News

Funeral Poverty, Ash Memorialisation and Memorial Trees

Funeral Poverty is a serious issue. This is often created by a number of factors coming together: no savings or spare money; funerals by their nature are pricey due to the work involved – so it is a big expense; people don’t plan or discuss their needs; people don’t put any money aside. This has […]

How NOT to Scatter Ashes – A daughter’s farewell goes wrong

We have been writing on the subject of ashes for over ten years. We have thousands of people who come to the site every day looking for advice and guidance on how to this very final act of farewell. We talk about tide times, landowners’ permission…. you name it we have discuss it. However, among […]

Mother left distraught after council ‘vandalise” grave

A grieving mother has railed against the council for what she considered to be the vandalising of her son’s grave: they removed ancillary memorial items – flowers, vases etc from the grave. This is not uncommon, the reason it makes the news is the sensitivity of the individual balanced with the reaction of the council. […]

A Survey of Best Places to Scatter Ashes … really?!

Always on the hunt for Scattering Ashes news and alerts: a recent ‘survey’ got some press coverage – of the best places to scatter ashes in the UK. Actually, to be fair to them they called it an analysis, but as it got picked up by the media they then labelled it a survey. So […]

The Government’s review of the funeral industry in a nutshell

As you know the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have been having a close look at the Funeral Industry in the UK and their findings have finally been released. Here is my short and candid summary of what I believe they said: People don’t shop around for funerals because dealing with the death itself is so traumatic (amongst other things), […]

Cremation Ashes as a Marketing Ploy

Nothing new in the world they say. Well perhaps, but this is certainly different. There is a famous restaurant in the Las Vegas called the Heart Attack Grill. Its whole method of promotion is entirely paradoxical. It is famous for telling you that their food is very very bad for you. They are in the […]

Now where did I leave that bag?

Well David Cameron forgot to take his kids back from the pub if you remember, so I suppose leaving cremation ashes behind is understandable? A dog walker reported a bag left near a busy road in Paignton in Torbay, Devon at around 8am on 1- September morning. It turned out to be a bag containing […]

Wishes if for your ashes are impacted by Coronavirus – one lady’s qiuestion

So I have been keeping an eye out for covid-19 ashes stories, and came across this question that was sent to the ITV helpdesk Diane – l am British and my son lives in the USA. l have always wanted my ashes to be scattered at sea there – on the beach where my […]

Covid-19 & crematoria – should councils be banning families from funerals?

Covid-19 Dear Councils Please could you reconsider your stance on Cremations during Covid-19 outbreak. A number of councils have banned mourners from attending the cremation in order to protect their staff. I want to make it absolutely clear how I feel about this – this is wrong: plain and simple Here are the reasons why […]

Gandhi’s ashes urn stolen

Gandhi’s ashes urn stolen Gandhi’s ashes urn stolen. Mahatma Gandhi, considered by many Indians to be ‘the father of the Nation’, has had his 150th Birthday celebrations slightly marred. An urn containing a portion of his ashes was stolen from the Bapu Bhawan memorial in the state of Madhya Pradesh, and a poster of the […]

Dumping of Ashes makes a Scottish beauty spot unsightly

Scatter ashes at beauty spots hits the papers again For ten years I have writing about scattering ashes, where you can and where you can’t, what you should and shouldn’t do. In fact, in one of my early post I had angry walker in the Lake District blaming me [how very dare he!] for the […]

How much for losing ashes?! Court decision on the value of ashes

We often ponder the value of ashes: to some they are worthless to others the most precious item on the planet, in previous posts we have considered their worth in monetary terms. Well in a recent case in the town of Mobile – a port city on Alabama’s Gulf Coast in US (yes, I thought […]

TV wants to hear from families that want to scatter or have them scattered at an iconic landmark

Denhams TV in Plymouth are making a television programme for ITV and would love to hear real-life stories from people who have decided to do something extra special with ashes to commemorate a life. The programme is a celebration of Britain’s most iconic landmarks and we would like to highlight the British public’s connection with […]

The Six Nations Rugby Tournament, Guinness and Scattering Ashes

The Six Nations 2019. Hold the press, someone has invented some spooky mind ray thing and they are somehow extracting thoughts, I blame the Google Street View van. It must have some clever gizmo on it that is harvesting thought waves. This must be the only plausible explanation, otherwise how else could the advertising agency […]

Family Business Of The Year 2019 – We Are Shortlisted!

Family Business Of The Year 2019 South West Shortlisted for Family Business Of The Year 2019!! What a wonderful way to kick-start the year although the news has meant that sticking to a dry January might be a bit tricky! I am absolutely thrilled that we are shortlisted for this prestigious award. It means so […]

Comedian is in dispute over her daughter’s ashes

Ava Vidal’s Daughter’s Ashes I don’t like exposing people’s family woes unless there is a wider a message or point to understand. In this case, I think there is. The comedian Ava Vidal is locked in a high court battle. Mrs Vidal and her ex-partner are disputing what should happen to their daughter’s ashes. Their […]

What does Rod Stewart want to do with his ashes?

Rod Stewart’s Ashes Veteran rocker Rod Stewart wants his ashes to be scattered at Celtic Park (the home ground of the Celtic Football Club), or failing that Hampden Park (Scotland’s national football stadium) Nothing odd about that, he is a well known football supporter and associated with all things Scottish. It then occurred to me, […]

Appeal – RIVER WALKS BBC – River Soar

Hello there, I am a freelance TV producer and the BBC has asked me to tender ideas for a River Walks programme. I would pitch for the East Midlands version of this regional commission – revealing interesting walks alongside various rivers in the region. On the River Soar in Leicestershire we are thinking of featuring […]

Etihad Airways cremation ashes policy

Carrying ashes on a Etihad Airways flight Etihad Airways The Abu Dhabi based flight operator has announced that it is rolling out new rules on carry-on bags aboard flights they are restricting certain powder material from cabin luggage. The good news is that there is certain exemptions and cremated remains is one of them: 1. Medically […]

Can you use a funeral plan to tell your family what to do with your ashes?

About 1.3 million mortality-minded Brits have paid for their funerals ahead of time using some form of pre-paid funeral plan. If you’re planning to join them, you might be wondering whether your plan can be used to sort out what will happen to your ashes at the same time. The (inconvenient) answer is: kind of. […]

BBC Documentary Series – get in touch about Celebrations of Life

The documentary company Wild Pictures has been in contact with us: We’re making a documentary series for the BBC about different approaches to death and ageing and we’d like to hear about funerals as a ‘Celebration of Life’ as we try to see beyond taboos and fears around talking about death. The series will be […]

Hawking’s Ashes are buried with the greats

The late great professor Stephen Hawking ashes have been interred at Westminster Abbey between those of Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton. He was buried under an are at a ceremony conducted on 15 June 2018 Quite rightly so, not only achieving so much for science but for his positive impact on attitudes towards disability. And […]

Family traumatised by Councils neglect of memorial rose garden

A slightly different blog this week we have been contacted by a lady who is struggling to communicate with Trafford Council about the rose garden where her daughters ashes rest, this is what she said: In 1997 my daughter Jeannine died at the age of 30 after a very short illness so we were devastated […]

Are councils refusing to hand over ashes in the cases of ‘pauper funerals’?

Right, a controversial subject. Let’s us attempt to set out the stall in a nonpartisan fashion. A Pauper Funeral is an old-fashioned/emotive term for funerals where the local authority are required to step in as the family are either unwilling or unable to pay for the funeral. Technically these are known as public health funerals […]

The Vatican’s position on the ashes of saints

The Vatican has updated it rules on relics these are body parts (and more historically) including associated items of a saint. There has been issues recently when surviving family members disagree with what the Catholic church wishes to do body of a person once they have given saint status. The rules were last updated in […]

Over 19 Million Thais offered sandalwood flowers for the king’s cremation

The offering of Sandalwood flower for cremation is Thailand is symbolic, after the Thai king’s death (Bhumibol Adulyadej) in May this year the new king organised a project so that the public could learn how to make these flowers so that they could present these flowers as an offering for at king’s cremation. The traditional […]

John Noakes goes out with a Bang! Intrepid presenters’ final farewell

Even saying John Noakes’ name will bring a smile to your face if you are of certain age, what was one of the most loved icons of 70s children’s TV. From climbing Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square to sky diving. If Blue Peter had a task that needing a bit of derring-do, then he was […]

BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine Show on Spreading Ashes

BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine Show. Rich has just been on the Jeremy Vine show if you want to listen he’s about 20 minutes from the end. Great piece and what a lovely group of people. #scatteringashes Following a complaint from a lady in Plymouth Richard was asked by the Jeremy Vine show to come […]

On my way to the Blue Ridge Mountains

The crematorium run by Cremation Services Inc. of Winston-Salem has had its license suspended by North Carolina Board of Funeral Services. Why? Well one of its employees had 93 unclaimed sets of ashes stored in his home in North Carolina. A neighbour noticed bone fragment and ashes near to the man’s dustbin and reported it […]

One ethical commentator opinion of what to do with ashes

I came across the following Q&A in the Toronto (Canada) Star Newspaper. Have a read: Recently, two friends of mine, a couple, died; Martha went first, John second. Both were cremated and the ashes dispersed, except that, before he died, John had kept some of his wife’s ashes. I was the executor of his estate, […]

Aussie Cricketer in a wonderful act of charity

I can’t say I haven’t always been that charitable towards the Australian cricket team, today I have been humbled by Steve Waugh the ex-captain of Australia for his wonderful act of kindness. Mr Waugh is often going to and from India from his wider charity work this time he had a special reason to visit. […]

Scattering by drone – a logical extension I suppose

Ashes in fireworks, ashes scattered from Bi-planes, radio controlled helicopters and now from a drone Well I guess there was a certain inevitability, people like ashes being scattered into the sky and the drone is the latest and most convenient / affordable method for doing this. But currently only available ‘Down-Under’ and probably near the […]

Somerset Crematorium tricks relatives over a scattering – then hold their hands up

This story reported in Somerset Live is interesting first as you don’t get to hear of many wrong-doings here in the UK. Whether that is because produces are tight or there is a code of silence one can’t say but knowing a little of what goes on I am inclined to believe the former. Anyway staff […]

Secret scattering to avoid the witness fee

Officials at Dudley Council in the Midlands have revealed that there has been a rise in families going into the memorial gardens at Gornal Wood and Stourbridge Crematoriums and scattering the ashes of their loved one’s without permission. There are questions being raised as to why this is happening: well cost is being cited as […]

Exhumation granted due to proximity to footpath

As you may have seen from other posts I try and highlight as many examples of formal exhumation for Church of England cemeteries as possible so I can give you an idea of what constitutes exceptional circumstances as possible. If you are not aware exceptional circumstances are the criteria the Church of England puts in […]

Lost and found – ashes locket -warming story for Christmas

We all hate losing stuff, but just imagine losing a locket with a loved one’s ashes inside – how distressing would that be. However, on this occasion there was a happy ending. Last month Bud Crevasse, an octogenarian from Signal Mountain Tennessee, spotted a shiny pendant on the floor of a local car park, he […]

The media step in to help a school pupil get access to his mum’s ashes

The Eastern Daily Press (the daily paper covering Norfolk) and Evening News have waded in to help a young man get access to mother’s ashes. Caleb Manship was left orphaned in February 2016 Caleb who is still at school age was hoping to scatter her ashes at their favourite park in Blakeney, Norfolk. But there […]

Devon Life

Devon Life piece We’d love you all to rush out now & buy a copy of this month’s (July) Devon Life, not only does it have loads of really great ideas about things to do in Devon but it has a rather lovely article all about us in it!!! We’ve been featured in the Made in […]

Charging for families to witness a scattering ceremony

Local Authorities are often at the sharp end of public anger when it comes to bereavement services, in extreme cases like the baby ashes scandal at Morten Hall or issues around removal of memorial items from a grave plot. I tend not to be partisan on behalf of the public, councils often have a difficult […]

Prince’s Ashes

Prince’s Ashes The musical icon Prince passed away late last month, he was found collapsed in a lift at his home. Those in the know consider there is no reason why he should have taken his own life and the most likely explanation is an accidental overdose of painkillers he was using for a back […]

A change of mind is not a good enough reason

Seeking to exhume a loved one’s ashes is difficult when they are buried on Church land, you will need to apply to the Consistory Court of the diocese and demonstrate: exceptional circumstance. On the blog we like to report any case we come across so that you can get a better pictures as to what […]

Survey from British insurance company on ashes preferences

There has been a survey of people ash scattering preferences and the following is the main content of a press release from insurance provider British Seniors Insurance Agency: [They] looked into the weird and wonderful places that people want their ashes scattered once they die. New research has revealed over half (55%) of the UK want […]

David Bowie’s ashes to be scattered in Bali

David Bowie’s Ashes David Bowie a trendsetter of the first order did away with a traditional funeral opting instead for a direct cremation (one where no one is present) and requested that his ashes be scattered on the Indonesian island of Bali “in accordance with the Buddhist rituals”. Bowie had since his teens flirted with […]

Is the Church of England softening its stance on exhumation of ashes?

We feedback any reports we come across in the press on exhumation of ashes, we do this so you can start to understand the stance and precedents set by the Church of England. We hope to help you in deciding whether your case may be considered worthy enough to meet the CoE’s stance of ‘exceptional circumstance’. Recently a lady wanted […]

Is it grave robbing or grounds maintenance?

Darren Bibb is angry with Solihull Council: accusing them of grave robbing! Mr Bibb’s disabled son passed away just after his 18th birthday in 2011, and the family decided to place a stone memorial over where his ashes are buried on the grass and adjacent to the headstone. But the council has removed the memorial stone. […]

Memorialising premature and neonatal cremations

The Mortonhall and Shrophire tragedies have highlighted the extremely sensitive issue of ashes from premature or neonatal deaths. The loss of a baby brings extreme grief to families. One additional issue is that with some very small babies the bones have not yet formed and as such there is no ashes left to collect. The lack of […]

Journalist interested in families wishing to share their ash scattering experience

Hi – I am a film maker from Northern Ireland making a documentary about a local journalist with a terminal illness. He is interested in speaking to families in Northern Ireland who are scattering their loved ones ashes for the film. He is curious about alternative ways of celebrating someones life in death and we […]

Could this be the oddest family tradition?

The two journalist ash clichés that I am mildly tired of reading are: Hunter S Thompson’s wishes to have his ashes go in up in firework and veteran rocker Keith Richards snorting his dad’s ashes. It turns out the latter wants his kids to do likewise, starting probably one of the oddest family traditions I […]

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