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AIBU?

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Original poster

In wondering why you can't put a love letter in a coffin?

99 replies

Valerrie · 04/02/2018 21:41

I've just read this story :

www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-manchester-42920984?__twitter_impression=true

and obviously I can see the reasons why you can't put things like mobile phones, ecigs and alcohol into the coffin of a person being cremated.

But love letters are banned. Why would this be?

OP posts:
Littlechocola · 04/02/2018 21:43

Apparently Elizabeth Taylor was buried with a love letter from Richard Burton.

No idea.

DustyMaiden · 04/02/2018 21:43

Can’t get last link to work but I would say you can and I have.

OverwhelminglyCrap · 04/02/2018 21:44

I put in a letter from my dd and a note from me in with my dmum. She was cremated.

ParkheadParadise · 04/02/2018 21:45

Your link didn't work.

I put a letter in my dd's coffin and photos and sweets. Also put whisky in my dad's coffin

Why does it say their banned.

DankAShan · 04/02/2018 21:45

I put letters into my grandfathers coffin

autumnboys · 04/02/2018 21:46

Link doesn’t work, so maybe something's changed, but 12 years ago we put letters and photos into my Dad's coffin.

Whydididothatfuckingthing · 04/02/2018 21:46

I have put a love letter and a single rose in, also a cremation

Original poster
Valerrie · 04/02/2018 21:46

Link fail! It won't work, for some reason. It's a story about not putting coconuts in coffins because they explode, then goes on to list other coffin contraband and love letters is one of the banned items.

It doesn't say why.

OP posts:
MongerTruffle · 04/02/2018 21:46

Working link

I don't think it actually says that they're banned, just that people have asked about putting them in.

oldschoolcool · 04/02/2018 21:47

The article seems to be about cremations not burials. Still odd though.

Redglitter · 04/02/2018 21:48

The woman quoted doesn't say letters are banned just that they get asked. It's the BBC photo that says they're banned

Also put whisky in my dad's coffin

Hope he wasn't cremated! That's their issue people putting things like alcohol mobile phones etc which then explode

WeeChoochyFace · 04/02/2018 21:48

It doesn't say love letters are banned. They are just listing some stuff people ask to be put in (love letters, cigarettes, pet ashes)

The other stuff they list is the explosive stuff - e-cigs, alcohol, coconuts

Crispbutty · 04/02/2018 21:49

The photo headline is misleading as it does say letters are banned. They aren't.

Original poster
Valerrie · 04/02/2018 21:49

You're probably right, Monger.

When I read this part:

*Louise Walch-Grognet, of Fred Hamer Funeral Services, said they check the coffins to make sure contraband items are not slipped in.

"They've asked can they put love letters in, cigarettes, ashes of their pets," she said*

It reads like they're all contraband items. It must be badly worded, as I really can't see an issue with letters!

OP posts:
Slitherout · 04/02/2018 21:49

It makes it sound like love letters aren't explicitly banned, just one of the things people have asked to slip in last minute, which must be annoying if you're having to check for stuff like phones and coconuts being smuggled in.

cueominousmusic · 04/02/2018 21:50

Why couldn't the biker (mentioned in the article) wear his leathers? Does leather become toxic or something if burnt?

MissMary0fSweden · 04/02/2018 21:50

Im so glad I read this.

Will have the "cremate me with my prize coconuts" instruction removed from my will when the solicitors office opens tomorrow.

Original poster
Valerrie · 04/02/2018 21:50

Coconuts though? Just why? Grin

OP posts:
ParkheadParadise · 04/02/2018 21:51

Redglitter
No he was buried

bigbluebus · 04/02/2018 21:51

I read that article too OP and wondered the same. It was about an exploding coconut during a cremation and went on to list things that shouldn't be put in coffins as they could explode eg mobile phones .

I did wonder whether the story was just poorly written and they had asked a funeral director what things they find people have put in coffins - which the FDs are supposed to check if the body is to be cremated. Obviously people put notes and letters in but I can't imagine why that would be a problem whereas I can see exactly why something with a battery would be a definite no no,

SmurfOrTerf · 04/02/2018 21:51

Ha ha - someone wanted spare underwear. I think that family had some issues

Original poster
Valerrie · 04/02/2018 21:52

I don't think leather actually burns, just shrinks. I could be wrong but I'm sure I remember reading that somewhere.

OP posts:
DeathByMascara · 04/02/2018 21:53

No issue wlth letters or photos, unless things have changed drastically in the last 4 weeks.

My dad was cremated. He couldn’t wear his glasses, or shoes. Which was odd!

Narnia72 · 04/02/2018 21:56

My FIL was buried with his skis! (I always thought it was a bit of a waste....)

Glumglowworm · 04/02/2018 21:58

I read this earlier and like you I read it as Love letters were on the banned list!

Hopefully we were wrong though, I’m not sure that a bit of paper is going to do any harm while getting cremated, and good do s lot of good for the grieving family.

The other things like alcohol, electronics etc make sense for cremation.

I do wonder the reasoning behind why someone would want/their family would want them to be cremated with a coconut though! Maybe to remember happy times on holiday?