Return to: Home | Life & Society | Society

This England

Published 12 February 2009

Each printed entry will receive a £5 book token. Entries on a POSTCARD, please, to This England, NS, address here: http://www.newstatesman.com/nscontactus.htm

This England

Correct funeral dress

Philip Pilling, of Bridlington, buried his father Aubrey beneath his shed. Philip, 57, dug an eight-foot hole underneath the shed and dressed his dad, who had lived at the house for 44 years, as a sheikh.

Neighbour Nigel Stabler, 32, was offered the chance to visit Aubrey, 94, when he died naturally.

Nigel said: "I was shocked. Aubrey had been dead nine days and there he was, dressed as a sheikh, complete with headdress and sunglasses, laid out in a simple wooden wardrobe."

Philip said: "My dad wanted to be buried in the garden, but I asked if he really wanted the fire brigade attending his funeral.

"So he told me to bury him under the shed."

York Star (C Mayfield)

The right kind of punter

A brothel in Belsize Park has met with mixed reactions from neighbours.

"This area is very family oriented so you would not expect that around here," said one neighbour. But another said: "If their clients are judges and magistrates, then that is fine. It will bring some money into the area."

Ham & High (Ron Rubin)

Post this article to

  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • newsvine
  • Reddit

Post your comment

Please note: you will need to login or register before you can comment on the website

Read More

Newsletter

Enter your email address here to receive updates from the team

Vote!

Will Baroness Ashton be an effective EU foreign minister?

Suggest a question

View comments

© New Statesman 1913 - 2009

Tracker