Planning a Wake
If you are thinking about planning a wake, here are some of the things you might wish to consider: A wake is simply a gathering of people to mourn the passing of a loved one, either before or after the funeral. It is generally assumed that the word ‘wake’ comes from the days when individuals […]
Open casket
Ever thought about opting for an open casket at your funeral or experienced viewing one yourself? It’s a popular choice in the USA, where viewings or wakes that take place a few days before a service are a standard part of funeral rites, but it’s not a very common sight in the UK and the […]
Graves of the rich and famous
Whilst most graves are just visited by family and friends, many last resting places of the famous rack up thousands of visits in any one year. Visiting famous graves is now big business with many people finding it a great way to learn about history or pay respects to an idol. There is even a […]
Buried alive
The concept of death can be difficult and often terrifying to contemplate, but for some the thought of being buried alive is more unnerving and it can become a pathological phobia – or taphophobia, to use the technical term, from the Greek taphos meaning grave or tomb. Prior to modern day medical practices, this fear […]
Alternative Hearse
Choosing an alternative hearse in which to make your last journey can be a great way to personalise your funeral plans. Many famous people have been transported to their final resting place in less than conventional vehicles – Martin Luther King travelled in a white Cadillac, Princess Diana’s coffin was carried by a gun carriage […]
Burial plots and how to find one
Britain is littered with examples of burial plots – from Saxon ship burials at Sutton Hoo and Roman stone coffins around Hadrian’s Wall to rural Norman churchyards and modern metropolitan cemeteries. Although a recent article by the BBC suggests that cremation is now more popular in the UK than burial, a YouGov poll found that […]
Can you be buried in your own garden?
Although many of may have never considered it a possibility, the easy answer is actually yes, you can be buried in your garden or any private land you own, with a few caveats. The Burial Law Amendment Act 1880 made sure of that. After all, ancestral homes are littered with family cemeteries, and mausoleums, and […]
Funeral museums around the world
Recent research by Safe Hands shows that the taboo around discussing death may be lifting, with 30% of us prepared to think more about our own death and funeral planning. What better way to do this than with a trip to a museum? With many established museums around the world specialising in the history of […]
Lockdown funeral: what you need to know
A lockdown funeral is becoming in the norm for those wanting to say goodbye during the current pandemic. Organising a funeral for loved ones can be a daunting process at the best of times and recent restrictions due to government attempts to contain COVID-19 have made this even harder, not only for individuals involved, but […]
A memorial plaque to remember loved ones
A memorial plaque is a popular way of creating a lasting mark of a loved one. A very British place to put a plaque is on a garden or park bench – click here for our article on how to create one. However, if you’re looking for something slightly different, there are many other places […]