I don’t really know what I was expecting but I can safely say whatever that was, couldn’t have been further from what we experienced. I have spent many (many!) hours of my life at various trade shows, from fashion to supplements to food, and a few things in between. I have helped friends on stands, worked on stands, and visited as a customer too. I’ve always found them incredibly busy, overwhelming and loaded with hustle culture where sales are the focus of every interaction. I suppose I was expecting the National Funeral Exhibition (NFE) to be the same, but it couldn’t have been more different. We were all blown away by the tone to every conversation – the golden thread of care came through in every interaction. The people we met, from every type of business involved in funeral care, had such genuine passion for what they do and the families they serve.

It started in the hotel bar the night before when someone overheard us using the phrase “in loving memory” and asked us if we were heading to NFE, and so began a great new friendship and working relationship. We were given the inside tips from a long time attendee who couldn’t have been more generous with his advice from the start. An independent funeral director from a family run business, he has been attending for over 20 years and was back not just to attend but to help out a friend on a stand because he needed an extra pair of hands. That generosity of spirit sums him up – anything to help anyone, and all for the best care of the families. Safe to say he had more than a tale or two to tell! Perfect over a drink after a long day of networking at the show.

Amongst the more traditional things that you would expect (and maybe wouldn't!) to do with funerals we found so many new businesses with a passion for serving the bereaved as much as the deceased, something at the very heart of Grey Blossom. What might seem trivial to some can be incredibly important to others. For example, my partner's father was a farmer and his last journey away from the farm was in a long wheel base Land Rover - his old Defender was as much a part of the farm as he was and it felt like a fitting tribute as well as a mark of deep respect for the life he lived. There is room for personal touches that are still as steeped in respect as the more traditional choices and they can all sit side by side as offerings.

The way we honour someone's memory is a huge part of the grief journey and coming away from the NFE it struck me that we need to talk more about how we approach end of life so much earlier with our friends and loved ones so that it can be a celebration and shift rather than just an ending. For many, the first time we encounter this is when someone dies, when emotions are running high, there is so much to consider and it can feel so overwhelming. Knowing the amazing humans that will guide us through whatever funeral path we choose for our loved ones can make a difficult time that little bit easier. 

Written by Elisabeth Baylis