| kirklancaster |
20-11-2015 11:18 AM |
We were so poor when I was a kid, that even Funerals could be paid for on the 'weekly', and there were many different 'Funeral Plans' costing from 6d a week to 5 shillings for really 'posh' coffins.
My old Grandad was a coal miner and adamant he was going to have the best and he opted for a posh coffin.
He still owed about £20.00 (a LOT of money then) when he died but my mum managed to convince the undertakers to allow him the coffin and she would pay the balance on the morning of the funeral.
Mum couldn't raise all the £20 though - only £12 of it, and I'll never forget that chaotic morning; there in our crowded rabbit-hutch of a front room was Grandad's closed coffin laid on the table in front of the smokey coal fire, and we were all preparing to leave for the funeral when the undertaker marched through the front door with a baillif.
He demanded the £20 and said if mum didn't pay it he would "Tip Grandad out of the coffin and reclaim it"
Mum begged him to just take the £12 she'd got for now and promised to pay him the other £8 later.
The poor undertaker didn't know what to do as he looked from the £12 in mum's hand to the coffin and back again.
It was then when the mourners were shouting "Take The Money" and the bailiiff was shouting "Open The Box".
I don't know why I posted this on here - maybe some of the older end can help me remember? :hehe:
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