News
Managing Your Digital Death
By 2100, Facebook is expected to have 4.9 billion deceased members according to a report in The Guardian based on a study by Oxford University. Researchers believe by 2070, dead members could outnumber the living. Even once you have died, your digital footprint lives...
Are DIY funerals the right choice?
The status quo of how UK funerals are delivered is constantly being challenged. Traditional models of mourning are still very popular in Scotland. What we see more of nowadays are personalised events where families take a prominent role in managing their loved one’s...
Heritage skills thrive in 21st century facility
Business is booming for our Hawick based stonemasons, John Beattie & Sons Memorials, as the team recently relocated to a purpose built workshop in the Borders town. Manager David Beattie and cousin Martin, are descendents of founder John Beattie whose...
Travelling Abroad? 5 Repatriation Must Knows
If you’re one of those people that always pre-books your summer holiday, chances are you’ve finalised your plans by mid March, or so the travel experts tell us. It’s highly unlikely your research covered repatriation so here’s 5 facts worth sharing. For UK residents:...
Record number of Fife entries for indoor bowls
2019 started with a bang as St Andrews Bowling Club received record number of entries for the inaugural William Purves Challenge Trophy. Competition for the various cash prizes was fierce with 64 entries received from teams across the North East as the club and...
What Unites Bridget Jones, Babylonians and You?
When you make your new year’s resolutions for 2019, you're celebrating a 3000 year old tradition, dating back to the Babylonian era. Unfortunately, by mid January all the promises to lose weight, eat and drink less, and do more exercise have been largely abandoned....
To Absent Friends This Christmas
For many bereaved families and friends, this time of year is particularly tough. Aside from grief itself, there are many feelings of guilt associated with celebrating Christmas and new year. In our experience there is no right or wrong way to behave. Grief is a...
Bereavement Support – January 2019 date released
Friday January 11th has been announced as the next date for our Acorns Bereavement Support Programme. The free six week course provides reassurance and companionship with those who understand loss and grief, providing support to bereaved people to face new and...
Time to Talk?
We firmly believe supporting people to have "that awkward conversation" about funerals. Whether it's drafting a "Plan of Wishes" or exploring pre-payment options, it costs nothing to have a conversation with any of our funeral directors. Pop in to a branch in...
Morningside Cemetery Armistice Centenery Celebration
We're delighted to announce our sponsorship of 300 poppies to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World "Great" War as part of a centenery event organised by Friends of Morningside Cemetery. 300 specially commissioned 10-inch silk poppies are being sold...
Embalming Academy course new dates announced
The William Purves Embalming Academy, in conjuction with University of Edinburgh's Anatomy Department, are delighted to announce a new date in April 2019 for their popular Post Mortem Reconstruction Course. Exclusively for professionals in the embalming sector, this...
Doors open day – 29 and 30 September 2018
William Purves headquarters, Oakvale, opens its doors as part of the national Doors Open Day at the end of this month. Over two afternoons, visitors can get up close to the Victorian features of this impressive villa in the heart of Bruntsfield. Having been...
