Busybody nonsense update

A quick update on the attempt by Christopher Harris to persuade Woodstock council to abandon its requirement that  ‘all interments [of ashes] … must be arranged by an approved professional firm’

We foregathered in the council chamber. Green baize-covered table, mace thereon, oil portraits of worthies from various lost ages, Union Jack, evening sunlight streaming in, mayor with a Funeralworld capo’s chain, framed photo of the Annigoni portrait of the queen, noble fireplace, cabinet full of pewter plates — in short, a scene from Dad’s Army. Proceedings began with no preliminary welcome from the mayor and no explanation of the democratic process as it operated in this chamber. Half the council members sat with their bloody backs to us. It was the sort of event that makes tyranny look terribly attractive. 

Chris spoke very well in the teeth of a stentorian countdown from the mayor – “One more minute.” If the councillors listened they did so in a way different from you and me. They then voted to go into confidential session to discuss it all… and that was that. No news of a decision has come through today. We are none the wiser. 

Do animals have souls?

Cat-loving cleric and huge character George Callender, one of the GFG’s favourite and most admired funeral celebrants/ministers, talks here on Channel 4’s 4thought about what happens to our pets when we die. Sorry, we can’t embed it.

“I have officiated at many pet funerals over the years, and I believe that animals, like us, when they die, return to the collective essence of all that has gone before.”

1 min 42 secs

This is for everyone

Posted by Belinda Forbes, celebrant.

For some of the participants, when an event as life-changing as the Olympics finishes, it is like a bereavement. So it was appropriate that at the Closing Ceremony on Sunday evening Eric Idle performed Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life. This is a song which I have been asked to play on several occasions – usually at the end of a funeral ceremony.

Amongst the skating nuns, the Indian dance troupe, the Welsh women in traditional costume, the Morris Dancers and the angels, my eyes were drawn to the Scottish pipers. This was the Reading Scottish Pipe Band led by Pipe Major Ron Paterson. I have had the privilege to work with Ron and we have done several funerals together. At a funeral in April of a fellow piper, Ron played with pipers from the Reading Pipe Band and the Pride of Murray Pipe Band – seeing them lead the hearse through the crematorium gates was an incredibly moving sight.

Last night he was interviewed on our local BBC new programme South Today about his experiences at the Closing Ceremony. He and the other band members had thoroughly enjoyed mixing with the celebrities. One of the Spice Girls made Ron’s day when she told him that she loved his uniform. However, the best moment for him was the noise made by the audience as the band entered the stadium.

You deserve it Ron!

The Good Funeral Guide
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