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In a fascinating evening, Mr Nigel Hosier of J Edwards & Sons delivered a talk about the work of a Funeral Director. We learnt to our surprise that at the beginning of the 20th Century is usually fell to carpenters employed by builders to make the necessary coffins. From there, it was but a small step for builders to adopt the additional role of undertakers. J Edwards & Sons were originally builders who eventually split the company, one part to continue their building trade the other part as Funeral Directors. Mr Hosier explained how in his capacity as a funeral director he was required to liaise with many people such as local doctors, ministers of religion and, in the event of a violent death, with both police and the coroner's office. He explained how at the turn of the century horse drawn hearses were used for funerals and surprisingly enough these have once again become fashionable. Interestingly what has greatly changed is the ratio of interments and cremations. Years ago the vast majority of deaths resulted in graveyard burials but today something in the order of 75% of deaths result in cremations. Some crematoria, such as Chichester Crematorium are privately owned while others, like Portchester come under the local council. In common with most small businesses small funeral directors are being bought up by larger companies. American companies are particularly aggressive in the purchase of such firms, as in America funerals are very big business and sold as such, some 50% of funerals in the USA are prepaid whilst only 3% are in this country. |
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page last updated 1 APRIL 2000 |
