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Scottish Government launches Funeral Benefit

Today the Scottish Government launches an improved funeral benefit aimed at reducing funeral poverty for around 4000 families annually. Alistair Turner welcomes the move but cautions the need for families to compare like-for-like pricing. Providers and costs vary...
Managing your digital legacy

Managing your digital legacy

As published in the Edinburgh Evening News on Monday 16 September, Tim Purves launches our free guide to managing your digital footprint including online banking, shopping and social media.
Lean on our experience

Lean on our experience

It’s been a busy time of year for our Hawick based memorial stonemasons as the Scottish Borders Council reaches the close of a two year headstone testing period. Some 90,000 headstones across 154 Borders cemeteries were tested to ensure they would not cause...
Graduate Success for William Purves

Graduate Success for William Purves

A huge congratulations to our eight graduates in this year’s NAFD (National Association of Funeral Directors) Diploma in Funeral Directing as published in this month’s Funeral Director Monthly. This year, William Purves employees made up almost a third of...
Toy Story4 theme to be a funeral favourite

Toy Story4 theme to be a funeral favourite

This month’s launch of Toy Story 4 features a Joni Mitchell hit “Both Sides Now” which is being tipped as a future funeral anthem. Listeners of the Chris Evans Breakfast Show @ Virgin Radio today were treated to an extended play of the song following...
Summer solstice 2019

Summer solstice 2019

June 21st 2019 marks the UK’s longest day and shortest night as sunlight hours are at a peak.   In our experience, longer and sunnier days mean woodland burials are more popular at this time of year with nature in full bloom. If you’d like advice on an eco-funeral, a...
Are DIY funerals the right choice?

Are DIY funerals the right choice?

The status quo of how UK funerals are delivered is constantly being challenged. Traditional models of mourning are still very popular in Scotland. What we see more of nowadays are personalised events where families take a prominent role in managing their loved one’s...
Managing Your Digital Death

Managing Your Digital Death

By 2100, Facebook is expected to have 4.9 billion deceased members according to a report in The Guardian based on a study by Oxford University. Researchers believe by 2070, dead members could outnumber the living. Even once you have died, your digital footprint lives...
Heritage skills thrive in 21st century facility

Heritage skills thrive in 21st century facility

Business is booming for our Hawick based stonemasons, John Beattie & Sons Memorials, as the team recently relocated to a purpose built workshop in the Borders town. Manager David Beattie and cousin Martin, are descendents of founder John Beattie whose...

Travelling Abroad? 5 Repatriation Must Knows

If you’re one of those people that always pre-books your summer holiday, chances are you’ve finalised your plans by mid March, or so the travel experts tell us. It’s highly unlikely your research covered repatriation so here’s 5 facts worth sharing. For UK residents:...