A casket for a former brewery owner in Bulwell, England has been commissioned by a coffin company…in the shape of a beer bottle.
In addition, they have invested $32,000 in a mural honoring the skilled workers who have been the backbone of the business.
Vic Fearn and Co, based in Crabtree Mill, Hempshill Lane, has been operational since 1870, producing approximately 10,000 coffins annually from its Bulwell location and a factory located on the Isle Of Wight.
While many caskets are made in traditional styles, the company, through its subsidiary Crazy Coffins, has gained a reputation for creating bespoke items that match customers’ designs.
Some of their unique caskets have taken the form of narrowboats, cars, and train carriages.
Two of their latest requests include a casket designed like a beer bottle for a brewery owner from the Isle Of Man and another resembling an old fighter plane for a gentleman in his 70s. This particular design is so unique that prior to its cremation, the wings will need to be unbolted.
Many individuals on the team have dedicated over 25 years to the company.
To celebrate this commitment, owner John Gill and managing director David Crampton envisioned a grand mural, measuring 40 feet in length, to be prominently displayed on a wall at the firm’s headquarters.
Interestingly, David, who has been with Vic Fearn for three decades, along with his wife, Lynda, who has been part of the firm for 40 years, are even represented in the mural, which has been created using oils.
John remarked, “We were sitting there with numerous employees who had reached 25 years of service. We no longer give out gold watches. What purpose does that serve?
“We chose to do something unique and commissioned an artist to produce this artwork as a tribute to their efforts. They have been the foundation of the business.”
This mural took seven years to complete and depicts 25 employees from the past 30 years. Regrettably, photographs of workers from earlier periods were not accessible for inclusion in the painting.
The artist responsible for this piece is Jamie Ogilvie-Forbes, trained at the Royal Academy, who has exhibited the mural in a gallery located on The Mall in London, nestled between Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.
by Sasha Dubronitz
