Poppy's

🏳️‍🌈 It's great to see this from our friends at Royal Trinity Hospice. If you're and want to tackle barriers to accessing palliative
care and end of life planning, check out these free arts-based workshops hosted by Trinity and run by No Barriers Here 🏳️‍🌈

No Barriers Here training These No Barriers Here sessions are for members of the LGBTQ+ community. These sessions are an arts-based approach to exploring and expressing individual wishes and choices when it comes to future care.

It's very reassuring to see the Competition and Markets Authority continuing to shine a very bright torch onto the funeral sector by launching this new insight gathering survey.

The point of the survey is to gather views on the state of the funerals market. The CMA will use this insight to help shape next steps and in particular whether to make a 'market investigation reference'. This work follows the CMA's 2020 market investigation into funerals which identified serious problems within the market including unethical pricing, aggressive sales techniques and unacceptable care for the dead.

This is good news because there continue to be systemic issues. Progress has been made but there are many miles to go before grieving people accessing a funeral can be guaranteed to have a supported, transparent, fair and safe experience.

Standards remain low and that is not okay. In fact this is why Poppy's was founded 12 years ago: to make funerals better for everyone – and we’re still leading the way.

Please do contribute to the survey (open until 20 September) if you have a perspective to share, but more broadly please spread the word about the difference between great and substandard funeral services so grieving people know they have a choice to access the great care they deserve when they need it.

Funerals market: insight gathering We are particularly interested to hear views on how the funerals market has evolved since the conclusion of the market investigation and on the following questions.

☕🗨️♥️ ⚰️Death Café is back this autumn.

We're looking forward to more chats about death over tea and cake on 19 September at Boulangerie Jade, East Sheen, and 10 October in Joy Café, Tooting.

For full details and times, check out our events page. Hope to see you there. https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0b_yF50

We love it when conversations open up about death, dying and funeral planning, among friends, family members and also in the media. It can be hard, but it's good for all of us.

It's serious stuff, but that doesn't mean you can't laugh about it too. That's just what this article does. And, if you'd like to chat to someone about your funeral wishes or ask any questions, you can always get in touch with Poppy's.

Heroically, I wrote a will. But what if I’d hate my own funeral? | Emily Mulligan What if there were geraniums? Yuck

At Poppy's, it's really important that everyone on the team, whatever their role, understands how we care for the dead and the work that goes on in our mortuary. So in this team meeting, we all learnt about the process of lining a coffin in natural calico.

Many funeral directors don't look after the people in their care on-site, so we're proud that our Tooting office is just a minute's walk from our beautiful, light-filled mortuary space, in a converted chapel.

In this new podcast, listen to our CEO Clare Montagu talk about death, dying, what happens after you die and all of the details which people often don’t want to discuss until someone close to them dies.

Episode 6. We’re all going to die, so let’s talk about it. Also, Tony Blair. - yBC.tv Clare Montagu’s career – so far – has been far from conventional. Fresh out of Oxford University and London School of Economics, Clare got stuck into the world of politics, including two years working for Tony Blair when he was PM. In recent years, she’s been in the business of death and dyi...

"Death, like birth, is a life experience that takes us to the very edges of ourselves."

In this week's blog, our founder Poppy Mardall explores what we can learn from birth planning, when thinking about death. Why does it matter and what can help us?

Birth, death and the power of planning – Poppy's Blog – Poppy's Funerals Our founder, Poppy Mardall, reflects on what planning for birth can teach us about planning and preparing for the end of life.

📢 Come and work with us!

Applications close this weekend for a brand new full-time Senior Practical Lead role, assisting with caring for people in our mortuary and ensuring funerals run smoothly.

Find out more and get in touch. We'd love to hear from you.
https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0bRccF0

"For many, decorating the coffin is a way of paying tribute to the uniqueness of the person they love who has died. And all ages can take part, including very young children."

Check out our gallery of images and ideas, showing how Poppy's clients have decorated and personalised cardboard coffins.

How to personalise a cardboard coffin – Poppy's Blog – Poppy's Funerals In this blog, we share some beautiful, personalised cardboard coffins decorated or chosen by Poppy’s clients to help you if you are looking for inspiration.

🌈 You don't have to wear black for a funeral. In fact, Barbara's family asked everyone to come in bright colours to her funeral because they wanted "to celebrate rather than to mourn".

Read more about their choices and get inspired on our updated Stories and Ideas page.

https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0bRk4W0

"The thought of the coffin, it just makes you stop in your tracks, but decorating it gave us something practical we could do with our hands. It was really wonderful."

We love this story from Anna-Louise about decorating her dad's coffin with some of the things he loved, including flowers, ties and ci**rs.

We decorated my dad’s coffin — with flowers, ties and ci**rs – Poppy's Blog – Poppy's Funerals Anna-Louise’s dad, Dan, was a larger-than-life figure who turned every occasion into a party, so it was only right that his send-off was something special.

If you are strong, organised and responsible, why not join Poppy's as part of our mortuary team?

We're looking someone full-time to assist with the smooth running of funerals, collections and visits. If this sounds like you, or someone you know, please have a look, apply or share. We'd love to hear from you.

https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0bNwJ00

"Poppy's are very clever at identifying the character and loves of the person who died." Gill Manly, funeral celebrant

We loved this interview with friend and celebrant on BBC London with Salma El-Wardany last week.

Opening up conversations about death, demystifying what a funeral celebrant does, and giving a shout out to how Poppy's matches celebrants and clients.

You can still have a listen here (3h11m-23m)

Salma El-Wardany - 15/08/2024 - BBC Sounds Have your say on the day's news with Salma.

Pleased to see our founder Poppy Mardall included in this article exploring new ways that funeral directors are relating to the public.

We're not wild about the headline, but it's a pun that few media outlets can resist.

They’re Putting Some Fun in Funerals Modern, even hip, mortuaries around the world are hoping to answer one question: How do we commemorate death in 2024?

It's a simple idea but a good one. We've joined other South London businesses as part of the Sit Stop scheme. So if you are out and about in Sheen, and need somewhere to stop and sit down, you're always welcome to pop into Poppy's.

A horse-drawn hearse is still a popular funeral choice and we love seeing horses at Poppy's!

Here, we share some practical tips, gorgeous pictures and surprising facts to help you see whether this is the right option for you.

https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0bK7q00

The Ostler Horse & Carriage Company

Why choose a horse-drawn hearse? – Poppy's Blog – Poppy's Funerals A horse-drawn hearse is still a popular funeral choice. We share some practical tips and surprising facts to help you see whether this is the right option for you.

This is the Poppy's collection vehicle. You may have seen us out and about around local streets. Whenever we need to collect someone who has died, we are gentle, capable, reassuring and give you the time you need to say goodbye.

Find out more about what to expect from a Poppy's home collection. https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0bCX4_0

The first person you speak to when you phone Poppy's will be one of our Client Support Advisors (CSAs). Please join us in welcoming Holly Knowlden to our CSA team.

Holly says: "My career has taken many different avenues. I’ve had experience with life, death and everything in between, but I’ve always felt my purpose was within the funeral sector, it’s an absolute privilege.

"I’ve always admired Poppy’s for the way they care for the living and the dead and also for how the team at Poppy’s are treated. This is something that truly stands out for all the right reasons."

Photographer Derek Cattani was a trustee and director of Lion Aid during his life.

After he died, his family continued his support of the charity by using https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0bzPvQ0, a group of volunteers who source & arrange flowers, with profits going to your chosen charity.

We love the bright colours of these flowers and the story they tell.

When writer & journalist Hayley Campbell came to visit Poppy's, we were able to show her the humanity at the heart of our work. We're grateful that she's been able to share this widely (yes, even in Australia) in a way which opens people's eyes and addresses their fears. Have a read here.

This journalist spent two years working with the invisible people behind the death industry When Hayley Campbell was just a child, she had an encounter with death that began a lifelong curiosity about what happens when we die.

'I've no intention of dying anytime soon, but when I do, I want to be wrapped up in the words and memories and thoughts of people that love me.'

Garment designer Jed has planned their funeral with Poppy's. In this blog, they explain beautifully why have chosen a natural burial at Clayton Wood Natural Burial Ground and how they are crafting their own shroud from natural materials.

Why I am making my own sustainable shroud – Poppy's Blog – Poppy's Funerals Garment designer Jed Phoenix is crafting their own shroud. In this blog, Jed shares what inspired them to plan their funeral with Poppy’s.

📢 We're hiring! Come and join the Poppy's team.

⭐ Senior Practical Lead to assist with the smooth-running of our practical work, within and around our mortuary.
⭐ £28,120 pa.
⭐ Full time, permanent.
⭐ Closing: 1 Sept.

Find out more and apply:

Join our team – Poppy's Funerals We are funeral directors with a fresh approach to funerals. Join our team at Poppy's and be part of a fast-paced, people-centred, ambitious organisation.

This vintage black Daimler hearse provided a real touch of class at a recent Poppy's funeral. We love helping clients make the choices that are right for them, whether they are modern, more traditional or anywhere in between.

🌱💚⚰️🌻 Did you know we have a section in our website catalogue especially for greener funeral choices, including locally-grown flowers, coffins made from natural materials, and info on natural burial grounds and electric-powered crematoria?

Funeral choices - Coffins, Hearses, Urns and more – Poppy's Funerals Browse our wide selection of products for funerals. From coffins, hearses, urns, flowers and much more. Poppy's provides a fresh approach to funerals in London and beyond.

From the importance of cake to the power of connection, here are seven things that our founder Poppy Mardall has learnt from running Death Cafes in Tooting and Sheen. Keep following us or check out the events page on our website for upcoming dates.

Seven things I've learnt from Death Café – Poppy's Blog – Poppy's Funerals In this blog, Poppy's founder and funeral director Poppy Mardall reflects on what she has learned from running Death Cafés in Tooting and East Sheen.

We've just updated our simple guide to funeral planning (formerly, guide to great death care).

This short booklet suggests questions to ask a funeral director, and outlines the kind of standards you should expect, all in clear, practical language.

Have a flick through it here.

Funeral Planning: A Simple Guide – Poppy's Funerals This guide from independent funeral directors, Poppy's, explores what great death care looks like and suggests questions to ask a funeral director to help you get the right care.

Looking for some holiday listening? Well, maybe a podcast about death might not be top of your list. But these recommendations of their five favourite death podcasts from The Guardian will make you cry, laugh and think. Check them out and maybe find a new favourite. We'd love to know what you think.

Best podcasts of the week: Esther Perel’s love letter to romance In this week’s newsletter: The audio superstar is back with a ‘beach read’ of a podcast, The Arc of Love. Plus: five of the best podcasts about death

We love the work we do as funeral directors. It's not easy, but it's rewarding, creative and every day is different. Yet few people consider being a funeral director as a career choice.

So we were delighted that funeral director Victoria (centre here with staff and other participants) was able to join Year 7 & 8s at The Kingston Academy on their careers day to explain what we do and answer their excellent questions.

Poppy's is growing! Please join us in welcoming Susan, our newest funeral director.

Everyone at Poppy's brings skills and experiences from different careers and backgrounds. Find out more about what brought Susan to Poppy's in our latest blog.

Introducing Susan, Poppy’s new funeral director – Poppy's Blog – Poppy's Funerals We’re delighted to introduce Susan El-Habash as the newest member of the Poppy's team, working alongside our existing funeral directors.

You have to use a local funeral director when arranging a funeral. True or false?

This blog explores the reasons why you might look beyond your local high street and answers your questions about cost, local knowledge and timing.

Do I have to use a local funeral director? – Poppy's Blog – Poppy's Funerals Poppy’s is based in south London, but we arrange funerals much further afield too. Here, we answer common questions about using a local funeral director