FACING THE INEVITABLE

Kettle's of Brigg, are holding a special day next Thursday when you can visit their premises in Elwes Street to discuss funding/arranging your funeral - hopefully in the very distant future.
This firm has had a presence in our town for many, many years. And lots of senior Brigg Blog readers will remember seeing Will Taylor, as chief mourner, striding out, with dignity, infront of a funeral cortege passing along Brigg streets in years gone by.
He had a very close working relationship with the old Lincolnshire Times weekly newspaper, based at 57 Wrawby Street.
If it was going to be a particularly well-attended 'send off' the entire editorial staff of the office (three of us, plus Edward Dodd, by then retired) would attend to collect the mourners' names at St John's, St Mary's, or the Methodist Church.
The Lincolnshire Times did very thorough obituaries, and not just on the rich and famous.
Visiting the bereaved to collect information about the dearly departed was always depressing but it was something you had to do, safe in the knowledge that a well-written 'obit', with a full list of mourners' names attached, would be appreciated by the grieving family come Friday's arrival of our paper through their letterbox.
Edward Dodd was a master craftsmen when it came to compiling tribute pieces, and many young reporters picked up tips they employed themselves for many years, having moved on to bigger papers.
Edward thought it only respectful to wear a black suit, or black overcoat, when 'on duty' at funerals. And I remember his severe displeasure when the best a newcomer to the office could manage on the day was a green anorak.
Some of the mourners who attended Brigg funerals a quarter-of-a-century ago popped up regularly at send-offs to pay their respects, representing companies. The very best of these (usually in agriculture) would have a printed business card, listing his name, title and firm.
After a few years taking names at the church door and reporting in the Brigg area, you got to know a good proportion of the people attending and could impress them by saying: "It's Mr ...... isn't it? From.........."
Putting the 'other mourners' into some sort of order for the report was never an easy task, made more difficult by those who wanted you to put 'also representing' and then list a string of names of family members or friends.
Many of today's young journalists would be horrified at the prospect of having to attend the church to carry out such a task.
But, as the old saying goes, 'it never did us any harm'.