Would a Frozen funeral leave you feeling cold?
Have you ever thought about how you might leave this world? No? Well a Black Country funeral parlour has a few, shall we say, unusual ideas.
Manager of Ellsmore and Family Funeral Directors, Edward Farnan, hosted an open day at his Bilston business on Saturday, so people could get a glimpse of some of the unique services on offer.
Far from a traditional hearse, locals were wowed by the option of a pearly white Cinderella carriage; a hearse pulled by jet black horses, or even a small hearse with a motorcycle strapped to the side at the High Street business.
Mr Farnan said: “I wanted people to see what we have on offer. It drew quite a crowd.”
Popular Disney character Elsa, from Frozen, also made a special appearance, waving at excited children as she leaned out of a Cinderella carriage being pulled by two white horses.
Simon Kelly, aged 58, from Cannock, is a motorcycle hearse driver and went along on the day to talk to locals about the different kinds of funeral transport available.
He said: “It was never ending, there were so many motorcyclists in Bilston who were interested.
“My voice is still croaking from talking all day.
“They were asking about how its managed and I explained that often when the coffin is in, a family member can then ride alongside in the pillion seat.
“It’s very popular in that respect. I always carry an extra helmet in case they weren’t aware they could do that, as they often want to.”
Mr Kelly, who has worked for Motorcycle Funerals Ltd, for nearly three years, said more people were opting for something different to just a standard hearse.
He added: “We’ve moved on from the bog-standard cars and bog-standard coffins, where we go away and die quietly.
“When we have something different, like a motorcycle hearse, even passers-by know the passion that person had for motorcycles. Just by seeing it come by.”
Mr Kelly even said when his time comes, he would want to be transported in a motorcycle hearse, specifically a Suzuki Hayabusa, which can cost about £900 for a funeral.
He added: “Most of the people who want them had an association with motorbikes, but sometimes it’s just people who want something different, something to make the neighbours talk.
“Saturday was all about showing people that there are so many different options.”
He went on to say that the most unusual mode of transport he had ever seen at a funeral was a bus, used to transport the coffin. “I don’t know how people would see the coffin as it was such a massive vehicle,” he added.
