolism at a crematorium but really it's just disposal of a body," Mr Bogan said.

So what are the objections to open-air cremations?

According to the AAFS, past opposition on health and environmental grounds no longer applies.

Mr Bogan said government tests after the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak and an AAFS-commissioned report found no harm to health or the environment from pyres.

The AAFS is proposing open-air cremations take place in designated sites in rural or semi-rural locations away from public areas.

Mr Bogan said Hindu cremations were only now becoming an issue as the immigrants of the 1960s and 1970s reached old age.

But he expects lawyers for Newcastle City Council and the government to portray the practices as "abhorrent".

"In the end this case could come down to the nebulous issue of whether this is seen as 'British' or not," he said.

Can Britain accept funeral pyres? Pt 1 of 3

2009-03-31T11:05:00.006+01:00

The High Court is being asked to rule on the legality of open air funeral pyres.

If Davender Ghai gets his way in the case due to be heard on Tuesday, traditional Hindu cremations could become commonplace across England and Wales.

In 2006, Newcastle City Council blocked Davender Ghai's attempt to establish the UK's first approved site for open-air funeral pyres.

It maintained the burning of human remains anywhere outside a crematorium was prohibited under the 1930 Cremation Act - a ruling the Ministry of Justice agrees was correct.

Now Mr Ghai, a Hindu campaigner and founder of the Anglo Asian Friendship Society charity, is seeking a judicial review of the decision.

"I believe a person should live and die according to his own religion," said the Uganda-born 70-year-old, who has been living in the UK since the 1970s.

"Local authorities routinely provide separate Muslim and Jewish burial grounds and out-of-hours registration and immediate or weekend burials.

"Hindus should cremate before the following sunset too and yet we, along with the general public, wait for up to a week."

The Co-op on the telly!!

2009-03-09T22:07:00.003Z

Has anyone seen the ad yet?

To be honest its not bad really but............

It must have cost a fortune..and we know who ultimately pays for that don't we!

Oh and........Why have they used and paid for actors and not used actual staff??? Mmm
I think they may have made a mistake there.!

What a send off..........ashes in a firework!!!

2009-01-25T00:27:00.004Z

HEAVENS ABOVE FIREWORKS

Heavens Above Fireworks provides a truly memorable event where friends and family can celebrate the life of someone special to them by dispersing their funeral ashes within a spectacular fireworks display or through our other services.

Traditionally a wake provided an opportunity for a vigil, often more of a party, before the burial service. Increasingly people are choosing to have their remains cremated, often leaving friends and family with the question of how best to disperse the ashes. Importantly, research shows most people now wish to make their passing more of a ‘celebration of life’, and a happier occasion where family and friends can remember someone special to them.

We believe it is most important to respect the wishes both of the person and the family and friends to create an event which the person would have wished for themselves; as a great way to celebrate their life and to say goodbye.

If you would like to learn more about a Heavens Above Fireworks celebration we can send you more information together with a complimentary DVD. This film contains the special piece about us shown on Channel 4’s ‘Richard and Judy’ TV program.

For more information, or to request a copy of the complimentary DVD, please visit our ‘Conta ct Us’ page.

I was only moaning the other day that motorists don't stop for the funeral cortege anymore.....then I read this!! It Just gets worse doesn't it.

2009-01-25T00:16:00.005Z

Thief grabs charity cash at funeral
Sue Carr
14/ 1/2009

A CHARITY collection was stolen from a church — while the funeral was still taking place.

The box had been put out so mourners, instead of buying flowers, could donate money to Willow Wood Hospice and Christie Hospital.

But hundreds who had gathered to pay their respects were left horrified when they discovered it had been taken in a ‘heartbreaking’ burglary at Christ Church in Ashton.

The service took place on Saturday for the 36-year-old woman, a member of the Hindu community.

A family member, who did not wish to be named, said: "Does this person realise how much people have lost, how much this has hurt people? We wanted to raise money for Willow Wood and Christie’s because that’s where she spent a lot of her time. We saw how good they were, how much they made her feel at home, and we wanted to give something back. That extra bit of money is now not going to go there and I think that’s really sad."

The box, which was at the back of church close to the door, is thought to have contained hundreds of pounds and the culprit is now being urged to return the money.

Information is also being sought about an unknown male who was seen acting suspiciously.

Ray Mistry, who organised the funeral, said: "It’s terrible, it’s upsetting for everyone. We would say to the thief, if you have a conscience, please go and give it back."

The Reverend Lee Longden, of the Oldham Road church, said: "I find it heartbreaking that a funeral service has been targeted in this way and I appeal to whoever has done this to return the money."

Hospice head of fundraising John Fellowes added: "We are distressed and shocked to learn of the theft. This is a very sad time for the family and to cope with this incident on top of their recent loss is something they shouldn’t have to experience. Obviously, we join with others in urging those responsible to examine their consciences and return the money."

Ashes Into Glass

2009-01-24T23:50:00.010Z

James Watts and Bill Rhodes have been glassblowers for the whole of their working lives. They have thrived in their profession for the past 20 years by providing the very best quality products and service to their customers.

In 1996, they founded Barleylands Glassworks in Billericay, Essex. In 2006, they founded Ashes into Glass, based at Barleylands Glassworks

James explains, "When a client asked if we could add her mother's cremated ashes to glass as a memorial to her life, we knew straight away that it was possible. We also thought that it was a wonderful idea that others could benefit from. We just wondered how they would look - ashes don't exactly look like something you would want to display!"

After going through their polished process of design and prototyping, they finalized on three stunning designs. The ashes can be seen within the glass as a soft white powder rather like snow. They have certainly achieved their aim of making the ashes look beautiful.

Bill is very clear about why clients come to them; "Ours is not just a product, it is a bespoke service. Clients commission us to make their loved one's ashes into glass because they trust in us. From first seeing our mini-brochures and website, to receiving our Ordering Pack, to knowing where they have sent the ashes, to the attention we give our clients throughout the whole process, to the finest quality finished product, beautifully packaged. Clients know exactly what happens to the ashes, where they are kept and how and by whom pieces are made. We are very open about our service and families have the option to come along to our workshop to see their glass being made. We do these things because we want clients to talk positively about their experience with us. In this way, word will spread."

Ashes into Glass has won awards for this unique service.
In 2007, they won The Basildon Business Awards for Manufacturing.
In May 2008, they were Winners at The Essex Countywide Business Awards.

A judge commented, "When I visited Bill & James at the Glass works, it was very clear for me to see that they deliver a very worthwhile service with great passion and a real commitment to quality."

What To Do When Someone Dies

2008-12-17T14:12:00.004Z

When the death occurs in hospital

Unless present when death occurs, the relatives will be notified by the nursing staff as soon as possible. Arrangements can then be made with the Hospital Patient Affairs office staff to deal with the formalities. These will include collecting the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (issued by a Hospital Doctor) and personal possessions of the deceased. The Hospital may also issue a 'Release Form', which needs to signed by the next of kin, releasing the deceased into our care.

When the death occurs at home

If the death was expected, as the deceased had been ill for some time, it would be normal to contact their Doctor or the on call Doctor who would then visit to certify that death had occurred and determine the cause of death. This may not happen immediately as the Doctor may be in his/her surgery or the death may happen in the middle of the night in which case you may decide to wait until morning before calling out the Doctor.

Later that day or the next, the Doctor will issue the relatives a form called the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. This contains a list of who can register the death, known as Informants, at the local Registry Office and what information the Registrar will require. For the details of the Bury St. Edmunds registrars office click here.

If you are uncertain whether someone has passed away then call the Doctor or dial 999 and ask for an ambulance. If the cause of death cannot be determined then the Doctor will refer the death to the coroner.

If the death occurs in another area

If death occurs away from home then the initial formalities listed above will be completed by the Doctor or Hospital staff in that area. If relatives wish to bring the deceased home for the funeral then the arrangements in both areas, including transport, can be taken care of by ourselves. Should death occur abroad then our staff can advise accordingly as to what options are available.

How to Register a Death

Who can register?

1. A close relative of deceased
2. A relative in attendance during last illness
3. A relative living in the district where death occurred
4. A person present at death
5. The person arranging the funeral

Documents required

1. Medical Certificate of Death (from Dr's or hospital/hospice)
2. Medical Card if available, or
3. Birth Certificate & information regarding date of birth

Information required to Registrar

1. Date and place of death
2. Full name of deceased (maiden name if applicable)
3. Date and place of birth
4. Occupation and home address
5. If married, full name and occupation of spouse.

Certificates

1. Disposal Certificate (green form) for the funeral director
2. Social Security Certificate (white form) to be handed in at the D.S.S. Offices with any pension books
3. Copies of Entry of Death (death certificate) for bank, insurance, solicitors.

N.B. You have to make an appointment with the registrars.
For the details of the Bury St. Edmunds registrars office click here.
It is worth getting a few copies of the death certificate from the registrars when you are there. If you run out you will have to make another appointment to get some more.

Nick On Radio Suffolk Today

2008-12-15T20:00:00.006Z

Nick was on Radio Suffolk today commenting on the story below about scattering ashes.
You can listen to the interview along with others on our web site at:-

http://www.funeralhelp.co.uk/Radio.html

Where can't you put human ashes?

The ashes of Hunter S Thompson had a colourful send-off
Keith Richards joked that he snorted his father's ashes. So can you put cremains anywhere you like?

A green field, a favourite hilltop or a football pitch.

Across the UK, the remains of loved ones are being discreetly scattered in private ceremonies, usually in a beauty spot with some personal meaning to the deceased.

But up a son's nose? Keith Richards' drug-taking past has been well-documented but his apparent admission that he snorted his father's ashes gave his reputation for excess a new dimension. His agent later said the guitarist had been joking.

So are there any places out of bounds to mourners?

There are no banned areas enshrined in law, and that includes the nostrils, says a spokesman at the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

"There's nothing in the Cremation Act 1930 to restrict people in disposing of the ashes," he says.

"There are physical environmental concerns, so if someone dies and his house is under new ownership and his loved ones spread the ashes on the vegetable patch, there would be an issue.

"But that comes under the same legislation as if litter was thrown on someone's property."

People can deposit them where they wish, says Leonie Kellaher, a professor of anthropology who is working on a study of the scattering of ashes.

"But there are warnings about not putting them on private land without the owner's permission, and people are expected to be 'sensitive'. But no-one is watching, or censoring this activity with ashes."

Some clergy are opposed to the remains being divided up among family members, she adds.

And although not backed by legislation, some popular locations have moved to warn bereaved relatives off their sites.

Last year, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland said the soil on some of the summits was being damaged.

And boaters who cruise along the River Soar in Leicestershire have said if mourners continue to sprinkle ashes in the water - particularly popular among Hindu and Sikh mourners - the river will become unusable.

Some football clubs have opened special memorial gardens for the ashes of fans, to stop the pitch being used.

Tighter regulations exist in other parts of northern Europe, says Prof Kellaher. And there are some EU rules restricting scattering in the sea, especially along the North Sea coast.

The scattering of ashes is a relatively recent phenomenon. In the 1970s, only about 12% of ashes were taken away by loved ones, the rest staying at the crematorium. But by 2005 that had risen to nearly 60%.

Over that time cremations have risen sharply, but the figure is now pretty steady at about 70%.

Most are buried or scattered in a garden at the crematorium but personal ceremonies are becoming more off-beat as people think ahead to plan their own funerals.

The ashes of gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson were put in fireworks and launched from a 150ft tower in Colorado. And in 1997 the remains of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry were fired into outer space aboard a Spanish research satellite due to orbit the Earth for six years.

It's even possible to get a loved one's remains made into a diamond, or even a vase, says Caron Staley of the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.

"People are talking a little bit more about it and TV programmes like Six Feet Under and Desperate Housewives means it's more in the minds of people."

How to save your family a lot of upset.......in 5 minutes!!

2008-12-03T17:38:00.001Z

It’s amazing to think that the majority of us leave it to our loved ones to “guess” what type of funeral we would have wanted! You would not believe the stress and heartache that this can cause the ones we leave behind……during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

I’ve lost count of the number of arguments, tears and the upset caused to families by having to make such huge decisions at this most difficult time.

A lot of this can be relieved by simply taking 5 minutes and filling out an Advance Funeral Wishes Forms.

Isn’t saving your loved ones some of the upset worth 5 minutes of your time?

You can even complete our advance wishes form on-line in the comfort of your own home giving you time to think about your send off and also involving family members if you wish.

This can be done simply via our web site at www.myfuneralwishes.co.uk

The form has been used by many people to leave wishes for the type of funeral they would like. It is popular because it saves your family having to guess about the arrangements when the time comes.

This is not a Pre-Payment plan just a Pre-Arrangement copy of your wishes, the funeral itself can be paid for at the time by your family or from your estate in the usual way.

Simply complete the form and click on the submit button at the end. When we receive your completed form we will check what your wishes are and keep the details on our files. We will then send you two free packs, one for you and one for your relatives or executor. This will give them all of the information needed when the time arises so all it takes is one phone call to us to take care of all of the arrangements.

Bury In Bloom

2008-09-29T13:42:00.002+01:00

Armstrongs were proud to receive a gold award in the Bury In Bloom competition last night.

We have spent a great deal of time looking after our displays and only had one act of mindless vandalism this year which believe me is something to be happy about!!!

We are looking forward to recieving our judges comments in the post to see how we can do even better next year.

Why we do it!

2008-08-13T11:46:00.007+01:00

Whenever I tell anyone what I do, one of the first questions they ask is 'how can you do a job like that? Well, there are loads of reasons to be honest and I'll share some of my thoughts and the thoughts of the rest of the team at Armstrongs on here in time, but I have to say my first answer every time is 'the thank you letters'.

I can't think of any other profession where you receive letters like we do on such a regular basis. It's an honor to be able to help people through one of the hardest times in their lives and while it's not always easy for us too, the letters and cards make it all worthwhile.

Here are a few snippets......

Dear Armstrongs,

A big thank-you to all the team for arranging my late aunts funeral. I couldn't have received better service in an age when courtesy and commitment seem to have gone out of the window. It was something I've dreaded happening but you steered the whole thing through from start to finish with the utmost professionalism. My aunt especially had asked that you did her funeral and she was a very particular person born of an era when standards were expected to be high. I'm delighted to say that you more than fulfilled this.

It was a day when I didn't need anything to go wrong, as although 90 years of age, it was still very sad for us that she had gone. So well done the whole team.

---------

Your men are a credit to your business and your business and yourself are a credit to the trade.

---------

When my father came into your care I felt that both him and the family were treated as though we were your own family. It was very comforting and I thank you for that.

---------

Every aspect of the funeral was handled with impeccable taste and dignity and you really deliver your ‘caring and personal service'.

A worrying time for the independents?

2008-08-11T14:03:00.003+01:00

Dignity profits up 17%

Dignity has reported a 17% jump in first-half, pre-tax profits to £21.1 million, excluding the sale of fixed assets worth £10 million. Revenue for the first six months of the year rose 12% to £90.6 million, boosted by the acquisition of nine funeral homes and a crematorium.

The group, which owns 548 funeral homes and 23 crematoria in Britain including L Fulcher and F Clutterhams in Bury St Edmunds said it is looking for opportunities to buy up smaller rivals in what remains a fragmented sector.

Armstrongs are the only independent family firm left in Bury St Edmunds!

Coming soon

2008-08-11T13:58:00.004+01:00

Just to let you know we will be adding articles, pictures and interviews with the staff of West Suffolk Crematorium and also Bury cemetery soon. We also hope to add news from local charities and churches too.

The role of the coroner

2008-08-10T09:04:00.002+01:00

The Coroner (Procurator Fiscal in Scotland)

The main duties of the Coroner are to investigate all sudden and unexpected deaths and also to give permission to remove a deceased person out of England and Wales if this is necessary.

Once a death has been reported to the Coroner he/she will decide what action is necessary following initial investigations of the facts surrounding the death by his/her officers. This may include a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death.

The Coroner will arrange the task of transferring the deceased to the local hospital, which is often done under contract using one of the big national or multi-national companies. This does not oblige the family in any way to use the services of that company. The family still have the flexibility to select whichever funeral director they require without incurring any extra cost.

In the case of unnatural, unexplained, violent, or workplace deaths the Coroner will hold an inquest after a post-mortem. This will be open to the public and is to ascertain who the deceased was, how, when and where they died and the particulars legally needed to register the death. Often an inquest can be opened and adjourned to allow the funeral to take place.

Further details on the roles and responsibilities of the Coroner are available in a pamphlet published by the Home Office entitled 'The work of the Coroner', a copy of which can be obtained from us.

Funeral News

2008-08-07T18:19:00.003+01:00

Funeral directors in Weston, Somerset are warning clients that funerals and wakes in the area are being gatecrashed by people who claim to know the deceased, then help themselves to a 'free feed'.

What a way to go!!

2008-08-06T12:52:00.022+01:00

Some traditional and not so traditional hearses!

All of these are UK based and can be used by
Armstrongs as part of the cortege

Funeral News

2008-08-06T11:25:00.004+01:00

A report by Barclay's has found that Norwich is the 'region's funeral parlour capital'. The bank prepared a trading map of small businesses which showed the highest and lowest concentrations of types of business. One funeral director in the area commented that '....the abundance of funeral parlours in Norwich did not mean more people were dying in the city, but reflects the rural nature of the surrounding county'.

Ways to personalise a funeral

2008-08-04T17:06:00.002+01:00

While we are involved with funerals on a daily basis, we never forget that completing all the arrangements of a funeral service is a task most families face only a few times. Our intention is to help make every service personal and meaningful, and truly reflective of the life that was lived.

While there are many different ways to personalise the service, here are some ideas and ways in which we can help:

Write a letter to the person who has passed away and express all of the feelings you ever wanted to say, but were afraid to or just never got around to expressing. Seal the letter in an envelope for us to place in the coffin. Your written thoughts will go with your loved one to his or her final resting-place.

Bring in the favourite song of the person who has passed away on compact disc or cassette to be played as part of the funeral service.

Flowers can be handed out to be placed on the coffin at the graveside after the service or at the church or crematorium before.

If your loved one had a hobby of building things or was involved in the arts, crafts or photography, bring some of their works in to be displayed at the funeral. We can even take quilt work and drape it over the coffin for example.

Balloons can be released after the service. Everyone can be given one and some brief words can be said before releasing them in the air.

Bring in photographs spanning the life of the person who has passed away and we will incorporate them into a memory board to be present at the funeral service. These can be photos with family, friends at work, fishing, golfing, knitting, baking, serious and comical.

If you have favourite scripture readings, let the minister know what they are and see if they they can be incorporated into the service.

The person who has passed away has likely touched the lives of many people. For those who knew the deceased, it is often viewed as quite an honor to be asked to speak at the funeral. The speaker need not have a professionally written eulogy but rather may write something personal or select a favorite poem or scripture verse.

If your loved one composed poetry or essays, let us have a copy, they could be recited as a part of the remembering ritual of the funeral.

Place cherished items in the coffin like pictures of the grandchildren and other family members, a photo of the family pet, a well worn cap, or a religious item. We are happy to advise on items which will be suitable.

If a husband always drove his wife everywhere or a wife drove her husband everywhere, consider having the spouse ride in the hearse with our staff member. It is a very personal way of accompanying your loved one to their final resting-place.

Consider a favourite place your loved one liked to go, like their favourite park, or a favourite restaurant, or maybe they were happiest at home. We can arrange to have the procession pass by this favourite place.

Hi there and welcome

2008-08-03T23:09:00.005+01:00

This is our first post on what we believe to be the first "true" blog by a funeral service in the UK.

The idea behind our blog is to give members of the public funeral related news, interviews, articles, advice and helpful information.

Some of this will be news and stories about Armstrongs, some will be helpful information for those in need and some will be about the funeral service and funeral directors in general.

We hope you will find this blog both helpful and informative and that it will help to demystify our profession, giving you an insight into what goes on "behind the closed doors"

If you have any ideas for this site then please contact us and we will try to help.

For our company website please visit :-

www.funeralhelp.co.uk

Nick Armstrong M.B.I.E
Proprietor

Armstrongs Independent Funeral Service

Halifax: the Titanic's undertaker

Next April the Nova Scotia town will mark the centenary of its role in retrieving and burying the ship’s passengers,

Woolly coffin sales have increased, says Pudsey firm

Burial of man hanged in Bristol in 1821 to take place

Venezuela's Carlos Andres Perez burial limbo continues

Dog's presence at funeral home a surprise to some and a comfort to most

A convention... for fans of undertakers?

Pioneering coffin cart unveiled.

The ultimate hearse?

We are back!!!

but.....we are ok in Suffolk!

Big freeze puts burials on hold - Portsmouth News

Premium Article !

Premium Article !

Registered Article !

Magpies 'feel grief and hold funerals'

New web site!

More on "Bluehenge"

Find: Stonehenge could be part of funeral complex

Edgar Allan Poe finally getting proper funeral

Two feet in the grave

Please have a look.

People's ashes left uncollected for years

From Malta.....Horse-drawn hearses back from the dead

Modern memorial art

Guitarist Quits Heavy Metal Band To Become A Funeral Director

A date for the diary …………

Funeral Fayre at The West Suffolk Crematorium

Graveyard etiquette - from the BBC

Fundraising at West Suffolk Crematorium

Hindu healer loses funeral pyre court battle

Protesters stage mock funeral march

The History Of Gravestones

Scots 'bucking funeral pop trend'

The History Of Hearses

Who's Who?

A tough crowd? Comic turn at funeral!

Can Britain accept funeral pyres? Pt 3 of 3

Can Britain accapt funeral pyres? Pt 2 of 3

Can Britain accept funeral pyres? Pt 1 of 3

The Co-op on the telly!!

What a send off..........ashes in a firework!!!

I was only moaning the other day that motorists don't stop for the funeral cortege anymore.....then I read this!! It Just gets worse doesn't it.

Ashes Into Glass

What To Do When Someone Dies

Nick On Radio Suffolk Today

How to save your family a lot of upset.......in 5 minutes!!

Bury In Bloom

Why we do it!

A worrying time for the independents?

Coming soon

The role of the coroner

Funeral News

What a way to go!!

Funeral News

Ways to personalise a funeral

Hi there and welcome