The GFG Blog
2014Jul
So it goes
Charles
Jul
17
1 comment
Posted by Vale Have you ever thought what it is to be a King or a Queen? You are, usually, born to it: it is your life and your duty. Our own Queen clearly feels this keenly. As far as a commoner can tell, for her, the coronation oath
Fire & Water
Charles
Jul
16
8 comments
Posted by John Porter I am an archer. I am a funeral celebrant. The last funeral I facilitated was of Thelma, my archery coach. She used to coach the British archery team many years ago. The chairman of Tonbridge Archers led the tribute and, much to everyone’s surprise (he
One better than Webster
Charles
Jul
15
3 comments
Posted by Vale ‘Webster was much possessed by death And saw the skull beneath the skin’ Today 21st century body art offers the opportunity to go one step further and actually put the skull there. It’s called a sub dermal implant and it’s what you can do when
How To Die In Britain
Charles
Jul
14
3 comments
In just over a week Lord Falconer’s bill on assisted dying will have its second reading in the House of Lords. Opinion seems to be moving in its favour. The British Medical Journal has published an editorial in favour, recognising that increasing numbers of medical people support it. A
The ash-scattering radio-controlled helicopter
Charles
Jul
12
4 comments
We love this new way of scattering ashes and we think you will, too. Flight begins at 1 min 30 secs. Website here.
Locked in memory
Charles
Jul
11
6 comments
Guest post by John Porter I was wandering around the Albert Dock in Liverpool and came across these padlocks locked to the immensely thick chain that guarded the quayside. In fact there were thousands of them! Many had etched inscriptions saying things like “Will love you for ever Simon”, “Never
More to it than wearing a hat and making a face
Charles
Jul
10
13 comments
Guest post — At the request of the writer, her name has been withheld for the time being I first became aware of this blog when I was researching the effect of Downton Abbey on British attitudes to what used to be called domestic service. What caught my attention was
A greener way to embalm?
Charles
Jul
09
No Comments
Guest post by Hatty Stafford Charles of Naturensbalm Embalming is used in a number of circumstances and for a variety of reasons. If the body is to be viewed before or during the funeral, embalming will sometimes be necessary. If the person has died after an accident or
Responsibility for your own conduct
Charles
Jul
08
2 comments
By celebrant Wendy Coulton of Dragonfly FuneralsThe Plymouth Herald ran a story recently about a family complaint that the funeral service for their relative was disrupted by the loud and distracting sound of laughter and conversation outside by a large number of people waiting to attend the next funeral. They included
Statement by the FBCA
Charles
Jul
08
No Comments
The Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities has received much criticism on this blog in the past week. I have received an assurance from the FCBA Secretary that a response will be forthcoming.