Odds and ends: Funeral costs 1958

 ODDS & ENDS

THE COST OF A FUNERAL IN 1958

Sorting through some old documents of my grandmothers, we found a receipt for the cost of the funeral of Charles William Howe, her father.

CHARLES WILLIAM HOWE 1876-1958

Charles (Charlie) died at home, 1 Strathmore Villas, Faggs Rd, Bedfont, aged 81. One of  11 children, he had spent his life working as a labourer, when younger, a navvy on the roads and later in life on the land.

During WW2, he grew vegetables on the allotment, whilst keeping the 'odd rabbit for the pot'. He was proud to be able to read and write and was a big fan of paperback westerns.

Charlie had been a widower since his wife died in 1918, a victim of the pandemic of the time, 'Spanish flu.' Leaving him to bring up 4 children, his step daughter working in service shortly after her mothers death. A member of his wife's family bought up Charlie and Ruth's youngest son, Alf, who was only 5 at the time, and by my grandmother's account, 'a bit of a handful.' He moved and grew up in Wales and lost touch with his siblings. 

During WW2, living on the outskirts of London, Charlie took up the role of a Fire Watcher and helping the local community in and out of the air raid shelter, on the Green opposite the Green Man pub in Hatton, Bedfont.

Charlie died in March 1958 and this receipt shows that Lodge Brothers of Feltham were undertook the funeral arrangements.

Lodge Brothers continue to provide funeral services, a 7th generation family of funeral directors, who have been in business for over 200 years.

22nd March: To an English Elm Coffin with a moulded capping and plinth, polished and                            fitted with four pairs of brassed handles and plate with an engraved                                        inscription.

                         Lined with a swansdown lining.

                      Removed to Private Chapel.

                                                                                        

26th March: To a Rolls Royce Motor Hearse

                          2 Rolls Royce Limosines        

                          Bearers and own attendance and arranging funeral.  

                                                                                                                      £36

                          Purchasing grave RR50 Bedfont Cemetery                        £2   17/-

                          Bedfont Church Service                                                             15/-                

                                                                                                                     -------------

                                                                                                                      £39  12/-

This is the equivelent of approx £830- £980 in 2022.

However the cost of a similar funeral today would be significantly more, the average cost of a funeral and burial being around £5000 in the UK.

Family photo c late 1930s

left to right

Charles William Howe 1876-1958

Doris Ruth Carden nee Howe 1908-2005

Frederick Samuel Carden 1908-1986

 Marjorie Gwendoline Carden 1914-1996 married William (Cyril) Lovery

 Joseph Scott 1911-1968

 Alice Lillian Scott nee Howe 1916-1995