 The reason is that they don’t write down or talk about their wishes. The difference between what people actually wanted and what they end up having can be poles apart. It happens because ‘buying’ a funeral is a stress purchase and with no guidance from the person who has died, their families with their emotional energy already sapped, buy the default set piece. This is what we've found. During the summer we attend a number of agricultural shows. As well as spreading awareness of our natural burial grounds, it gives us the opportunity to meet and speak to local people. This way we can find out how they feel about what we do and they can ask us questions. Compared to the horticultural tent and cheese vendors (which are both fantastic!) our stand offers a completely new topic of conversation. And as you can imagine, it gets people talking.
The options on the board ranged from transport, coffin types and memorials, to dress code and drinks, with cider unsurprisingly beating tea by 55 to 28. Maybe a pint brings out the better stories at wakes? Concerning the more environmental topics, we found a considerable difference in choice between the options available. A wicker or hardwood coffin? 71 said wicker, 11 would prefer a hardwood one. A headstone or wildflowers? 6 wanted a headstone … the other 80 would rather have wildflowers on their grave. Eco-friendly or cremation? 56 to 29. The margins are huge. If you follow the choices made to their logical conclusion you would be right in thinking that the average UK funeral would be a colourful, eco-friendly one. But it’s not. We’re taken off in an oak-veneered chipboard coffin in a shiny black hearse plus one limo to the gas guzzling, featureless crematorium by funeral directors dressed like Victorians. When a funeral is given some prior thought, the experience can become a more memorable one, one to cherish rather than endure; "many of those who attended my wife's funeral were surprised that a natural burial was possible - and commented very favourably on the whole experience (particularly in contrast to recent cremations in the family.) … Finding an alternative to traditional graveyards and crematoria was important to her. Being able to plan her service and a resting place which reflected her personality was a source of great relief. The day itself, when it came, was peaceful and dignified and a truly moving experience for her family and friends" – a testimonial from a funeral at Cardiff Natural Burial Meadow. Other results indicated that people would rather be carried by their mates than undertaker's bearers, for a Robbie Williams track to play them out instead of Frank Sinatra, and that the pub is the most popular place to go afterwards. Ultimately, the results demonstrated that somehow we’re not given the day we’d really like. We’re denying ourselves our final wishes. So what’s going wrong? People are forgetting to write it down and/or talk about it. Do it today! The results speak for themselves
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Outside the funeral home lies the ‘Garden of Fond Memories’, where statues of the Resting Ones are erected in their memory. It is the job of staff Mister Jobel and his student Tasambeker to upsell. This they do via the ‘perpetual arrangement’. Sound familiar? While your body is ‘suspended’ you can opt to have music and information played to you by ‘The DJ’ to keep you abreast of music trends and news. You don’t want to be out of date when you come back do you? For a bit extra the DJ can read messages from your loved ones to you to keep you updated with family events. And then there’s the memorial statue.
At the end of the episode The Doctor says “This place is called Tranquil Repose. I think we should leave the dead in peace don’t you? I know somewhere that is truly tranquil, peaceful, restful. A panacea for the cares of the mind.”
“Planets come and go. Stars perish. Matter disperses, coalesces, forms into other patterns, other worlds. Nothing can be eternal.” – The Sixth Doctor, Colin Baker. So it’s a natural burial for Doctor Who then, when he stops regenerating. |
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Company
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The Essentials
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Useful links
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Leedam Natural Heritage
The Market Tavern 26 Agincourt Square Monmouth NP25 3BT Tel 07735 764 972
or 01600 716438 |
© Leedam Natural Heritage, a trading name of Native Woodland Ltd a company registered in Scotland No. SC240278