Experiences

Veteran’s Ashes Parachuted in for a final farewell

Remembrance Sunday Remembrance Sunday is an important time of reflection. It has been 101 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the ‘Great’ War, 75 years since D-Day and this year also saw the 75th anniversary of the ill-fated operation Market Garden, the offensive to capture strategic bridges in the Netherlands, that…

The two opposite roles water fulfils when it comes to scattering ashes

Scattering ashes on water paradoxically seems to occupy two opposite roles at the same time: a place of special meaning and a somewhere anonymous. This occurred to me after I read two stories one after another of the different roles that water was fulfilling. The first was a report on Shoko Asahara the leader of…

Myth busting at Tesside Crematoria

First and foremost I must apologise for plagiarism, not something I tend to do, but this really couldn’t be improved upon. The main reason I reproduce like this on occasion is so that good stuff like this does not get lost in the morass that is the web. So I hope I can be forgiven…

Christmas – coping with bereavement 2020

Christmas – coping with bereavement Christmas can be a very difficult time of year. It’s always brings the family memories rushing forward, especially if it a first anniversary since your loved one passed away. We have a few ideas for surviving Christmas but everyone is different so please do speak to others who have been…

Did you feel you had long enough for your ceremony at the crematorium?

We asked the public whether they had long enough for their ceremony at the crematorium for their service? Yes the length of time was right – 56.25% Just a about enough time – 16.25% It was slightly rushed –…

How to honour a friend: flush him down the loo

Okay, so that might not be the first thing you think when considering the options for the ashes of a lifelong friend. However, that is what Thomas McDonald decided to do to honour his friend. Any old toilets, you might be thinking? No, specifically those of baseball grounds in the US. Why? Well, firstly Mr…

Scattering ashes locations evoke a memory of how they lived

There is often a pull between scattering ashes at a cemetery or a specific ‘other’ location – a hillside, a beach, a view. I came across this article My Father Has No Grave — So I Visit Him Where He Lived by Jesse Sposato which is excellent and I would urge you to read it.…

Thoughts on scattering the ashes of a son

This is article written for The Australian, I have copied it out whole. I am not aiming to plagiarise. I want people to understand some of the thoughts and emotions of others in a similar situation. Especially articles that they would not have come across ordinarily. Ones such as this below by Tom Walton on scattering the ashes of…

Celebrity ash scattering ceremony: David Gest

Celebrity ash scattering ceremony at Clifford’s Tower in York

David Gest TV impresario and ex husband of Liza Minnelli passed away in April this year and after a public funeral in Golders Green in London, his nearest and dearest decided that York would be the most appropriate place to scatter his ashes. David loved the city and had said that was where he wished to…

A family scattering ceremony in Shropshire

Family scattering ceremony in Shropshire The following piece is copied unedited straight from the Family Section of the Guardian newspaper. I believe it captures a very British scattering ceremony: the emotions, the situation and the actions – I would encourage everyone to read it. You would never think to take a screwdriver when scattering your…

Scattering mum at Gibraltar point

This is a lovely piece about a daughter, her siblings and offspring returning their mum to the area where she grew up, at Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire in the UK to scatter the ashes. From the BBC magazine online: ‘Who said scattering ashes was easy?‘ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6542207.stm The lady’s emotions are those shared by many, rather than cut…

Ashes in Fireworks: a lovely Guardian article

I suppose it is because we get regular enquirers about putting ashes in fireworks that I don’t think there is anything unusual or strange about it, but I suppose we are a bit more exposed to it than most, so when the Dearly Beloved passed the Family Section of the Guardian across the breakfast table…

Professional Photographer needs your help on scattering stories – ‘HERE I AM’

Can you help me? I am looking for stories of why and where ashes have been scattered. ‘Here I am’ is a photographic project I started a couple of years ago based around the themes of memory and loss. I had been working with the NHS on an End of Life project, which entailed talking…

Scattering Ashes a Rainbow and the Daily Mail

The Daily Mail carries quite a few stories on scattering ashes probably more than the rest of that the UKs national papers put together, why that should be I can only hazard a guess. I am told that paper has an in-depth knowledge of it readers (I suppose it should really), so I presume…

A man causes panic and a Mall shutdown after scattering his fiancée’s ashes

A shopping mall in Sarasota, which is on the west coast of Florida in the USA, went into shutdown after a man was observed scattering an unknown substance on the floor of LensCrafters opticians in the Southgate Mall. Thomas Morin inadvertently triggered a full scale alert when carrying out the last wishes of his recently…

You don’t need words to say goodbye

We often think we need words to fill our world, here two brothers (presumably) are scattering the ashes of their father in a tranquil and beautiful setting. Nothing is said apart from one enquiring whether the bag containing the ashes is to be washed out with the sea water. I like it. I always think…

The forever fisherman: an anglers choice

People who have a passion for a sport often choose to have their association enshrined with their ashes. So whilst the request Mr Peter Hodges, an angler from Somerset final wish may seem strange to many, to others it has perfect resonance. When Mr Hodge, at the age of 60, discovered that had motor neurone…

A fairway farewell? The golfer’s dilemma

Are you a golfer or was your loved one a golfer? Are you thinking of scattering your/their ashes on a golf course? If the answer is yes to these questions then read on. I found an excellent article by a chap named Mark Donavan who has considered the angle very thoroughly from a golfer’s…

Scattering Roxanne in Arizona

Below is a five minute video that had been posted on YouTube entitled Spreading Ashes – Spreading Roxanne’s ashes at Bell Rock in Sedona, Arizona. Why it was upload and for whom I am not sure, but clearly by the emotion shown it was still quite raw for those involved. It is not an easy…

Scattering in Maes y Mynydd – letting a friend go

I came across a post by the artist and illustrator Jackie Morris, she has shared her experience of scattering the ashes of a close personal friend called Glyn. It is a lovely piece from a cleared talented artist. Strangely enough I had a look at her Facebook page to see if I had seen her work before,…

Skydiving ashes video

What a way to go, this is celebrating a life in style! We offer a service to release cremation ashes during a a skydive. Whilst this is not one organised by us us I thought you may find it interesting – I thought it was great, particular the sound track a sort of Spanish version of ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ –…

Experiences from Australia 5: next to the Shiraz in the cellar

This is the last article in the series and was not with the others but was on the same theme, from the same paper and seemed to chime nicely. “Lowen Partridge, daughter of the late Tom Partridge, a founding member of Adelaide’s Beefsteak and Burgundy club, and her family thought it only fitting that…

Scattering in Ramsgate: the story of a son of an ex-policemen

Here is a short story I found on the website storyline.com it is about one mans experience of scattering his fathers ashes. I will try and put up as many of these stories as I find, anything which helps you to validate your experience and lets you know you are not the only one should…

Experiences from Australia 4: Clay figurines

Full credit goes to Beverley Hadgraft the author of the original article in the Australian daily Telegraph. In the original article there were four different voices from four different experiences I have put a link at the bottom if you wish to see the article in full. I have split it into four parts for…

Experiences from Australia 3: Ashes carried in a Teddy Bear

Experiences from Australia 2: my brother’s under a fern tree

Full credit goes to Beverley Hadgraft the author of the original article in the Australian Daily Telegraph. In the original article there were four different voices from four different experiences I have put a link at the bottom if you wish to see the article in full. I have split it down for people…

Experiences from Australia: by a river where mum was raised

Agatha Christie and the River Dart – one man’s experience

A customer dropped us a note about their experience: “June passed away late last year after a being ill for a few months, she had chance to put her affairs in order and she said that she wished to be cremated and we had a lovely service at the church even though she was…

Martyrs Tree Tolpuddle – Scattering ashes around the Tolpuddle tree

Martyrs Tree Tolpuddle – Scattering ashes around the Tolpuddle tree Martyrs Tree Tolpuddle. Here is an article from the Guardian newspaper from November 2012 the experience of one family scattering, well actually placing, the ashes of the husband and father at the famous Martyrs tree in Tolpuddle, A tree which became an iconic symbol when…

Crematoria sending memorial product brochures to grieving families – is that okay?

This article was from the Buckingham Today website concerning the practice of crematoria ‘up-selling’ to people who have used their services. A couple received marketing literature from the crematoria operator a few days after the service for the man’s brother, they we appalled by this and told the newspaper so. They said they didn’t…

Scattering ashes at sports grounds – researcher needs your help

Scattering Ashes is trying to help out on research on scattering on sports grounds this is what they say: Hello, I am a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire and my recent research interest is exploring the decision making process for scattering human ashes at sport sites. My research is a case study centers…

Planning for a Viking send off

Ian Uzzell, face of the Jorvik Viking Centre, is planning to go out in one of our Viking longboat urns according to the Northern Echo. Although they report ‘He has not yet decided what will happen to the boat.’ I guess the question is does he follow popular myth and iconography and go out…

Scattering ashes ceremony – one woman’s experience

Scattering ashes ceremony – story of one woman’s experience and how she explained it to her child. Here is a blog post about a mother scattering the ashes of her late husband and how she explains it to her infant daughter, it is lovely actually. The lady has clearly thought it though and while…

Lady plucks up courage to touch her husband’s ashes

I have taken this from a forum post and copied it out in full, not that I trying to steal IPR just that I don’t know how long those thing stay up there and I think it should be preserved. A really touching piece actually and something you should read to know there are people…

A short story about scattering ashes on the beach

This posting is in applauding a short story about a stepmother and her stepchildren taking the shared father/ husbands ashes to be scattered in the sea near Saltburn in the North East. The writer conveys the emotions of the characters really well. Highlighting a common issue around primacy of rights and disagreements over how to…

An ashes tour with a difference

I do occasional get a stray cricket fan coming to the site in the mistaken belief I have some insight into the fabulous test series between England and Australia. Well hopefully if you are one of those very people you will like this post and raise a glass to one who shares your passion.…

Scattering ashes from a model plane

Well this is one more for the list. Mike Whitelaw from Bedford in the USA is honouring his father’s dying wish by scattering the cremated remains from a model aeroplane. Mike explained “He said to me that he’d love to go up in this plane and have his ashes spread all over Margaree which…

Film short: two sons go to scatter their mum’s ashes over a lake

After The Funeral from John Phillips on Vimeo. This is a great little film packed with spirit about two sons who go to scatter their mum’s ashes over a lake. It touches on their relationship and the emotions and history behind this very significant act. Well acted and well shot! good food for thought.…

Gran’s ashes run aground

The Bournemouth Echo carried a bitter sweet tale of a family who were carrying their Gran’s ashes on a boat to be scattered at sea near the Old Harry Rocks in Dorset. Unfortunately the boat got into trouble and got stuck on the rocks. Apparently they had to be rescued by the RNLI, which the whole…

How long after the funeral should you wait before a scattering ceremony

Is there an ideal time to scatter ashes ? How long should you leave it after the funeral? As we think scattering ceremonies can really help the grieving process, if done well. Does it help with ‘closure’? So we asked and expert Anne Wadey – Head of Bereavement Advice Centre. This is what she said: “As…