A FUNERAL director, with a branch in Haddington, is backing a national campaign encouraging communities to stand in salute as coffins pass.
With funerals restricted to immediate family only, and established ways of marking respect, such as flowers, curtailed, William Purves believes that adopting the traditional practice is a good way for the community to show their support at this time.
Tim Purves, chairman of William Purves, said: “These are exceptionally difficult days and we are doing everything possible to support grieving families.
“While we are having to adapt aspects of our usual service, we are looking at what can be done to ease the loss of a loved one and enable people to say goodbye.”
William Purves counts Wood and Hay, on Haddington’s Court Street, among its branches.
Other suggestions for supporting grieving families include sending pictures and postcards to leave with the coffin as written goodbyes; blackboard-topped coffins for messages to be written directly on the top; and preparing e-versions of the order of service so everyone has a memento.
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