The GFG Blog
2015Jan
Singing them on their way
Charles
Jan
26
9 comments
Posted by Tim Clark This is Threnody (above) all ready to sing into action at Colwyn Bay Crematorium. It’s our belief that the sound of unaccompanied natural voice singing, in three- or four-part harmony, can create a space for strong emotion; can console and comfort, can embody and say
Celebrant turned zoo keeper
Charles
Jan
23
10 comments
Posted by Wendy Coulton I think my neighbours must have been impressed when they saw me clear out space in my garage this month. But the truth is I had no choice. You see, next week it will be the new home for the eye-catching and thought provoking centre piece
What the hell?
Charles
Jan
19
6 comments
“Belief in life after death is as common in Britain as it was 30 years ago in spite of a sharp decline in church attendance” according to researchers at the University of Leicester. The story is in today’s Times. The stats in the Leicester report don’t tell us anything we
The good meeting place
Charles
Jan
07
8 comments
Posted by our religious correspondent Richard Rawlinson Where would we be without our Rover’s Return or Central Perk? The Corrie pub and Friends café are what sociologist Ray Oldenburg calls a ‘third place’ in his book, The Great Good Place. They’re neither home nor work, but accessible, accommodating and
Empathy and sympathy – what’s the difference?
Charles
Jan
05
No Comments
Posted by John Porter Sometimes the boundaries of the definitions of these two words, empathy and sympathy, become fuzzy. They become fuzzy for good reasons. This is from Confessions of a Funeral Director, which is often mentioned in GFG posts, entitled 10 Marks of a good funeral director: 8. Empathy
2014Dec
An Irish Funeral in Birmingham
Charles
Dec
31
4 comments
Posted by David Hall With Vintage Lorry Funerals website displaying David Hall’s contact details, some Families seek to book the 1950 Leyland Beaver directly to avoid the margin that some Funeral Directors seek to impose. David’s mobile is always switched on, apart from when he is involved with
It’s a wrap
Charles
Dec
23
3 comments
pic source The private ambulance is on its way, porters are bringing up the mortuary trolley and the nurses in the ICU are disconnecting tracheostomy tubes, dialysis lines, catheter and ventilator. Soon the Old Year will be flatlining. Farewell 2014 ur a legend RIP. Here in the GFG-Batesville Tower, where our annual Christmas party
Womb to tomb
Charles
Dec
22
3 comments
Posted by John Porter This is the most exploitative time of our year. Everyone gladly leaps onto the bandwagon and we cheer each other into debt. The orgy of gift opening on the day is extraordinary. Children rip open expensive toys that leave almost nothing to their imaginations. Within minutes
Adopt a grave
Charles
Dec
19
2 comments
Your average grave is visited for an average of around 15 years. After that, neglect can leave it looking unloved and anonymous, creating exactly the opposite effect to the one intended. There are those who see a cemetery as a monument to the vanity of human wishes. I’m
An offer they can’t refuse
Charles
Dec
18
12 comments
A number of independent funeral directors have sent us a copy of a letter they have received from Golden Charter: Dear _________ The latest Funeral Planning Authority statistics confirmed that Golden Charter is now the leading seller of funeral plans. As a non-seller, your existing plans currently do not
