Funeral Service Times March 2012

F

uneral

The independent voice of the funeral profession

Established 2006

ISSN 2046-7273

S

ervice times MARCH 2012

www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk

Transport special Diverse funeral vehicle options

Added shine Summer car care Dancing with death The benefits of increasing public awareness at events such as the Southbank Centre’s Death Festival

An essential service Gus Nichols of FIAT-IFTA recognises the hard work of all those involved in international repatriation

This month

M AR C H

2012

C o n te n t s

Dispatches

6

The latest news from the profession tra n s p o rt SP E C I A L

Comment 11 For this transport special issue, Gus Nichols focuses upon repatriation; a topic that will be covered in some depth at the upcoming FIAT-IFTA Convention

Masters of carriage

12

Only the best

14

Added shine

16

Making a statement

20

Vehicular variety

23

Going the extra mile

30

The electric alternative

32

Hiring funeral vehicles and drivers can be a far more cost-effective option than establishing an in-house fleet, depending on individual circumstances.

Louise Hoffman takes a look at some of the services that are available

T Cribb & Sons discusses the history of its involvement with horsedrawn hearses, and the services it is able to provide in the present day It’s almost time to prepare your car fleet for the summer, when bright weather will highlight not only the good, but also the bad and the ugly. Mark Wibberley provides some expert advice

Rev George Callander reflects upon the funeral corteges of times gone by, and the symbolism of the extravagant yet dignified modes of transport that were chosen

With demand for personalised funeral services growing, and requests becoming ever more specific, a knowledge of the alternative transport options that exist is vital

David Hall tells Louise Hoffman about the benefits of using his vintage lorry service, and the lengths he goes to in order to ensure each funeral is special Steve Cousins, managing director of Brahms Electric Vehicles, explains why electric hearses are the industry’s future

Dancing with death

Investigating the ways in which greater public awareness of the issues surrounding death can be of benefit to the funeral profession, Naida Ally embarks on a visit to the Southbank Centre Death Festival

34

Editor’s letter

T

ransportation is one of the many elements of a funeral service that allows clients to tailor the proceedings according to the deceased’s wishes, or to commemorate the life of that specific individual – a life no doubt full of quirks, inconsistencies and surprises.

As poet William Cowper once said, “variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavour,” and if we were all the same then the world would be an agonisingly dull place, with demand outstripping supply in every aspect of daily life.

Difference should be celebrated – we are all individuals with our own life stories, interests, thoughts, feelings, opinions and idiosyncrasies – and not only does it seem appropriate to do so at the end of a person’s life, I would also argue that it is of benefit to those left behind, allowing them to share fond memories, and maybe even discover a new dimension of their friend’s or relative’s character!

Of course the fact that each person is an individual also means they have their own beliefs and ways of operating, therefore not everyone will want all aspects of their lives laid bare, even after they have passed away; and not everyone will want to part with tradition. But since the trend for personalisation of funerals is continuing, and public awareness of funeral options is growing (as witnessed by Naida Ally on her visit to the Southbank Centre’s Death Festival in January – see page 34 to find out more), it is well worth acquainting yourself with the many wonderfully creative services that are now available for you to offer to your clients.

I hope that this ‘transport special’ issue of Funeral Service Times will help to inspire you for future funerals.

Products 38 New products and services from the trade

The painter’s gift

40

A lasting tribute

42

Over to you

49

Your story

50

At times it can be difficult to isolate a suitable theme to personalise a funeral service, but poetry can often come to the rescue, as Peter Wyllie explains CLIC Sargent provides details on its two in memoriam gift services, and the work that such donations help to fund

An FST reader asks for help to fulfil her olympic dream Bill Adams, freelance embalmer, Dorset and the south west

Louise Hoffman

louise@funeralservicetimes.co.uk

5

6

Dispatches

Funeral Service The independent voice of the funeral profession

times

Established 2006

Funeral Service Times is published monthly by:

Mulberry Publications Ltd, Wellington House, Butt Road, Colchester CO3 3DA Tel: 01206 767 797 Fax: 01206 767 532 www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk Editor Louise Hoffman louise@funeralservicetimes.co.uk Editorial Assistant Naida Ally naida@funeralservicetimes.co.uk Design/Production Assistant Lewis Bowes copy@funeralservicetimes.co.uk Online Editor Michael Northcott michael@funeralservicetimes.co.uk Group Advertisement Manager Kelly Smith kelly@funeralservicetimes.co.uk Deputy Group Advertisement Manager Julie-Ann Kwok julie@funeralservicetimes.co.uk Advertising Sales Adam Bennett adam@funeralservicetimes.co.uk Accounts Maureen Scrivener accounts@funeralservicetimes.co.uk Customer Services 01206 767 797 customers@mulberrypublications.co.uk Contributing writers: Gus Nichols, Mark Wibberley, Peter Wyllie & Rev George Callander Cover image: A W Lymn ISSN 2046-7273 The editor and publishers do not guarantee the accuracy of statements made by contributors or advertisers, or accept responsibility for any statement that they express in this publication.

The opinion of the contributors may not necessarily be the opinion of the publishers.

Articles are considered for publication on the basis that they are the author’s original work.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the permission of the publishers.

Councils footing more funeral bills as purse strings tighten According to a survey of environmental health chiefs, family members of the deceased are becoming increasingly reluctant to contribute to funeral costs.

The survey reported that 51 per cent of the authorities had observed an increase in instances of family or friends being unwilling or unable to contribute to the costs of a funeral, with councils forced to foot the bill as a result.

David Kidney, head of policy at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said: “It’s partly a demographic issue – people are living longer. The money they thought would see them through their lives expires before they do. And it’s also down to economics – families and individuals can’t afford the funeral.”

The Guardian reported that last year, the average council had to pay for five public health funerals at an average cost of £950, however a small number of authorities dealt with a significantly higher number, with one council arranging 266.

Austin’s managing director rewarded for leadership and vision at international awards Claire Austin, managing director of Austin’s Funeral Directors in Hertfordshire, has won the SIFH (Selected Independent Funeral Homes) 2012 NextGen Professional of the Year award.

Claire (pictured with SIFH president Thomas Belford (left) and 2011 winner Michael Schoedinger) is the 10th generation of her family to run Austin’s, and picked up the award in recognition of her achievements as head of the 300-year-old firm. The judges were particularly impressed by Claire’s strong leadership and vision for the firm’s future which, since she took over as managing director in 2001, has resulted in the group turnover increasing by 98 per cent; the group profit increasing by 485 per cent; and 68 per cent of all business coming from recommendation.

At the awards ceremony in Los Cabos, Mexico, one of the judges commented: “I am especially impressed by the tremendous responsibility Claire took on at an early age and the manner with which she identified and executed improvements in virtually every aspect of the firm.”

Speaking on her return from Mexico, Claire, 46, said: “It’s wonderful to be recognised and I was genuinely thrilled to receive this award, but as is the case in all personal awards, they can rarely be achieved without the support of a great many people. I would like to thank all 43 members of our staff for the wonderful service they give to Austin’s and bereaved families within our community.”

The award is the third to be won by Austin’s in the past few months; in November the company won Most Successful Medium Business at the Hertfordshire Business Awards and in October it won the Service Excellence category at the East of England Business Champions Awards.

FD launches new service in Lancashire David Cowburn has opened brand new premises on Towngate in Leyland, and is excited about the future prospects for his new business.

“The premises were used as a funeral home some years ago, but we have newly renovated and totally refurbished throughout. Everything, particularly our specialist equipment, is brand new and state-of-theart,” he explained.

Very much a local family business, David Cowburn Funeral Directors will be run by David and his wife and business partner Suzanne. “It’s a joint venture; we see it as our family serving the families of our town,” he added.

Dispatches

7

New senior partner for And briefly Herongate Woodland Cemetery Lowest death rates in 2010 Wednesday 25 January marked co-founder and senior partner Ray Ward’s last day at Herongate Woodland Cemetery in Essex.

Upon his retirement, Ray handed over the reins over to Jaqueline Sawtell, whose first step has been to make the big decision of separating the funeral directing side of the company, Adam & Greenwood Funeral Home, from the Woodland Cemetery.

“We want to welcome all families to Herongate Wood and not discriminate between those who wish to make arrangements with Adam & Greenwood and those who have always used their trusted preferred funeral director,” she explained.

“It was suggested that perhaps families did not realise this was possible, so we are sending out members of our staff to all of the local funeral directors to let them know this is the case and [to] offer advice on the types of funerals that are available at Herongate Wood.”

Green Fuse launches celebrants’ guild Green Fuse funeral training has launched a guild for the independent funeral celebrants it has trained, with additional support, a code of conduct, and a group professional indemnity insurance scheme.

As part of the 12-point code of conduct, members will pledge to respect the cultural and spiritual beliefs of the person who has died and reflect these in the ceremony; not promote their own beliefs in any part of their work; provide accurate information concerning the services they offer, the prices of the services, and responsibilities accepted on behalf of clients; and maintain good working relationships with other professionals to ensure the smooth running of the ceremony.

For further information please call Simon Smith on 01803 840 779 or visit www.greenfuse.co.uk/funeral-celebrants-uk.htm

Cans for the crypt After seeing an appeal on local television for food donations for the St Georges Crypt for the homeless, staff at G H Dovener and Son in Headingley and West Park, Leeds (part of Funeral Partners Ltd) decided to take action.

Angela Andrews, funeral director at West Park, and Karen Flanagan, funeral arranger at Headingley, put posters up in their branch windows asking for cans for the appeal.

Angela said: “We were surprised and delighted with the response and people’s generosity. It warms the heart.” To date, Angela and Karen have collected well over 500 donated food items, and the collection is still ongoing.

AOIC announces training course The Association of Independent Celebrants (AOIC) has just released details of its updated and revised training course for funeral celebrants, to be held later this month.

Peter Wyllie, president of the AOIC, said: “When we all trained over three years ago we were painfully aware, at the end of our training, how ill-prepared we felt to actually conduct a real funeral. The new course addresses this; in designing it we went right back to basics and asked one simple question: ‘Knowing what we know now, what would we have wanted to know at the end of a course?’”

The result is a comprehensive, interactive course, run by practising celebrants, with an emphasis on practice, feedback and coaching.

For more details, visit www.independentcelebrants.com or call Peter on 07812 421 330.

In 2010, the age-standardised mortality rates in the UK for males and females were the lowest rates ever recorded, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Between 1980 and 2010, agestandardised mortality rates have declined by 48 per cent for males and 39 per cent for females. Male mortality rates have been higher than those for females throughout the 30-year period, but the gap between male and female mortality has decreased as rates for males have fallen at a faster rate. “Throughout recent years, UK mortality rates have generally fallen due to medical advances in the treatment of various illnesses and diseases, illustrated by the reduction in agestandardised mortality rates for many causes of death.

In recent years circulatory diseases, as a cause of death, have seen the greatest fall in age-standardised mortality within the UK,” said the ONS. Manager clocks up 20 years of service A funeral home manager from Chester has been recognised for 20 years of service to his local community. Lee Southby, 40, joined the Co-operative Funeralcare in January 1992 as an embalmer before progressing to funeral director and finally to the position he holds today as manager of eight funeral homes around Chester, Shrewsbury and Mold. He said: “I am one of those lucky people who always had a clear ‘calling’ to the profession. For me it has never been a job; always a vocation. I knew I could make a difference. For every loved one we look after and every bereaved family member we serve we try to not only meet, but exceed expectations, attending to every detail no matter how small it may seem.”

New distributor for Omega Holland-based Michel Meijer has been announced as the new distributor for Omega Supplies in the Netherlands. Richard Arnold, managing director of Omega Supplies, said: “We are proud to have Michel working as our distributor in the Netherlands. He is also looking to expand his distribution into Belgium, and his wealth of knowledge will be a great help in a new and emerging market in Europe. This is something that Omega Supplies UK is proud to be a part of.”

A lasting legacy Young people across the UK with a learning disability have been given over £7 million of opportunities to help them realise their potential, thanks to the Co-operative, which recently unveiled the amount raised for its charity of the year during 2011. The grand total reached £7,022,866 and was well supported by the Co-operative Funeralcare’s staff.

The funding raised will allow Mencap and sister charity ENABLE Scotland to launch ‘Inspire Me’ – a new project to provide activities and training that will give thousands of young people with a learning disability the chance to learn new skills and gain access to employment and volunteering opportunities in their communities.

Alternative funeral readings When met with a demand for an alternative to traditional and known funeral readings, Interfaith minister Rev Anthea Ballam started to write prayers and readings, seeking to reflect the feelings of those who had suffered loss. The result is a new book, Words For Funerals, containing funeral writings that have been used in services across the country. The book includes 34 of her most widely used readings.

For more information please call 01273 503 211 or email anthea@antheab.com

8

Dispatches

Three minute interview

Stuart Hughes, sales and marketing executive, Phoenix Marble & Granite Ltd Describe yourself in three words

Honourable, determined, cheeky.

What is your earliest memory?

Winning a swimming float race when I was about six years old.

When you were at school, what did you want to be and why?

I wanted to be a footballer as I was noticed for having a natural talent and I was picked to play for my county.

Calling all training providers!

A new website, www.funeralservicetraining.org.uk, has just been launched to help those who are looking to train for a career in the funeral industry.

Launched by the Funeral Service Cross Sector Education, Training and Knowledge Sharing Forum (Training Cross Sector Forum), the aim is to provide signposting to those organisations who carry out training in the sector on one simple website. The site will be bought to the attention of school and college careers advisors, and others involved in training advice.

The Forum was originally initiated in April 2009 by Chris Parker from the Independent Funeral Directors’ College after discussion with Angela Allen, education development manager at the NAFD. Since then, the group has been meeting several times a year to share information on training matters.

Members of the Forum have been invited to provide training links on the site.

Current members include: IFC, NAFD, BIFD, BIE, ICCM, CDAS, IoCF, NAMM among others. Anyone interested in joining the group should contact Chris Parker at chrisparker002@btinternet.com or Angela Allen at angela@nafd.org.uk for details.

Dates for your diary...

19 March

23 – 25 March

ICCFA Annual Convention and Expo Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Tanexpo, BolognaFiere Bologna, Italy

www.tanexpo.com

20 March

18 – 20 April

www.iccfa.com

Provisional deaths in Northern Ireland by month of registration, 2011

Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall.

Source: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

If you could have dinner with one person, who would you choose and why?

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

Never dive in – always take a step back and give yourself time to assess the situation for a better result.

www.bioe.co.uk

www.lafd.org.uk

What was the first album you bought?

Cheryl Cole, simply for stimulating and intellectual conversation.

British Institute of Embalmers AGM The Heathrow/Windsor Marriott Hotel Berkshire

LAFD Western District AGM Quintin Hogg Memorial Ground University of Westminster Sports Ground Chiswick, London

Oct-11 1,128

Nov-11 1,134

Dec-11 1,176

Monthly provisional figures on deaths registered by area of usual residence, 2011 Source: ONS

England and Wales

Oct-11

Nov-11

Dec-11

TOTAL REGISTRATIONS

37,208

40,629

43,570

ENGLAND AND WALES

37,127

40,548

43,482

What is the most important thing your job has taught you?

ENGLAND North East North West Yorkshire and the Humber East Midlands West Midlands East London South East South West

34,748 1,977 5,063 3,784 3,080 3,740 3,874 3,594 5,748 3,888

38,025 2,163 5,555 4,063 3,442 4,161 4,249 3,890 6,163 4,339

40,752 2,346 6,115 4,408 3,651 4,372 4,580 4,228 6,516 4,536

Appreciation comes when you are honest, up-front and simply say it how it is.

WALES

2,379

2,523

2,730

Non-residents of England & Wales

81

81

88

What is your next goal in life?

To buy a property that I never need to move from.

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?

The Inca Trail in Peru. Why? Supposedly the most beautiful views in the world, and the four-day trek makes it a great challenge too.

What is your favourite quote or saying?

Life is what happens when you are busy making plans.

Transport special

An essential service

For this transport special issue, Gus Nichols focuses upon repatriation; a topic that will be covered in some depth at the upcoming FIAT-IFTA Convention

I

t goes without saying that repatriation is the most common day-to-day international form of contact we have with our colleagues, all over the world. Very recently our company was asked to organise the repatriation of not one, but two victims of murder in Ireland.

One Romanian Roma family had been seeking their missing 18-year-old daughter since 2007. She had been murdered in the most appalling of circumstances, and her body was found in a shallow grave high up the Wicklow Hills to the south of Dublin.

It was a case that shocked Ireland in the days and weeks after the body was discovered. I remember it personally as the young girl had been begging right outside our office when she was abducted, and she had become a familiar face to all who worked in the area. Her family travelled over from Romania, and, with the help of the Irish state, their wish for her body to be brought back to a remote village in eastern Romania was honoured.

Some days later, we were asked to arrange the repatriation of a Malawian national who had been murdered in Dublin and her body found the following day. The man who killed her had fled the country and made it as far as a forest in Kent, where he later took his own life. In this instance, the deceased’s wider family in the UK and in Malawi asked for her body to be returned home and this was successfully carried out for them. As you can imagine, the media found this a very newsworthy item as well.

None of this would have happened without a core group of experienced people, from areas as diverse as the funeral sector, repatriation agencies, the coroner, airlines, the police and embassy staff all working together efficiently and expediently. It takes a great many things to go right for successful

repatriation of the deceased. An outsider may consider repatriation to be a simple task – ie ‘booking a flight’ – but of course we all know different.

I recall one particular repatriation, in 2003, vividly. A Nigerian national had settled in Ireland as an asylum seeker after her husband, who was politically connected, had been killed. Her son had been trying to trace her whereabouts for some time.

He tracked her down to Dublin but, unbelievably, missed a reunion with her by 24 hours as she had just passed away from a cancer-related illness at a Dublin hospice.

The family decided against having a funeral in Ireland and wanted her brought back to Nigeria. It took a fortnight for us to assemble the documentation from all of the authorities this case touched. In effect, we ended up writing the policy document for the Department of Justice and Foreign Affairs as this particular situation had never arisen before. The main issue of delay centred on the response from the Nigerian authorities, as the deceased in question had renounced her citizenship by becoming an asylum-seeker. It took UN-levels of diplomatic musical chairs to garner what was required, and I literally did no other normal funeral work for two weeks during this process. The church in Dublin which had been sponsoring her as an asylum seeker took responsibility for the account and, of course, we charged normal fees. I recall saying to colleagues afterwards, that had a solicitor been putting this together, the charges would have been very different!

FIAT-IFTA met in Medellin, Colombia, in April 2011. As part of the programme put together by ALPAR (the South American Funeral and Cemetery Association), we held a meeting on international repatriation. It was very well attended and a great success.

We had presentations from Colombian funeral directors regarding the issues they faced dealing with repatriation of victims of the narcotics trade; an excellent session on embalming issues; new developments in terms of metal sealing technology from Bioseal; and a re-launch of the International Repatriation Pass by Emerson de Luca of Albins International.

Due to the success of this gathering, and feedback received, as part of the 12th FIAT-IFTA Convention we are holding the second International Repatriation meeting on Thursday 21 June 2012 in Dublin.

Added to the list of contributors will be, for the first time, a representative of IATA (the International Air Transport Association). I believe that this meeting should be highly informative and of great interest to all those involved with this most important and significant part of what we do. I urge you to get to Dublin for the Convention in June!

Finally, may I take this opportunity to pay tribute to all of our colleagues who are involved with international repatriation.

It can be a difficult, challenging and frustrating job. At a time when the insurance industry chases the ‘bottom-dollar’ at every opportunity, the service you provide is essential, and has made and will continue to make a very great difference to bereaved families across the globe.

Gus Nichols

For more information about FIAT-IFTA, please visit www.thanos.org

11

12

Transport special

A W Lymn

Masters of carriage

Hiring funeral vehicles and drivers can be a far more cost-effective option than establishing an in-house fleet, depending on individual circumstances. Louise Hoffman takes a look at some of the expert services that are available

E

stablishing and maintaining a fleet of cars and carriages can be an expensive business, and the economic climate (among other considerations) has led many funeral directors to opt for hiring rather than buying.

Carriage masters such as those featured in this article can provide a wealth of services and vehicle options, on an at-need basis, as well as handling all repair, maintenance and up-keep, leaving funeral directors to concentrate on their clients.

Nottingham-based A W Lymn, the Family Funeral Service, has one of the largest Rolls-Royce and Bentley funeral fleets in the world, and is proud to have continuously run Rolls-Royce motor hearses since moving from horse-drawn carriages.

The current fleet comprises eight matching silver Rolls-Royce and Bentley hearses; 16 matching silver Rolls-Royce and Bentley six-door limousines; one silver Rolls-Royce hearsette for baby funerals; one black Rolls-Royce Phantom VI hearse; one matching black Rolls-Royce Phantom VI limousine; two silver Bentley Arnage saloons; one silver Bentley Continental Flying Spur saloon; and three silver Rolls-Royce New Phantom saloons. “Our experienced, uniformed chauffeurs are either time-served or qualified members of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, and they are all knowledgeable in funeral procedures and are happy to attend to the wishes of your mourners and act as bearers when required. They aim to meet and surpass the standards set by the most discerning clients,� the company adds.

A W Lymm welcomes enquiries from funeral directors throughout the UK and abroad, and interested parties should

Transport special

O’Brien Carriage Masters

AMC Carriage Masters

AMC Carriage Masters

Ben Ford Carriages

Ben Ford Carriages

contact Matthew Winman or one of the Lymn Rose family at the operations desk to discuss their requirements or to obtain a no obligation quotation.

O’Brien Carriage Masters is a long established family business providing a high standard of service, at competitive rates. “All of our limousines and hearses are maintained to the very highest standard, and our drivers and bearers are smart, helpful and sensitive to the nature of the occasion, no matter what, if any, religion the mourners follow. We have an extensive fleet of vehicles and can normally accommodate customers’ requirements at very short notice – sometimes within the hour,” the company explains, adding: “We feel sure that you will be pleased with our professional services.”

Offering a dedicated hearse and limousine hire service to the funeral industry throughout the UK, AMC Carriage Masters is located in Warwickshire, in the heart of the Midlands, and is a third generation independent family business with many years of experience in funeral, corporate and wedding vehicle hire.

The company is owned and managed by George and Antony Ford (father and son), and along with their family’s support, they continue the legacy of their grandfather and great grandfather Alfred George Locke, who started business in the haulage and funeral industry back in the early 1930s.

“Tradition and etiquette are major parts of the AMC image, offering a service which we believe is second to none,” says the company. “Whether you are a large organisation or small independent business, our staff and operatives can be part of your working service.”

AMC Carriage Masters offers funeral fleets in the traditional black, and in the alternative but increasingly popular white, and all of the company’s staff members have been carefully selected not only for their professional skills but also for their personal qualities of reliability, helpfulness and discretion.

Established in 1965, Ben Ford Carriages has been one of the south west’s premier carriage masters for over four decades. A family owned and run business, it is a proud member of the Professional Carriage Masters Association (PCMA) – an organisation that is dedicated to professional excellence.

Boasting one of the south west’s largest commercial carriage collections, Ben Ford provides its carriages, professional coachmen and beautiful horses for many demanding roles, including the London Lord Mayor’s show; television work; films such as The Phantom of the Opera and Vanity Fair; and, of course, weddings and funerals.

“Our Black Marsden hearse (pictured) is said to be the largest and most beautiful hearse in existence today. It was built in the 1800s using the finest techniques and incorporating oak, ash and elm. Its hand-carved pillars and finials are covered in gold leaf, and it was considered to be the Rolls-Royce of its day,” says the company.

Indeed, most of Ben Ford’s carriages are ‘original’ Victorian vehicles, and all have a history all of their own. The white hearse (pictured) was built by Williams of Aberdare and Porth in south Wales around 1890, and was originally black with iron tyred wheels. “Due to the fact that the Victorians were generally smaller than we are now, and the steep terrain in the Welsh valleys, the hearse is slightly smaller and lighter than its modern reproduction counterparts. This light weight, together with the beautiful hand-carved flowers and intricate finials, makes it ideal for children’s and babies’ funerals, as the smaller coffins are not overwhelmed by the hearse.

Together with a stunning pair of white horses with white drapes and either white, pale pink or baby blue plumes, it is very fitting for the occasion.”

Supplier listing A W Lymn: 0115 844 0451 or www.lymn.co.uk AMC Carriage Masters: 024 7654 2833 or www.amchauffeurs.com Ben Ford Carriages: 01363 877 766 or www.benfordcarriages.co.uk Green’s Carriage Masters: 0208 695 9500 or www.greenscarriages.co.uk O’Brien Carriage Masters: 0208 311 9591 or www.obrien-carriagemasters.com

13

Transport special

Only the best T Cribb & Sons discusses its horse-drawn hearse services

Which services does the company now offer?

T Cribb & Sons’ collection of lovingly restored Victorian horse-drawn hearses and mourners’ carriages is probably the finest in the UK. The vehicles are drawn by teams of immaculately prepared black Friesians from a stable of 14 magnificent horses. A pair of white horses and a white hearse are also available, and either turnout is guaranteed to stop the traffic and provide a stylish send-off.

T Cribb & Sons’ horse-drawn hearses and mourners’ carriages are recognised as the premier turnout in Great Britain and have won major shows including Royal Windsor, Smiths Lawn and the Royal Berkshire Show. Funerals are carried out all over the country for clients for whom only the best will do.

The Dotteridge hearse and two Marston hearses tragically destroyed in an arson attack in December 2010 have now been replaced, and T Cribb & Sons has recently taken delivery of two new Mercedes transporters, custom built by Oakley, provider of the world’s finest horseboxes.

Peter Gibson with a Championship rosette

What is the history of T Cribb & Sons’ involvement with horse-drawn hearses?

When Stan Harris, the grandson of Thomas Cribb who founded T Cribb & Sons in 1881, commenced work with the family business in 1942, his initial duties were the care of the stables and presentation of the Dutch Friesian horses, better known as the ‘Belgian Black’, which became his first love.

In the 1980s, Stan’s son Graham discovered an original 1900s ‘Washington’ glass hearse, and painstakingly restored it to its former glory. On an outing to Windsor Horse Show, Graham noticed a Dutch group showing Friesian horses, and so he and Stan set off to Holland to purchase a pair. Thus T Cribb & Sons was among the first funeral directors and carriage masters in the UK to re-introduce the traditional horse-drawn hearses for which the company had been renowned since Victorian times.

HM the Queen presents head coachman

14

16

Transport special

Added shine

Mark Wibberley of Morethanpolish Ltd provides advice for keeping

your fleet in tip top condition during the approaching summer months

I

t may not be very summery yet, but now is the time to prepare your vehicles for the brighter weather, when flaws in car preparation really do stand out; and of course when immaculate vehicles will simply gleam.

Bright sunshine will show up those fine spider’s web swirls that accumulate over time with daily washing and incessant polishing.

We’ll show you how to get rid of them, prevent re-occurrence, and cut down your car preparation time, while saving money in the long term.

Before light machine polishing. Image: Perfection Valeting

After light machine polishing. Image: Perfection Valeting

[In] brighter weather, flaws in car preparation really do stand out; and... immaculate cars will simply gleam

Swirl removal – or masking?

You can fill swirls to a substantial degree with a paint cleaner, wax or combined product like Zymol Cleaner Wax (as used on every new Aston Martin) but it won’t last more than a few weeks. Better to cleanse the paint and apply a high percentage carnauba wax like Zymol waxes or Race Glaze 42 or 55, which will not only bring up a rich, wet blackness, but whose wax content will partially fill swirls. A good wax should last at least three months – the less hands on the paintwork, the less damage may occur – and it’s cheaper in time and overall product spend than five litres of cheap liquid wax, which washes off too easily.

The best option is to remove swirls entirely, or almost – deep scratches are not worth chasing. We’d advise a random orbital polishing machine for the enthusiast; rotaries are for bodyshop professionals. A Kestrel DAS-6 with a couple of compounds and pads, for example, will cost around £130 to £140, and a day on a car will remove about 80 per cent of swirls – you’d be amazed what the correct tools and patience can achieve.

Meguiar’s G220 machine gives a very similar performance but costs twice the money. For sure you’ll be taking off maybe five microns of your 130 or so microns of paint, but you will take most of the swirls off too. Then cleanse off the compounds with something like Menzerna Top Inspection, and finally wax to seal in.

Machine polishing refreshes both older and newer cars, and is so much cheaper than a re-spray.

Washing technique The correct way to wash a car is a pre-soak by gentle hosing and two buckets – one with

Transport special

Investment in good quality products, careful and patient technique pays dividends in the long term quality pH neutral shampoo, and the other just clean water. A Grit Guard added to the soapy one will help, as your wash mitt (not sponge please; they hold grit) won’t scoop up removed dirt even after you have rinsed it in the clean water bucket (the only one you will have to replace; you won’t need fresh shampoo).

Wash in straight lines and don’t scrub – if something won’t come off, soak it and come back later – then dry off with a soft drying towel. Always start washing and drying at the top and work down in concentric circles, and wash wheels first, then you won’t splash abrasive brake dust onto clean paint. I know it’s hard, but avoid washing in direct sunlight unless you have invested in a water filter to stop watermarks forming. Expect to use about 15 litres per rinse.

Bug removal Inevitably your vehicle will also provide a temporary resting place for insects, mostly on the front and mirrors. If they have baked on, Clay Bar will remove them – a small piece with some lubricant, a quick rub and the insect or indeed tar spot is safely off the car. Dedicated insect removers unfortunately strip the wax you applied earlier, and concentrated tar and glue removers are unlikely to be needed if you keep on top of your car cleaning.

Wax A great fallacy (let’s leave it at that) peddled by the valeting business is ‘100 per cent carnauba wax’. Any product containing this would be as hard as concrete – it’s what they coat Smarties in, for example – so best to believe figures of 30 to 60 per cent. Liquid carnauba products cannot contain even 10 per cent carnauba, as they’d be too thick

to use, but some paste waxes are the same product as their liquid counterparts, with added solidifiers. It takes time to wax a limousine or hearse, so saving time with a slightly more expensive product is not only a cheaper option overall, but you get a much better result and protection. Coloured waxes are only needed for restoration of stone-chipped cars, by the way; unlikely in this business. You’ll achieve far greater durability, and a warmer shine, if you cleanse the paint first too; time spent in preparation pays rich dividends. A gentle, non-abrasive formula is what you’ll need, applied by hand. Swirl removal can be carried out as discussed above.

A quick top-up I’m not a fan of waterless products; we don’t supply them as I don’t believe the science.

If you need a quick spruce-up then a quick detailer spray and big, deep-pile, soft cloth will safely remove bird bombs or muddy splashes. Ideally you’re looking for quite a thick product, to add to, rather than remove your wax protection.

Glass, chrome, leather seats A quick wipe over the interior when the car is warm, using a leather cleaner like Gliptone, along with quarterly conditioning will keep cars smelling like quality furniture and the leather soft and supple. We always recommend separate products; it’s hard to remove and deposit at the same time in my view. A light chrome cleaner should be all you need, and use bodywork wax on chrome bumpers to protect against water stains. You can wax all windows except the front one, so that water will bead off.

Finally, a word on tyre shine. New tyres don’t shine and so used ones shouldn’t in my

Clay bar showing contaminants safely removed from paintwork

view, and silicone-based products will just wash or fly off. Seek a matt, water-based, silicone-free product for a longer, more discreet look.

Educating staff on conservative product usage is sometimes hard, but it’s worth it.

I believe that investment in good quality products, careful and patient technique pays dividends in the long term.

Mark Wibberley is an occasional contributor to Funeral Service Times, and owner of leading car care products advisor Morethanpolish Ltd. His team have been supplying owners of fine motor vehicles since 2003, and he is happy to provide personal advice to readers. Please call 01780 749 449 or visit www.morethanpolish.com for more information.

17

20

Transport special

Making a statement Rev George Callander reflects upon

the funeral corteges of times gone by, and the symbolism of the extravagant yet dignified modes of transport that were chosen

E

ven as I put fingers to keys to write this month’s FST column, the worldwide media in all its forms is buzzing with the events surrounding the funeral of American chanteuse Whitney Houston, following her recent tragic death.

I was amazed to see footage of the golden casket containing her body, but also the golden hearse in which it was transported to and from the “Noo Joisey” church memorial service, attended by showbiz royalty. It was a fitting final journey for someone whose work has touched many hearts (and been part of a million funerals) and whose later life was often in headlines for the wrong reasons.

The final journey we take on earth is often the most formal one we take – and such a shame that the coffined deceased is unable to share the solemnity. Many readers will recall my column in last year’s transport special in which I discussed the importance of solemnity, dignity and presentation in funeral transportation. There have been many forms of funerary transport through the ages to rival Whitney Houston’s gold hearse, ranging from royal funeral barges to the extravagant funeral cars used at the funerals of Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington.

I believe there is something very symbolic about the concept of a funeral barge gently gliding downstream, bearing the body of a deceased ruler or statesman. The symbolism of gentle floating conveys peace and tranquility – moving, if you will, from one life to another. The ancient Egyptians, those pioneers of elaborate funeral rites and customs, constructed elaborate funeral barges to carry pharaonic mummies to their place of burial. Indeed, the barge itself was often buried with the pharaoh, symbolising the carrying of the monarch’s soul across the waters of death to the eternal hereafter.

A little closer to home, funerary barges were sometimes used in state funerals to carry the bodies of our deceased rulers and statesmen on their final journey. Rivers – particularly the River Thames – have long played an important role in British state ceremonies, carrying monarchs to their coronations, marriages and also funerals.

Perhaps the best known of these state funeral barges were those used for the funeral of Lord Nelson in 1806 and of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965. Nelson’s funeral craft, which can still be seen at the Victory Museum, Portsmouth, was elaborately canopied and decorated to reflect the character of the man it bore to his final resting place. Churchill’s was much simpler, reflecting the former prime minister’s less flamboyant character.

Funeral hearses, whether motorised, horse-drawn or people-drawn, have also played an important part in our state and ceremonial funerals. We all remember royal funerals of recent times: those of Diana, Princess of Wales, and HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, when the RoyalStandard-draped coffins were borne through the crowd-lined city streets on a gun carriage.

The hearse carrying Lord Nelson’s coffin in 1806 to his funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral in London was constructed to resemble a great sailing ship and was decorated with the viscount’s arms, together with many other symbols of his naval prowess.

The hearse which in 1852 carried the coffin of the Duke of Wellington (and can still be seen at his former home, Stratfield Saye) to his funeral at St Paul’s was possibly the most extravagant ever seen in Britain.

Weighing over 18 tons, the hearse was cast in bronze from cannons seized at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. It was (and still is) lavishly decorated with symbols of his battle honours

and achievements, and much else besides.

I don’t for a moment suggest that carriage masters the length and breadth of the land rush out and order a fleet of bronze hearses; but there is much to be said for ‘statement funeral transport’ as a means of uniquely celebrating the life which has ended, or marking the importance and solemnity of the occasion. Perhaps there is a niche for riverbased funeral corteges? Not least would they, if suitably decorated, make a splendid sight as they make their way up or down the river.

Few of us would disagree that the death of Ms Houston is a tragedy for all who loved, respected and admired her both as a person and as a performer. However, I am glad that she made her final journey in such a unique statement vehicle, reflecting her unique life.

And I hope to see Clare of Volkswagen Funerals adding a gold-plated VW Beetle hearse to her fleet very, very soon!

There is much to be said for ‘statement funeral transport’ as a means of uniquely celebrating the life which has ended, or marking the importance and solemnity of the occasion Rev George Callander is a minister of the Liberal Christian UK Open Free Church, and a bereavement specialist practitioner, speaker and trainer.

Please visit www.gscallander.com for more information.

Transport special

23

Vehicular variety If your client is seeking something other than the traditional motor hearse and limousine, then one of the following services might just fit the bill…

Biggarshiels Carriages and Ken Ruthven Carriage Horses are two highly respected suppliers of horse-drawn funeral carriages. They are independent of each other, but work together to provide cover throughout Scotland and northern England. Both Ken Ruthven and Andrew May of Biggershiels are full-time professional coachman and carriage horse trainers with a wealth of qualifications and many years of experience.

They offer pairs and teams of black Friesian stallions, stunning Dutch coach horses and white horses, all drawing immaculate black or white Marsden-style hearses. “Using Biggarshiels Carriages and Ken Ruthven Carriage Horses, you can be assured of the greatest attention to detail, safety and professional standards at all times,” they add.

Information: 07904 557 838 (Andrew) or 01576 610 263 (Ken) “At Carlton Carriages we hold all major qualifications and are British champions in horse competitions,” says the company, continuing: “We have been providing horses for funerals and all occasions since 1983, and we pride ourselves on being an asset to your company at a time when your profile is raised to the public by the majestic sight of the horses and hearse. We have trained horses for the most unpredictable of events to make them safe, but more importantly happy and confident to cope with modern-day working conditions. We believe that all funeral directors or families should be able to personalise their hearse, and uniforms are worn according to these wishes.”

Information: 01277 374 649, 07808 774 174 or www.horsesandcarriages.co.uk The Final Cruise Company offers the ultimate farewell and perfect send-off for the hot rod enthusiast, allowing family and friends to join together and celebrate their life and passion.

A Fordson hot rod hearse, with a fully customised coffin deck and PA system to play the deceased’s favourite music, is accompanied by a cruise driver in hot rod or funeral dress. A conductor is also available.

Information: 01462 790 706 or www.thefinalcruise.co.uk

Blackhawk Services NE Ltd offers a true Harley Davidson experience for funerals. It has been trading for 12 years, supplying its hearse service throughout the UK and Eire.

“With 100 per cent satisfaction from funeral directors we have worked with, we believe in working in partnership and we genuinely seek to offer added value at all times,” the company says. The hearse is deceptively large and is built for high USA standards, with weight and height for all types of coffins. “The impact of the quality of the hearse vehicle is highly regarded by all who see it and we welcome enquiries for open days and promotional events.”

Information: 07779 996 574 (Gordon Fitch)

24

Transport special

“The oldest, cleanest and greenest form of transport has to be the horsedrawn carriage,” says Ben Ford Carriages, which has been trading for over 40 years and is a family-run business providing horses, carriages and qualified, experienced coachmen for films, TV, weddings, funerals and other functions. Specialising in high-quality funeral turnouts using matching pairs of either Friesians – the traditional black funeral horse – or greys, the company offers a selection of horse-drawn hearses complete with drapes and plumes in various colours; the ‘Victorian deep purple’ colour being very popular at the moment. A new horse-drawn alternative is the ‘rustic’ hearse (pictured), which is very popular with those wanting a softer, greener mode of transport. It can be decorated with flowers or foliage in colours to suit personal taste. Ben Ford Carriages prides itself on being able to accommodate most requests.

Information: 01363 877 766, 07831 517 097 or www.benfordcarriages.co.uk

“On today’s congested roads the task of keeping a large party of mourners together on the journey from the wake venue to the funeral home and then on to the burial ground or crematorium can be a unenviable task,” says the Yorkshire Heritage Bus Company Ltd, which presents its black and ivory vintage bus as a solution to this problem. In addition, gathering together all of the deceased’s family and friends allows everyone to share wonderful memories and stories. The company has a growing fleet of beautifully restored and maintained classic buses available to hire as funeral transport.

Information: 01422 886 900, 07552 126 170 (Tony or Kirsty) or www.yorkshireheritagebus.co.uk

Covering London, the south east and further afield by negotiation, Heritage Horse Drawn Carriage Masters says it is able to cater for all horse-drawn needs. It offers both black and white hearses, from a pair to a six-horse team, complete with mounted postilion. “Turning out to the highest possible standards, our experienced coachmen ensure that last journeys are taken in a style steeped in tradition, and one that has stood the test of time. Our proud Friesian stallions or Irish greys bring the majesty of a bygone era to the present day,” the company explains.

Information: 01708 687 319, 07803 133 932 (Nathan Dines) or www.carriage-masters.co.uk

Jessica and Samuel Mortimer, founders of Your Chariot, have now carried out funerals across the country, most of them involving a cortege of bikers. “The feedback we have received has been phenomenal. After receiving recognition not only from numerous biker groups, but also funeral directors around the UK, we have managed to raise awareness of our newly established company and fulfil the final wishes of many an individual,” they explain. “It is impossible to drive the hearse anywhere without turning heads!”

Information: 07789 508 796 or www.yourchariot.net

26

Transport Special

Midlands-based Volkswagen Funerals offers a unique and special fleet of cars to families who are looking for something that helps to create a fitting funeral.

As part of the service, personalisation of the vehicles often plays a big part in the day; items can be placed on top of the hearse to show the person’s life interests.

The fleet appeals to the young and old, traditional and non-conventional, and great care is taken to ensure that the wishes of the family are catered for. “Since 2006, Volkswagen Funerals has established its place and gained respect from the funeral industry, offering the only original coach-built VW hearse,” the company adds.

Information: 024 7639 9296 or www.volkswagenfunerals.co.uk

Blagdon Horse Drawn Carriages is a family-run business based in Somerset that specialises in providing horse-drawn carriages to the funeral industry. The company says that well behaved horses, high standards of presentation and a professional approach are of upmost importance with any hiring. “Wherever possible we will always try to carry out your clients’ requests, and you can be assured that all six of our Belgian Black horses are completely safe and will wait patiently during any service. We are able to supply pairs/team and outrider for any hiring in the south/south west.”

Information: 01761 462 250 or www.blagdonhorsedrawncarriages.com

Operating from its west London stables, with quick and easy access to major motorways, Westways Carriage Horses is able to provide its service throughout London and the Home Counties. Offering pure bred Friesian stallions and elegant Victorian-style hearses, the company says it is “committed to building a reputation in providing quality horse-drawn hearses for the funeral trade, at the most competitive prices.”

Information: 0208 572 3155 or www.westwayscarriagehorses.co.uk

Ten years ago, Rev Paul Sinclair founded Motorcycle Funerals Limited, as Britain’s first ever motorcycle hearse service. Paul, who has served at funerals for 25 years, believes we should reflect people’s lifestyles in their funerals.

“No one submits a Protestant to a Muslim service, or places an Everton fan in a Liverpool strip when they die, so why should motorcycle enthusiasts be last seen in an automobile?” he points out. Motorcycle Funerals covers the whole of the UK, from Cornwall, Devon and Kent, to Aberdeenshire, the Welsh and Anglian coasts, and even out to the islands; and serves both the non-religious and religious communities.

Information: 01530 274 888 (England and Wales), 01324 555 542 (Scotland) or www.motorcyclefunerals.com

30

transport Special

Going the extra mile

David Hall tells Louise Hoffman about the benefits of using his Vintage Lorry Funerals service, and the lengths he goes to in order to ensure each funeral is special For those who are not already acquainted with Vintage Lorry Funerals, can you tell us a bit about the service you offer, and the story of your vintage lorry?

MXV 610 was one of 54 Leyland Beavers bought by the NHS in 1950 to act as mobile X-ray units, and operated between the pit villages in County Durham. It did only 10,000 miles between 1952 and 1981; clearly it was a mobile X-ray unit that wasn’t very mobile. Currently it has travelled an estimated 55,000 miles, with the bulk of them being incurred since I started using it for funerals in 2002.

I specialise in personalising funerals, either building displays so that every floral tribute is clearly visible, or, when a limited number of flowers is anticipated, I can build wooden models related to the occupation or interest of the deceased.

Although some funeral directors seem to only recommend my services when a lorry driver passes away, business arrives from all walks of life, with recent growth coming from new sectors such as heavyweight and military funerals.

What modifications have you had to make to your lorry for bariatric cases?

None; the handling techniques I employ for a standard funeral of say 15 stones have been used in 25- and 47-stone funerals.

Lodge Brothers, which gave me the 47-stone funeral, elected, out of dignity, not to use a crane to lift the 43-inch wide, 87-inch long coffin. Ten men raised the

So can your lorry carry any coffin of any size?

Yes – I hope one day to carry a Crazy Coffin, for which I would provide the appropriate landscape. So a calm blue ocean and a landing stage for a Viking longship, or a railway track for the Orient Express. I could even carry two coffins side by side for people who have died together or shortly after one another.

What have been the biggest challenges you have had so far when delivering your lorry services?

My aim to personalise funerals can create challenges. On some occasions a family may want me to depict various aspects of their loved one’s life, and my lorry deck can sometimes become a stage.

For a funeral in Liss I was asked to provide items that would portray the life of a man who had been a farm hand, a railway porter, a milk man, a garage mechanic and a lawn mower repairer.

My support team managed to find pitch forks from the 1940s, a Victorian railway handcart, a milk churn from the 1950s, and Castrol Oil cans from the 1960s.

The most complicated model I have built to date was a mobile disco in Portsmouth for Frank Sinatra’s biggest fan. Themes that I have been asked to create in future preplanned funerals include a doll’s house, a 1950s TV and Del Boy falling through the bar.

Why have you been selected for military funerals?

It is all about the colour of my lorry; the blue and red in the livery closely match those in the Union Jack. The colour has also led to football fans’ funerals, and although I may be the obvious choice for West Ham, Crystal Palace or Portsmouth, some football fans choose my lorry because of the theme I can create, with goal posts and a net positioned in front of the coffin. Examples of these have included Liverpool and Arsenal, where an obituary appeared in the match day programme.

Finally, what has been your proudest moment as a funeral transport service provider?

It is a proud moment when a family thank me for what I have done. It can be a handshake, an email, a card and on two occasions I have been given transport books that the deceased had once owned. I am always touched by the Christmas cards I receive from families that I had helped years ago.

coffin, presenting the feet end to the side roller, and as more of the coffin came onto the deck, its weight was supported solely by my four-wheeled dolly. Four men then effortlessly helped me turn the coffin through 90 degrees, and it appeared to those at ground level as if it were floating. The Lodge Brothers team practised loading and off-loading the coffin the night before the funeral, and the family were impressed that their loved one had been treated with the utmost dignity. The tight turning circle on my lorry meant that I could get right next to the grave.

32

Transport Special

th e alt ern ati ve

Steve Cousins, managing director of Brahms Electric Vehicles, explains why electric hearses are the industry’s future Can you tell us why you set up Brahms Electric Vehicles?

Our parent company had been designing and manufacturing electric cars and the business plan was reliant on the government subsidy for electric vehicles, but when the coalition government came into power it looked as though they would not go through with the previous government’s plan to subsidise EVs (electric vehicles). At that point we looked around for applications of electric powered vehicles that made sense on their own without subsidy, and hearses leapt out as being ideal – quiet operation at a premium; low-speed operation in general; and no great distance for most funerals. It looked the way for us to go.

But why Brahms?

We needed a new name for the company, as our city car company was focused on youth and young families, and we went for Brahms because of the dignity of the composer’s music, and because the name would be known in Europe as well as in the UK. Since adopting the name we have been made aware of its link to Brahma, the god of creation, and possibly a Brazilian beer also of the same name.

What attraction does an electric hearse hold for the bereaved?

This is the really important aspect of this

new type of vehicle. We know that there is a demand for greater variety of funeral expression, and clearly the electric hearse allows those who are concerned about the state of the environment to move beyond coffin-type and make a greater green statement. For those planning their own funeral, they can specify that they want to make this kind of statement. Critically it represents passing the baton from one generation to the next, saying: “Take care in your lifetime – the energy wastefulness of our generation cannot be repeated forever.”

In a way it’s a last protective act of the departed to help their family and friends think about the future.

For others, electric hearses hold out the promise of cheaper funerals if the lowered costs are passed on to the bereaved. That also has its attractions.

What benefits are there for funeral directors?

We have talked to many funeral directors to find out if EV hearses are a premium product at a higher price, or a way of reducing costs, and therefore it would not be fair to charge more for something that costs less. The consensus was that you could charge a small premium, but nearly all FDs preferred to see the electric hearse as a way of reducing costs rather than increasing charges. This has shaped how we have approached the design of the product we shall be launching this year. The focus is on very high quality of finish, high reliability and a national chain of service centres to support the vehicle. But in the final analysis, the savings on initial purchase price, annual road tax, fuel and maintenance, and congestion charges if you are in London, all combine to create a ‘cost reduction’ rather than a ‘charge extra’ product.

But that’s not quite the whole story.

How will you grow the market for electric hearses?

In the early days EV hearses will be uncommon and if a family wishes to use one for the personal environmental reasons outlined above, then if there is no local vehicle the cost of hiring in one of our vehicles may well make it a premium choice. So right from the launch Brahms is providing a national service to hire in for a funeral, but increasingly this will become provided locally as the number of EV hearses increases. These early purchasers of EV hearses have a carriage master opportunity that also boosts the business case for EVs. We may also have a ‘try before you buy’ hire period in the early days.

When will we be able to begin this transition to EVs? After the summer 2012 is the basic answer.

We are looking to find FD fleets that can absorb an extra vehicle, particularly in those areas where green burials and more personalised funerals are the most common.

Working with funeralmap.co.uk we will show where EV hearses are available, as well as highlighting the national service. With a reliable national service in place I would hope to see electric hearses feature soon on funeral plan option lists. It is Brahms’ vision that by 2020 ‘all funeral vehicles will be electric’… well, let’s hope so!

4098_2_InsuranceShop_FuneralAd_93x130.pdf

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

2

19/05/2011

16:45

34

Death Festival

Dancing with death Naida Ally reports back from her visit to the Southbank

Centre’s Death Festival, which brought mortality to life for the visiting public, and considers the benefits that such an event may have for the funeral profession

T

he 27 to 29 January 2012 saw the Southbank Centre accommodate a selection of talks, performances and exhibitions for “the only event that truly links anyone and everyone who will ever visit the centre.”

Providing a platform on which the topic of death could be discussed and explored, the weekend-long event sought to “increase the awareness of death, and help people make the most of their (finite) lives.” In essence, Death: Southbank Centre’s Festival for the Living was about bringing death to life, by highlighting the issues surrounding it and pushing it to the forefront of public awareness. Southbank Centre’s artistic director Jude Kelly explained: “This festival celebrates something we all have in common. Death is a subject we are fascinated by and fearful of… most of us find discussing it quite tricky – even though the more information we have about it, the easier it is to face.”

The first thing I noticed while weaving my way in between the Pa Joe and Crazy Coffins exhibitions was the lack of morbidity – the colour alone lightened the tone of what could potentially have been a rather macabre sight. Although the coffins on display were only replicas, they were all bespoke designs requested by customers.

As I inspected the aeroplane coffin, commissioned by former aeronautical engineer Malcolm Brocklehurst, a group of elderly gentleman were picking out details of the coffins on display, chatting excitedly like schoolboys. I got speaking to one of them about the exhibition, and his attitude was both surprising and refreshing. I asked him if he would consider a bespoke coffin, and he replied: “Funerals don’t have to be how they used to be anymore. Nowadays it’s a celebration of life.” This was not the face of a man staring at a cold and harsh inevitability – he was visibly inspired and touched by a newfound perspective on the approach to death.

As time has gone on and cultures and traditions have amalgamated, funerals have evolved. You only need look at the variety and scope of what the industry has to offer to see that attitudes are changing, and the demand for more personalised elements – whether it be shaped flower arrangements or bespoke coffins – is on the rise.

So, how does a more open approach to mortality affect the funeral service industry? On the one hand, encouraging discussion at events like this could help to change public perception of the industry, alleviating any fear or uneasiness. A more open-minded public could invite the possibility of a pro-active strategy for funeral directors, with more freedom to approach the public with services rather than having to wait to be approached, and with more avenues in which to do so.

Indeed, Co-operative Funeralcare has just recently launched a new

Crazy Coffin. Image: The Natural Death Centre

Crazy Coffin. Image: The Natural Death Centre

Death Festival

television advertising campaign.

The question remains, though – is the public ready to be desensitised to death? Moreover, is the funeral industry prepared for this? Speaking about the event, Rosie Inman-Cook, manager of the Natural Death Centre charity, explained: “I think this event demonstrated that the time has come where the public are realising they can explore the ‘taboo’ death topic. In this age of instant information, they are starting to demand more and better. What this means for the more ‘set in their ways’ funeral directors is that ‘times, they are a-changin’ – get with it or get left behind!”

The Natural Death Centre became involved in the event a year prior, when they were invited to join in pre-planning and brainstorming sessions with the Southbank team. Founded 20 years ago, the charity aims to inform and empower the public in all death-

related issues. Along with being on-hand with information and advice to visitors, it also encouraged people to decorate a coffin. “Our sparkly, pink cardboard coffin is a pretty extraordinary result of the hours spent by members of the public embellishing it. We really hope that the Southbank… hold the event again. Just imagine a cycle of the National Funeral Exhibition one year, and Death Festival the next!”

Rosie added.

Also on exhibit was Before I Die – an on-going international participatory project originating as a community initiative in New Orleans by artist Candy Chang, in which people were invited to share their pledges, dreams and wishes on a giant chalkboard stencilled with the sentence: ‘Before I die I want to _______’. Similarly, Sam Winston’s interactive art installation, Birthday, was created with a view to “commemorate the quarter of a million people who are born

Interview with Ursula Williams, exhibitions officer, Crazy Coffins How did you get into the business of bespoke coffins?

It was circumstance. It began with a lady who was building a Red Arrow aeroplane, and she reached technical difficulties with it and couldn’t proceed, so she asked us to complete the project. We did so, and that lead to other people calling and asking us to make commissions.

When did you become Crazy Coffins?

It became Crazy Coffins when we appeared in an article in The Sun in the early 1990s. The paper came up with a headline – something like ‘Crazy Coffins doing very well at the Fundertakers’.

Do you think that people have always wanted to have the option of a bespoke coffin?

I wouldn’t say it’s a great tidal wave sweeping the nation – it is a minority thing – but there are some people, usually people who have been to funerals and have been jolted by seeing somebody they love in a conventional coffin when they seemed too young, or it seemed inappropriate. They want something that will soften that impact.

From that it moved on to people thinking about their own funerals, and wishing to have something different.

What’s the most exciting coffin you’ve designed?

The ballet shoe (pictured opposite), which is on display, is for a customer who is imprinted with the image of ballerinas – that’s her earliest memory, so that’s a very nice one. It’s also a very soft-looking coffin; the fabric and the sheen on it make you want to smile when you see it. All of them are very much what a particular person wants; and they’re not deliberately bizarre or wacky – they’re reflecting a passion or an interest on the part of that customer. We see them as a personal statement.

Have you exhibited at trade fairs?

No, but we’ve exhibited the coffins in a lot of art centres and museums of design – either as anthropological exhibits or as art works. We don’t regard them as art works – we regard them as personal objects for people.

Finally, would you like to have a coffin designed for you?

I would like something very simple. I’ve always liked the idea of just a little bit of fresh hay, a few butterflies and perhaps a bee or two – a few little nice emblems and totems. I would like to go down in something that doesn’t jolt people. I haven’t quite thought it through properly yet, but I will make my wishes known.

Image; Ursula Williams - Vic Fearn and Company

35

36

Death festival

and die in the space of 12 hours around the world.” Visitors were asked to draw a circle on two boards – a white one representing births, and a black one representing deaths, with a separate board where people were able to register the names of their deceased loved ones in writing. It was whilst contributing my circles to Birthday that I realised the effectiveness of audience participation art-pieces at an event like this – the momentum created by encouraging people to be actively involved avoided the affair becoming too sombre. In every instance, despite the focus being on death, it always felt positive – poignant and cathartic but not heavily depressing.

Bringing death out of the dark can only serve to have a positive impact on the profession, as it encourages conversation On the whole, organisers of the event described it as “a great success.” Although as yet there aren’t plans for another festival, the 500 day passes for the Saturday sold out completely, and that number doesn’t include those who attended the free events and exhibitions.

Jude Kelly said: “I wanted the Death Festival to encourage ordinary people to feel they could look their own mortality in the eye with thoughtfulness, courage and humour. Thousands of people came, which was proof to me that it was a taboo topic that everybody wanted to discuss.”

The funeral industry, out of necessity, has always existed in the

Image: The Natural Death Centre

background of life, and the only time the majority of the public will interact with it is in a time of sorrow. Bringing death out of the dark can only serve to have a positive impact on the profession, as it encourages conversation, and, more often than not, understanding of those who ‘deal with death’ day-in, day-out. After all, nobody gets into the industry because they revel in morbidity – rather it’s the difference one can make at the end of someone’s life. Perhaps events such as Southbank’s Death Festival will serve to build a bridge between the industry and the wider public, resulting in more interaction between both parties and increasing opportunities.

38

Products

Elizabeth May Memorials

“Following the success of our classic, ornamental Garden Cremation Memorials, we are delighted to be adding traditional oak and natural stone benches, birdbaths and sundials to our memorial range throughout 2012,” says Elizabeth May Memorials. All of its classic and modern designs fit poly-urns and securely house loved one’s ashes. Brochures can be obtained by contacting the company using the details below.

Information: 0151 355 0200 or www.elizabeth-may.co.uk

Tributes Ltd

Tributes Ltd has been supplying attractive and popular hand-woven willow and bamboo coffins to the funeral trade since 2004, and is proudly ‘trade only’ – committing never to undermine funeral directors by selling directly to the public.

Its coffins have a robust, supportive structure, and each is supplied complete with leak-resistant, unbleached cotton calico lining, shroud and head-support. In most instances delivery is next working day from substantial stock, and a laserengraving service for bamboo nameplates is also available for a fixed fee, with no per-letter charges. Ashes caskets are also available to match the willow and bamboo coffin models.

Information: 0845 388 8742 or www.tributes.ltd.uk

Graham McGrath Ltd

Allens Funeral Wear

Graham McGrath Ltd is an established, family business based in Peebles, Scottish Borders. It offers an extensive range of funeral clothing delivered directly to businesses. To request the full brochure or to discuss requirements, please contact the company direct, using the details below. Funeral clothing is also available to order and view on the website.

Allens Funeral Wear has supplied funeral attire to West Midlands funeral directors and local authority crematorium staff since 1961, and now offers the same personal service nationally. Taking great pride in offering high quality funeral wear at competitive prices, the company says that if you see a competitor supplying the same item for less, then it will beat that price by 10 per cent. The product range includes black suits, black jackets, striped trousers, tailcoats, frockcoats, Edwardian coats, raincoats, overcoats, top hats, black ties and cravats, as well as a full range of shoes and accessories.

Information: 01721 724 665 mcgraths@globalnet.co.uk or www.grahammcgraths.co.uk

Information: 01384 377 534 or www.samenswear.co.uk

Patey Hats

“Patey (London) Ltd is the last traditional top hat maker left in the country. Our hats are seen everywhere, from the Queen’s coachmen, to major hotels and public buildings around London, and the British equestrian team,” explains Patey. The company’s top hats can be made to suit head shape or just to a size. “We are also able to undertake the repair and refurbishment of silk top hats and can restore them and also reshape to fit the wearer’s head.”

Information: 01285 841 250 or www.pateyhats.com

40

Hearse and verse

The painter’s gift

Peter Wyllie explains how poetry came to the rescue

when he was planning the funeral service of an artist

S

ometimes, when trying to construct the perfect service, it can be hard for a celebrant to find a suitable theme to reflect the life of the deceased; but then a casually mentioned object can be the key to opening up the life of the deceased with clarity.

This is what happened when I conducted a service for an artist recently. Mary (not her real name) had carefully copied some meaningful poems into a book, which she had beautifully illustrated with charming watercolours and sketches. A close examination of the poems showed that they gave an invaluable insight into her life and her private thoughts and beliefs.

The WB Yates classic was a good place to start:

Mary had also had her share of personal tragedy and pain. John Clare was a Northamptonshire poet who had experienced times of great pain; in fact he spent many years writing his poetry within the walls of an asylum having been driven insane by the struggle for life and his battle against constantly rising debts.

Mary chose to copy this John Clare poem: I am: yet what I am none cares or knows, My friends forsake me like a memory lost; I am the self-consumer of my woes, They rise and vanish in oblivious host, Like shades in love and death’s oblivion lost; And yet I am! and live with shadows tost

When you are old and gray and full of sleep And nodding by the fire, take down this book, And slowly read, and dream of the soft look Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

Into the nothingness of scorn and noise, Into the living sea of waking dreams, Where there is neither sense of life nor joys, But the vast shipwreck of my life’s esteems; And e’en the dearest – that I loved the best – Are strange – nay, rather stranger than the rest.

How many loved your moments of glad grace, And loved your beauty with love false or true; But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you, And loved the sorrows of your changing face.

I long for scenes where man has never trod; A place where woman never smil’d or wept; There to abide with my creator, God, And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept: Untroubling and untroubled where I lie; The grass below – above the vaulted sky.

And bending down beside the glowing bars, Murmur, a little sadly, how love fled And paced upon the mountains overhead, And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

She found a man who loved her ‘pilgrim soul’, but throughout her life she loved the pursuit of pleasure – and had copied this short verse from Coventry Patrine.

Who pleasure follows pleasure slays God’s wrath upon himself he wreaks, But all delights rejoice his days Who takes with thanks, and never seeks.

while they walk by and out of view.

The painter’s gift is to observe with perfect eye each hidden curve, each dip and dive, each broken wall, each slated roof and column tall.

The very life within the scene fills eyes and heart and eyes so keen.

And then I turn the virgin page, an actor on an empty stage.

The aptly named poem The Conclusion is taken from verses that were found in Sir Walter Raleigh’s Bible at the gatehouse in Westminster: Even such is Time, that takes in trust Our youth, our joys, our all we have, And pays us but with earth and dust; Who in the dark and silent grave, When we have wander’d all our ways, Shuts up the story of our days; But from this earth, this grave, this dust, My God shall raise me up, I trust.

We used several other poems as well, to build a picture of Mary that was both sensitive and truthful; and the truth was easier to tell using the words that she herself had chosen to garner in her book.

It was an unusual but highly personal tribute to a very individual person.

Mary had been a talented painter, and lines from a poem The Painter were just perfect for her.

Let others rush and hurry by but let me stand and watch the sky and paint each shade and varied hue

If you have found a poem that is particularly appropriate to a certain situation we would love to hear from you. Send your contributions to poetry@silverdove.org.uk Peter Wyllie is an independent funeral celebrant and president of the AOIC. For more information please visit www.silverdove.org.uk or www.independentcelebrants.com

42

Charity Spotlight

A lasting tribute

CLIC Sargent provides details on its two in memoriam

gift services, and the work that such donations help to fund

C

LIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, recognises that more and more people are choosing to make in memoriam donations to charities as a way to remember and celebrate loved ones. In 2010 alone, £260,000 was donated to CLIC Sargent through In Memory gifts.

The charity’s two in memoriam gift services – In Memory and Especially for You funds – can often bring great comfort to the recently bereaved and provide them with the opportunity of contributing to a lasting tribute to the person they have lost.

‘In Memory’ donations to CLIC Sargent In Memory gifts to CLIC Sargent are a very special way to celebrate the life of a loved one and also support the charity’s work for the future. At a difficult time for relatives and friends, instead of giving flowers, an in memoriam donation can often serve as a lasting tribute at the time of bereavement and beyond. Individuals can make oneoff donations or can choose to remember occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.

CLIC Sargent can also provide donation envelopes for funerals or memorial services, to make charitable giving easier.

Lucy Caldicott, director of fundraising at CLIC Sargent, says: “In memoriam donations are really flexible to your clients’ needs. There’s absolutely no pressure to make regular monthly donations so they can decide when they want to contribute. They’re a personal way to support a charity that has had a real impact on their lives.

“Although eight in ten will survive cancer, it is still the leading cause of death from a single disease among children and young people in the UK. With your help, we can continue to provide clinical, emotional and practical support to help the whole family

deal with the impact of cancer and its treatment; life after treatment; and, in some cases, bereavement.”

CLIC Sargent’s ‘Especially for You’ funds An Especially for You fund is another way to commemorate somebody special and support the charity. Family and friends can visit a dedicated website where they can find personal tributes, news and dates of fundraising events, photos and videos, and they can leave messages. It’s an easy way to make regular donations and encourage others around the world to support the fundraising.

Shaun King set up an Especially for You fund when his 17-year-old daughter, Alison (pictured), lost her battle with leukaemia.

He said: “Alison’s diagnosis had such a huge impact on the whole family. We were provided with fantastic support from our CLIC Sargent social worker, Mel, from the start and beyond the time when she passed away, and the charity provided us with free accommodation close to hospital, so we just wanted to give something back.

“I think Alison’s Especially for You fund is a great way to remember our daughter and it’s a special way to bring everyone that knew her together. If one family member is holding a fundraising event, you can see support quickly grow through a fund.

You can also tell people about the support CLIC Sargent provides, and when people visit Alison’s Especially for You website they always ask about the charity and want to find out more. In my mind that’s a perfect lasting tribute.”

Every donation makes a real difference to CLIC Sargent and ensures that the charity can continue its work supporting children and young people with cancer, and their families, across the UK. CLIC Sargent has specialist care teams, including nurses, social workers, youth workers and play specialists, based at 18 principal treatment centres for young people with cancer across the UK, to help support families – while they’re on the ward and when they go home. The charity also provides financial help to meet extra costs, free accommodation close to principal treatment centres and holidays.

For more information about In Memory donations and Especially for You funds, call 0845 121 2491 or visit www.clicsargent.org.uk/getinvolved/especiallyforyou or www.clicsargent.org.uk/getinvolved/donate/donateinmemory

Are you reading a friend’s copy of Funeral Service Times?

Why not make sure you get your own personal copy delivered to your door?

Simply fill in the coupon below and we will send you your own personal copy of Funeral Service Times for 12 issues per year at just £36 C red i t card f o r m

Name: Company Name: Address: Post Code: Telephone: Email: Amount: £ Card type:  Visa  Mastercard  Switch/Maestro Card number: Valid from:

expires:

Issue number (switch):

SEC code:

Name on card: Send the completed form to: Funeral Service Times, Mulberry Publications Ltd, Wellington House, Butt Road, Colchester CO3 3DA or fax to 01206 767 532 Privacy policy: Please note that we do not share your personal details with any other organisation or permit third party mailings. We shred all credit card details as soon as we have processed your payment in a secure environment

48

Classified

Classified

Dear Editor, My name is Rhian Greaves, of Grin dalls of Wem (Frank Painter & Sons ), and I am writing to ask for help.

Last year, along with 300,000 othe r people from all over Britain, I applied to take part as a voluntee opening and closing ceremonies of r in the the Olympic Games. After several rounds of email auditions and two auditions in London, I have been face-to-face offered one of the 10,000 availabl e places. I am thrilled and honoure given this incredible once-in-a-li d to have been fetime opportunity.

As you can imagine, the rehearsa l schedule is a substantial commitm ent, and I will need to attend 16 the Olympic stadium over a period rehearsals at of six weeks. Grindalls (Frank Pain ter & Sons) is supporting me by allo take six weeks of unpaid leave, and wing me to I will have to be based in London for the majority of the time.

My personal costs will be significa nt; the only cost covered by the Olym pic Committee is an Oyster card within London, and I have to mee for travel t all other expenses myself, henc e my writing to you.

I have calculated that the minimu m amount of money I will need in order to take part as an unpaid including travel, accommodation volunteer, and food, is approximately £1,500.

I am saving frantically, but I’ve real not going to be able to cover the ised that I’m whole cost myself, and so I’m writ ing to FST readers, in the hope that consider making a small donation you would towards my target.

If I have any donations left over at the end, I will give them back to local charities in Wem and surr ounding areas.

If you have any questions, or wou ld like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. forward very much to hearing from I look you.

Rhian Greaves Tel: 07947 453 261 Email: rhiangreavesfree@gmail.com

Facebook group: Rhian’s Olympic Dream

49

50

YOUR STORY

your story Bill Adams, freelance embalmer,

Dorset and the south west

How did you get into the profession?

I entered the funeral profession at the age of 33 when I first started dating my future wife, who was a trade embalmer. I got to know a little about the profession through her, and then when I was made redundant from my job as a sheet metal worker/welder in the aircraft industry, I took on the role of her driver, transporting her to various funeral premises. I was offered a full time job by one of the companies to work as a bearer/driver, which I took and started from there.

What made you choose embalming?

Initially, after showing an interest in embalming through questions to my girlfriend, she asked me one day if I would like to view an embalming. With the funeral director’s permission I attended the embalming of a lady, which completely changed the course of my life.

I was asked to try and put myself into the minds of the relatives of the lady who was to be embalmed – how would they feel when viewing her in the chapel of rest as she looked now before the embalming process? I’m sure most people reading this don’t need an explanation.

After the embalming had taken place I was asked the same question again. The transformation was quite astounding; I was moved to tears and knew that from then on I would dedicate my life to the profession. I enrolled onto a British Institute of Embalming (BIE) course with Sheila Dicks at the Salisbury School of Funeral Sciences and found I had a natural talent for the work. I have since assisted funeral directors throughout England with the care of the deceased.

Does anyone work alongside you?

I mainly work in mortuaries by myself, although I do help funeral directors to dress and coffin the deceased. I fit in easily as part of any team and can often be found acting as an under bearer at the drop of a hat when needed.

How has the embalming profession changed since you started?

The profession is much more health and safety conscious. Funeral directors’ premises with an attached mortuary for embalming seem much better ventilated and equipped. There have also been attempts to introduce formaldehyde-free embalming chemicals, as formaldehyde is a carcinogen. Embalmers are now recognised for their worth and are paid in accordance with their skill.

What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

Embalming babies, children and young people; I have children myself and have tried to understand the grief the families involved have to go through, which, unless it’s happened to you personally, is an impossible task. Although it is traumatic and difficult for any embalmer to deal with, I am proud to say that we as embalmers are probably the final people to be able to help families through an incredibly difficult time by caring for that child in between the time of death and the time of the funeral, helping to make them look at peace and hopefully helping the parents in their grief.

What do you enjoy the most?

I don’t know if I would call it enjoyment – enjoyment to me being riding my motorbike at hair-raising speeds – but there is a large element of job satisfaction attached to my profession; one of the greatest is showing a family to a chapel and them saying that their loved one looks “asleep and at rest; better than they did before they were even ill.”

What changes can you see happening in the future?

I believe the health and safety aspect of the job will continue to improve; there will be more formaldehyde-free, alternative embalming chemicals; and funeral directors who don’t at present use an embalmer will see that the skill and expertise of a qualified embalmer not only helps families through their grieving process, but also helps their business.

What advice would you have for anyone starting out in the industry?

Be very sure that this is what you want to do as it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Volunteer to help in the first instance, and before embarking on a course ask working embalmers about their job, and what the pros and cons are.

I am proud to say that we as embalmers are probably the final people to be able to help families through an incredibly difficult time

If you would like to appear on this page, please send an introductory email to Naida Ally at naida@funeralservicetimes.co.uk