Time waits for no man and this month I celebrate reaching the milestone of sixty years. Is that possible, already? Over half of, what seems a very brief lifetime, I have been a Funeral Director. Over thirty years, in a profession where traditions are so jealously...
Comparing the last 12 months to the year before, we have seen a shift towards funeral events that were highly personal. A key element of the uniqueness was often the coffin. At the heart of a funeral, it’s the recognisable stand-out moment. This is especially true at...
You’ve heard the phrase: “there are two certainties in life: death and taxes.” What’s less well known is that planning ahead for one’s funeral tomorrow can actually help improve their tax position today. And as the tax-year end approaches, interest in...
At a time of significant restrictions, Andrew Purves gives perspective on the debate surrounding roles and responsibilities in the face of unexpected crowds attending Scottish funerals. His comments were in response to the Scottish Health Minister’s reminder that...
As one of the UK’s most popular Christmas carols, various versions of In the Bleak Midwinter are cheerfully sung in churches, village halls and high streets throughout December. Roll on a few weeks and I can assure you, there are fewer places bleaker in...
Tim Purves vigorously defends the role of funeral directors following a high profile fine imposed on an English firm for not policing unexpected crowds in The Scotland on Sunday newspaper. Funeral directors ‘should not be responsible’ for policing mourner...
Today’s Times features our second generation memorials team at work, providing lasting legacies for loved ones at a time when funeral attendance is so restricted....
“Heartbreaking” sums up our Chariman, Tim Purves’ view on the burden facing families arranging a funeral during Covid-19 restrictions. Read the full article here:...
In a podcast for the World Council of Churches, Tim Purves comments on the profound affect Covid-19 has had on funerals. He outlines his concern for the bereaved in months to come and you can hear an excerpt of the interview below. However, if you would like to listen...
Managing Director James Morris explains why saying goodbye is healthy and quite normal.I really wish we had a better word for it. When someone has died, ‘viewing’ is the term we use when families come in to our funeral homes to say goodbye to their loved one. In our...