National Day of Reflection: United in Memory
On March 23rd, 2021, the UK reached a sad milestone, 12 months since the first lockdown.
We joined Marie Curie in their National Day of Reflection to remember those lives cut short as well as those left behind who carry the unwelcome burden of grief on their shoulders.
A time to come together to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.
You are not alone, let’s do this together and unite in memory. As well as a national minute of reflection at 12pm people were encouraged to light up their doorsteps with torches and candles. Bells tolled, and, at 8pm, prominent buildings and iconic landmarks were lit up across the UK.
However, you chose to mark the day we are forever united in memory and stand together for all those lives lost and affected by Covid-19.
To support the campaign, UK Poet Tyrone Lewis has written and performed Everybody Hates Grief, a powerful spoken word poem about grieving in isolation.
The poem describes how digital communication like WhatsApp messages can bring some solace but are no replacement for the ‘real thing’.
The video is available to view at https://vimeo.com/508443059
Sandra is taking to the skies for Hospiscare
On 2nd May 2021 South West Area Development Manager Sandra Murphy will be taking to the skies and completing a wing walk!
The twists turns and dive from 500 ft will be a challenge, but nothing compared to the challenge of a terminal diagnosis that so many face each year.
Sandra is determined to raise as much as she can for local charity, Hospiscare which provides support for terminally ill patients and their families across Exeter, Mid and East Devon.
Hospiscare believe that every day matters and their teams of doctors and nurses offer specialist palliative care to enable patients to make the most of the time they have left.
Please help Sandra make a difference by giving whatever you can. To give you an idea of the impact your donation could make – Sandra’s £200 target would be enough to fund nearly four visits from a Hospiscare at Home Nurse. Thank you for your generosity, it means a lot!
Visit Sandra’s JustGiving page here: https://bit.ly/3toSgcQ
National Day of Reflection
Since the first lockdown began in 2020, millions have been bereaved. On 23rd March, the first anniversary of UK lockdown, we joined the nation to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.
The team at James Brown & Sons Funeral Directors Lisburn Road gave away tealights for people to take home and light at 8pm for a national shine a light.
National Day of Reflection
I just wanted to send you a couple of images of a small display we’ve created in honour of today – the flowers in the window have been provided by children in the area and I’m going to be dropping easter eggs off to them as a little ‘thank you’.
I’ll send you some images of the daffodils we’re taking to the local care homes for Easter once we’ve been and taken them.
National Day of Reflection
Since the first lockdown began in 2020, millions have been bereaved. On 23rd March, the first anniversary of UK lockdown, we joined the nation to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.
At Ian Brown Funeral Directors, as well as observing the minutes silence, daffodils were placed in the windows, each one representing a loved one and their families, that Ian Brown had the privilege to care for in this past year.
The candles burned as a symbol of hope for a brighter tomorrow and continued to burn for the remainder of the day into the evening.
National Day of Refection
Since the first lockdown began in 2020, millions have been bereaved. On 23rd March, the first anniversary of UK lockdown, we joined the nation to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.
MM Broad Funeral Directors decorated their window to mark the day and show their respects.
Easter Window
Pinks Funeral Directors have bought some early Easter cheer to the community with their Easter window display which is sure to delight passers-by.
National Day of Reflection
Since the first lockdown began in 2020, millions have been bereaved. On 23rd March, the first anniversary of UK lockdown, we joined the nation to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.
Roy Quinton Funeral Directors in Walsall and Bushbury worked alongside their local Church to display details of times families could attend the church to light a candle and put a ribbon on their tree.
Recognising our hardworking team members
Area Development Manager Wendy Ambler sent a gift to each team member as a little thankyou for all their hard work over the last 12 months.
The gift bas included a small bottle of wine, a heart shaped candle, a Toblerone and some chocolate biscuits.
Wendy said: “Your professionalism during this time has been outstanding especially as we had no idea what to expect in a world of uncertainty.
Please light the heart shaped candle at 8pm tonight in memory of all the people who sadly lost their fight to Covid 19.”
National Day of Reflection
Since the first lockdown began in 2020, millions have been bereaved. On 23rd March, the first anniversary of UK lockdown, we joined the nation to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.
A simple flower table was set up outside Wm. Dodgson & Son Funeral Services in Kippax with daffodils.
Passers- by were urged to take a bouquet as a small gesture in the hope that this would brighten up theirs or someone else’s day.
Easter Competition
Diary Manager Charlotte Ambler contacted Bright Sparks, a local After School Club to ask if the children would like to take part in an Easter Card Competition.
Charlotte said: “We provided 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes to the children and with their permission we delivered the cards along with some Easter Eggs to the residents of Berkley Court care Home.”
Easter cheer all round!
Easter window
Doves Funeral Directors in Bromley have bought some early Easter cheer to the community with their Easter window display which is sure to delight passers-by.
Easter treats for local church
Wm Dodgson’s Kippax branch donated 40 crème eggs to St. Mary’s Church, Allerton Bywater
Easter Window
Blackheath Funeral Service has bought some early Easter cheer to the community with their Easter window display which is sure to delight passers-by.
Mother’s Day
For Mother’s Day Woking Funeral Service gave all the female residents at Princess Christian Care Home a bunch of daffodils.
The ladies were delighted by this small gesture, one of many ways Woking Funeral Service recognises and acknowledges days of significance through the year, ensuring that the female residents at Princess Christian felt special on Mothering Sunday during what has been a difficult year.
Supporting Leeds Women’s Aid
To coincide with Mother’s Day, generous team members from GH Dovener & Son Funeral Services contributed to a hamper for Leeds Women’s Aid, it’s a independent charity, providing services to women and children affected by domestic violence and abuse.
The hamper include essential items needed to support to families living in emergency refuge accommodation including chocolates, cakes, sweets, cosy slippers, kids essentials – colouring books, pencils, and unopened toiletries (sanitary pads, shampoo, facemasks etc).
Thank you to everyone who contributed.
Supporting Leeds Women’s Aid
To coincide with Mother’s Day, generous team members at Melia Powell Funeral Service contributed to a hamper for Leeds Women’s Aid, it’s a independent charity, providing services to women and children affected by domestic violence and abuse.
The hamper include essential items needed to support to families living in emergency refuge accommodation including chocolates, cakes, sweets, cosy slippers, kids essentials – colouring books, pencils, and unopened toiletries (sanitary pads, shampoo, facemasks etc).
Thank you to everyone who contributed.
National Day of Reflection
Since the first lockdown began in 2020, millions have been bereaved. On 23rd March, the first anniversary of UK lockdown, we joined the nation to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.
At Melia Powell Funeral Service in Sandbeds they had one of their cars outside with daffodils on the bonnet, and a box of daffodils outside the Keighley branch.
Carla Weatherall, Funeral Arranger and Administrator at Sandbeds said: “We’ve had so many great comments and people coming up to the window to say thank you and asking if they can make a donation – we directed people to the Marie Curie website.
People from all faiths and all ages have stopped to chat to us about what we’re doing. We’ve had people who have lost loved ones stop and tell us their stories, and others have taken flowers for a family member who have experienced loss. Two bunches have been taken to place on graves at the local cemetery.
One gentleman saw our sign on his drive home, parked his car and crossed the road to pick some up and chat to us.
Everyone that we’ve spoken to have said thank you so much for what we’re doing to raise awareness for the day and that they’re really pleased to see us doing this.
It’s gone done really well and has been lovely to get out and chat to people and show them that we’re a friendly team here
One member of the community sent in a message to say that she’d picked a bunch up on her way to work at a children’s nursery to use them to talk to the children about the day and the children are drawing daffodils this afternoon to take home with them. “
Such a fantastic community response – thank you to everyone involved.
Supporting Leeds Women’s Aid
To coincide with Mother’s Day, generous team members at Wm Dodgson & Son Funeral Services contributed to a hamper for Leeds Women’s Aid, it’s a independent charity, providing services to women and children affected by domestic violence and abuse.
The hamper include essential items needed to support to families living in emergency refuge accommodation including chocolates, cakes, sweets, cosy slippers, kids essentials – colouring books, pencils, and unopened toiletries (sanitary pads, shampoo, facemasks etc).
Thank you to everyone who contributed.
Supporting South Ayrshire Women’s Aid
The team at ML Williams Funeral Directors recently donated Easter treats to Ayrshire Women’s Aid, a charity supporting women and children through domestic abuse
The chocolate eggs will be handed out to children of the families SAWA support.
250K steps challenge for British Heart Foundation: A Q & A with Funeral Arranger Rachel O’Donoghue about her recent fundraising efforts.
• Where did you get the idea to walk 250k steps for the British Heart Foundation?
I was arranging to do a window display in branch for BHF National Heart Month and while looking on their website for promotional ideas/pictures etc I thought I would check to see if there was something, I could get involved in to help raise money. The step challenge was perfect for me as I could fit this in around my daily routine and would be safe to do in the current times.
• What motivated you to take on this challenge?
Since the Covid pandemic started and with the various Lockdowns and Tier’s I myself had become very lazy and had no motivation. I would get home from work and put my feet up and basically veg out and weekends were the same, so this challenge was a good opportunity for me to get back to being active.
• Why is the British Heart Foundation important to you?
I believe we all in some way are connected with someone who has a heart condition and may have even lost a loved one. We only have one heart and we all should look after it, so wanted to help raise money and also at work with the window display help bring awareness to the local community.
• What support did you receive from your colleagues?
All my colleagues got behind me and some sponsored/donated to my online JustGiving page. I kept everyone updated daily via my Facebook page.
• How did you change your daily routine in order to complete this challenge?
I get up more while I’m in the office, I now have to do a daily walk once I’m home, I move about more at home and if I still feel I have not done enough I would ‘prance’ as my husband calls it around the house!
• What impact do you hope to make with the money raised?
I just hope to raise any amount of money to help with further research and get us closer to cures and treatments, you never know one day I may need that help myself.
Well done to Rachel who managed to raise £340, walking a total of 301, 851 steps.
Easter Window
JH Way Funeral Services has bought some early Easter cheer to the community with their Easter window display which is sure to delight passers-by.
New signage installed
New signage has been installed at Burnham Funeral Service. The finished result gives a fresh look and feel to the building.
