What to do with the ashes of a loved one?
ashes remained at home while his wife and son pondered about what would be best. Scotland where he was born? The grounds of their house near Exeter?
Richardson had been a founder member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford, as was his widow. In December 2008 she and their son Miles, also an actor, were taken round the theatre for which the foundations were just being built. Inspiration struck. The ashes were put into a cement mixer and are for ever under the centre seat in the theatre’s front row.
Many find equally blissful consummations. Nature lovers are taken to beauty spots. But be warned – scattering ashes outdoors is not easy. It takes only the slightest breeze for them to be blown backwards to rejoin the family.
American journalist Hunter S Thompson, author of Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, shot himself through the head in 2005. In his will he asked for a funeral as wild as his life had been. He wanted his ashes fired from a gun. His friend, actor Johnny Depp, saw to it that his wish was fulfilled. There was a red, white and blue firework display then the canister containing his ashes was propelled high into the sky from a cannon set 47 metres above his farm in the Colorado desert. It cost Depp $3million.
Those of us who have occasion to watch daytime television have seen many commercials offering savings schemes that provide money for our funerals (and a free pen) but none of them mentions a cannon.