He also references books such as Jessica Mitford’s ‘The American Way of Death’ which had a lot to say about the US funeral trade and its practices. Almost all of the funerals that take place in the UK are rooted in the rituals and habits of the Victorian era. And whilst this is fine for most people, it is not right for others. Robert Callender describes himself as the first punk undertaker. But rather than a leather-clad bloke with some suspicious piercings and a Mohican, he is a ray of light in the stilted world of the British undertakers.

Stacey Solomon rolls round on the floor in panic as she attempts to rescue a bird trapped under her sofa - whilst husband Joe Swash films the whole thing Rupert Callender takes us to the dark end of the street, but he does so with wit, beauty and no little experience. It's a one-of-a-kind ride, filled with storytelling. This original and gutsy book will do a lot of good in the world.' King Charles will 'never reach status of the Queen who would always rise over 'problematic' family members, Omid Scobie says in new book Jodie Marsh is branded 'pathetic' after vegan glamour model compared meat-eaters to serial killer Jeffrey DahmerThis book does not tip-toe about death, thankfully. Callender writes in fresh and frank tones about the nature of death. This book explores that nature, our choices, our individuality and our community, the effects of death, fear of the dead and fear of death itself, how that differs, how personal this is to each and every one of us. He writes about the empowerment and healing people might experience when given the freedom to care and wash their dead, to carry and bury their own dead, to process their loss and love for themselves and in their own way and own time. This book rings the bell for change and changing attitudes to how people may wish to honour their dead. Callender delves into death rituals, from the cultural and the magical to the mundane, and it challenges any mystery shrouded around the traditional, conveyor-belt style cremations in stark, sterile concrete buildings. Treats for under the tree: Top 10 festive gift ideas that promise to be all THEY want for Christmas It’s not a perfect book - I’ll get to that - but it is seriously powerful, and you’re swept up in such emotion reading it. The book is read by the author himself, who I found unlikeable, appears bitter for his upbringing (which sounds like it was one of immense privilege) & is insulting of people who don’t agree with his ideas (“reptile brained” being one phrase that springs to mind).

What Remains? is a profound and vital book that reads less like a memoir and more like a confession. As honest, terrifying and truthful as a mirror at midday, it embraces life and death equally and is too compassionate to flinch. Inspiring and unforgettable.' Jennifer Ellison, 40, flaunts her toned figure in a white bikini in Turkey after revealing she's ditched dieting and is finally happy with her weight The topic is fascinating and his points of view weren’t easy to digest, but I love that he made me think, and his stories brought some very important issues to the table as he explains that in the UK there’s an over practicality and the emotions and bereavement are often set aside (Just like a saw on telly during the Queen’s funeral) Grace Dent will be paid her FULL I'm A Celebrity fee despite quitting the show after just eight days in camp What Remains? is a profound, deeply moving, and politically charged book that will change the way readers think about life, death, and the all-important end-of– life experience.So why do we continue with the maudlin rituals of the modern funeral? Partly religion, partly the history of funerals and family expectations and more.. The vocational journey had actually begun much earlier, although he didn’t realise it at the time. He missed the funeral of his own father, whom he adored and who died when he was seven, because someone decided it would be too upsetting for such a young boy. He didn’t go to his grandparents’ funerals either. Soon after his father died, he was sent away to boarding school. It was a traumatic experience and, years later, it still occupies most of his therapy sessions. In contrast, he was exposed to kindness and humanity during the school holidays, watching his mother while she worked at a hospice, a place where dying is part of living. Death, both the negative and positive aspects of it, was all around his early life.

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean show off their incredible skating skills as Winter Olympics winners rehearse aheadof Dancing On Ice Kevin McCloud reveals husband who appears in upcoming series of Grand Designs died during the project T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach are still going strong as they are seen canoodling on NYC street and sharing boozy lunch Inside the Queen's last days at Balmoral: How late monarch refused to let Charles take over to make Liz Truss PM, telling aides 'it's MY job'At one point he describes a funeral for a local homeless man, and says of a speech he gives after carrying the coffin through town, “I am a little preachy, but a good funeral should be anyway.” This is completely contrary to everything he’d been saying in the book till that point. It was gross how he’d used that funeral to rail against the society evil of gambling that this homeless man had as a vice during his life when the rest of the book discussed how funerals should be about the deceased, not a preachy sermon. Call me morbid or call me realistic; in the last decade and a half I have read a lot of books about death, including terminal illness and bereavements. I’ve even read several nonfiction works by American mortician Caitlin Doughty. But I’ve not read anything quite like punk undertaker Rupert Callender’s manifesto about modern death and how much we get wrong in our conceptualization and conversations. It was poignant to be reading this in the weeks surrounding Queen Elizabeth II’s death – a time when death got more discussion than usual, yes, but when there was also some ridiculous pomp that obscured the basic human facts of it. Kerry Katona reveals her daughter Dylan-Jorge, 9, was taken to hospital for an MRI scan after suffering fainting spells at home as they await results What Remains? is a profound, deeply moving, and politically charged book that will change the way readers think about life, death, and the all-important end-of–life experience.