Sentiment - Video and photo montage production

In April I joined the NAFD (Nation Federation Of Funeral Directors) as a supplier. Last Wednesday was the AGM and the first time I was to meet the Chilterns members. I’d been informed that these meetings were generally a chance have a catch up over a laid back beer and curry. In my eyes this was a perfect way to introduce myself to all the local funeral directors that I had not yet met and charm them with my good looks and talent!

I walk into the pub and see 2 men ‘fully suited and booted’ perched at the bar with a couple of pints – Ah ha, I can spot a funeral director a mile off! I smile and ask them if they are here for the NAFD meeting. They respond with a shy mumble! I interpret this as a very confused ‘yes’!

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p002r5wp/Graham_Torrington_17_04_2009/

Here we are with Liz from Fantastic Funerals live on BBC radio Bristol…

11.08 mins in…

Just as I was running out the office on Thursday morning, I received a phone call from BBC Radio Berkshire asking me to speak live on air… I knew what it would be about straight away as I’d had 3 calls from various sources in the past 24 hours regarding the launch of the Co-operative Funeralcares survey regarding Music in funerals.

I was interviewed by Henry Kelly – here is the link: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p002qzwq/Henry_Kelly_16_04_2009/.

(about 33.09 on the time line).

I’ve never been a massive fan of flowers for funerals. In my family we have always said no to flowers and asked people to donate to charity. I could never understand why people would spend £100 on a wreath that would be seen for an hour. I even tried to convinced a local florist a few years back to make ‘reusable fake wreaths’ just to go on the coffin during the ceremony… I’m a bit of a scrooge!

Yesterdays funeral consisted of about £10,000 worth of flowers! I had never in my life seen so many flowers. There were 3 lorry’s, each over flowing with outstanding floral tributes. Each tribute was made into something unusual from the Tower of London, speed boats, Lorry’s, hearts, teddy’s, angels, shirts, cars and even Coke Cans – not a cellophane wrapped bunch of flowers in sight, just grand floral tributes in their hundreds! This could have been perceived as tasteless and over the top, especially as they dominated the entire cemetery, however I thought it was bloody wonderful – what a send off? How amazing that all these people emptied out their pockets to pay their respect with flowers to a good old working class man of the community… this is not a celebrity we are talking about just a great guy!

Yes, I’ve changed my mind – bring me flowers by the bucket load for my funeral, they are fab!

(I will post a still from the film as soon as I get permission from the family)