Now that the funeral is over, I wanted to let you know how we felt about choosing and then helping to weave the coffin for my Father in Law.
He was a Naval man and as there is historic link between boat and coffin making it just felt like the right choice. Even though we were sad and grieving and with so much to do to keep our own work going during his final illness and death, it was a great decision to take the time to help weave his coffin.
Until that point I was thinking that ready-made coffins were waiting on shelves so I was intrigued to know that each is purpose-made to size.
On the drive to Somerset I was still unsure that we should have taken a day out but as soon as we arrived and were greeted by Musgrove’s kind and friendly staff, given a coffee and taken to the workshop by Lucas I knew we were doing something practical and useful at last, rather than wallowing in our grief.
To know that a coffin, usually a thing of horror films and scary Halloween jokes, could be such a beautiful thing was a revelation. All the different sorts were being made, reminding us of happy fruit picking sessions, theatre dressing rooms and family picnics instead of cold death. The calico lining and the hay stuffed pillow made me happy that we were doing every last thing to both respect and make my Father in Law comfortable on his last journey.
For me, the creaking of the coffin as it was picked up by the pall bearers reminded me that life was continuing and that the willow was a fresh and living thing, beautiful in its natural colours and dyes.
Thank you for allowing us to help weave the coffin, we learned a lot and special thanks to Lukas who even offered to cry with us if we needed to cry!
All the very best to you and all at Musgrove Willows, you are an exemplary firm.
