Life, Death and the Human Art of Undertaking

Ru Callender writes in his acclaimed book What Remains? Life, Death and the Human Art of Undertaking that he wanted to become an undertaker in order to offer people a more honest experience than the stilted formality of traditional ‘Victorian’ funerals. Driven by raw emotion and the unresolved grief, Ru brought an outsider, ‘DIY’ ethos to the business of death, combined with the kinship and inspiration he found in rave culture, social outlaws and nonconformists.

As a radical undertaker, Ru has carried coffins across windswept beaches, sat in pubs with caskets on beer-stained tables, helped children fire flaming arrows into their father’s funeral pyre, and allowed people to create truly authentic experiences to say goodbye. Join Ru in conversation with Evie King, who writes in her book Ashes to Admin about her job arranging funerals for those without family or funds, a little known role that she wanted to make the world more aware of. Ru and Evie will share their unique experiences and delve into what we can change about our approach to death, grief and the funeral.

Ru Callender was moved to become an undertaker through his experience of bereavement and its aftermath. He spent much of his childhood in the hospice where his mother worked, and the caring humanistic philosophy of the hospice movement is central to his work. He opened The Green Funeral Company with Claire in 2000 and the company is now among the country’s best-known eco-friendly funeral directors. In 2012, they won Joint Best Funeral Director at the first Good Funeral Awards and were described as ‘The best undertakers of all time, by a country mile’ by Good Funeral Guide author, Charles Cowling.

Evie King is the author of Ashes to Admin: Tales from the Caseload of a Council Funeral Officer, a memoir about her job arranging funerals for those without family or funds, a little known role that she wanted to make the world more aware of. Her book aims to tell the otherwise lost stories of those who have ended up in her care, smash that 3am anxiety about who will be there when we die and how many people will attend our funeral, encourage advanced planning, and invite us to rethink our ideas around life, death and legacy.

Ru Callender‘s and Evie King‘s books will be available to buy in person on the day.

Age Recommendation:

16+

Price:

Standard £13 • Living Support £9 • Students £9

Access Information

Due to the age and Grade II listing of the building, there is no lift access to rooms above the ground floor.

All the ground-floor rooms are fully accessible by wheelchair. Main Hall (street access, step-free), Brockway Room (street access, step-free), Bertrand Russell Room (street access, shallow ramp), Hive Cafe (street access, step-free), There is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor opposite the Brockway Room.

Other events you may be interested in:

Smoke Hole: Ancient Myths for Modern Times with Martin Shaw

Divination Day: Astrology, Tarot, Tomorrow and Us