to finally share this secret!

[hereforever]

Name changed as potentially identifying, but been here forever.

Many years ago (deliberately being vague but 10+ years ago) my dh came home from work and said he has a massive secret to tell me, that I couldn't tell another soul.....that his company was designing and building the Queen's Hearse. The business is just a small family-run firm based in the North, and whilst they had been making Jaguar hearses for years this was totally unexpected.
The whole team worked really hard on it and it was built with the utmost secrecy and respect, kept hidden until now - very few people even knew it existed (it's been hard sometimes not sharing with family).

I'm having mixed emotions since we saw it on tv last night - as I want to shout from the rooftops how proud I am of DH and the team but so far this is the only place I've shared as I don't want to look crass in what is a very sad time for our country.

So AIBU to finally share this secret and whilst it is very sad, also be very honoured to be part of our Queen's final journey.

@PainPainGoAwayToday
Random question but are all hearses converted cars then? I’ve not much experience of them but it never occurred to me, I guess I just assumed someone made them as hearses.

Yes - all hearses and limousines are converted cars! In the UK there are really only two companies that do this as it's incredibly complex to do these days with modern vehicles.

They take a brand new saloon straight from production - then literally chop it in half and then rebuild as either a hearse or limousine - apparently there are two aspects that make it really hard - the electrics and making it look like it was built that way - for instance we've probably all seen limos that are overstretched and overseas you see some awful conversion jobs where you can see where it's been joined - it really is a work of art and something that few tradespeople can do these days. I know the industry struggles to recruit skilled people as most cars are now machine built and this is all mainly by hand.
So for instance - all the leather inside is hand-stitched.

DH and I watched this OP and said "wow that car is a work of art". Every single detail had been thought of and perfected.

Well done to your DH and every person on that team.

Go for it OP. Good for your DH. It must be a nice feeling for hard work to finally be on show.

Much lesser but I've very proud of several friends in the media this week, having had several conversations in the past about the long preparations, action plans and protocols for this time.

@InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream you're just as crass as the OP it seems.

@PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog

The OP is (rightly) proud of her husband & team for designing & making the hearse. Yes. Have you never been proud of something your partner, parents or children have done??

One of my god daughters just got 9 9's for her CGSE's I'm incredibly proud of her, no reflection on me, but I'm allowed to be proud of her!

Anyway, as everyone can see, you accused the OP of having reflected glory from someone's death! NOT reflected pride in her DH & team.

There is an article about it - I'm sure you've seen it OP but just in case... www.itv.com/news/central/2022-09-13/the-queen-consulted-designers-on-bespoke-new-state-hearse-used-to-carry-her

Wow that’s amazing. It’s something I’ve never even thought about! Thanks for your answer x

I know we all have to be more environmentally minded and reuse / recycle where possible but I cannot fathom that people would object to a custom made hearse for our longest reigning monarch.

There are plenty of other examples of waste/extravagance that could be addressed before this. It's a huge public event with lots of pomp and ceremony and deserves a special hearse for goodness sake.

Maybe but at least I'm not a po-faced wanker who can't at least be pleased for someone who's just proud of her husband

The pride is linked to the death as I see it. The OP was sharing a secret because of the death, talking about their role in the final journey.

I agree.
Of course you are proud to produce something that is a perfect fit for the job,
Well done OPs dh.

Wanker and fuck off in 2 posts to me. Are you always so impolite?

I was thinking today what a great hearse it is, so clear and smart.

I think there are a lot of unsung heroes involved - flower arrangers, caterers etc - working their socks off to make all the arrangements work well. All doing a great job, under pressure 👏

@InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream
much more succinct! 👍🏻

I did acknowledge the pride for the DH btw, just not seeing why it's OP's pride,

@PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog I save up my impoliteness for rude people like you

Glass top also the illuminations for last night's entry into Central London were grisly, in case your DH wants feedback for another order.

Your husband and his colleagues should, quite rightly, be proud of their craftsmanship.

They have done a good job for our Queen and I'm glad she got to help design what she wanted too.

I haven't been rude to you or the OP @InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream

@PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog

Give it up FGS.

😞🤣 you’ve excelled yourself today, Socks!

can you name the charity which would be glad to receive a hearse with special viewing windows? ( one careful owner) ?

I didn't say you were rude to me. You definitely were rude to OP. And really mean-spirited to boot.

@TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination I'm really not seeing it, but then I am autistic so maybe that's why. I just think this thread is not very right. I can't explain well, but it's bothering me.

Why didn't she re-use the Landrover one that Philip used? It's not as though it's old, and it was considerably more dignified.