This month's stories:

Of all the donations that are made to TALK perhaps the strangest is that for which Clive Bishop is responsible.

Every so often we receive a cheque from Clive and on one occasion an explanation of the funding. Clive explained that he is a member of a three-man team that carries out an unusual task in the picturesque churchyard of the church of St. Nicholas, in the parish of Wisley and Pyrford.

“When someone is cremated the remains are frequently buried in a designated spot in the churchyard,” Clive explained. “A special, small hole has to be dug for the ashes.” One of the team gets to work digging the hole. “It is quite difficult because while the hole is deep, the area is quite small. Each plot can take two sets of remains, one above the other. If it is a two-casket hole we have to go down about two feet. That takes me about two hours. A one-casket hole is just over a foot deep.” The team of Norman Smith, Clive and Peter Pollard, is paid for the work and Clive gives his earnings to charity, including TALK.

A special spade is used for the work, with the depth markings for the two measurements. However, the work does not end with the digging of the hole. “We attend the short service for the burial of the ashes and then we have to fill in the hole and replace the turf,” Clive says.

TALK is grateful for Clive’s efforts on our behalf