An East End Farewell

by Yvette Venables

This is the memoir of an East End undertaker, Stan Cribb, who began his apprenticeship aged just fourteen, burying the victims of London's Blitz.

During the last century, East End households had a special relationship with their local undertakers due to the large families and high mortality rates. Since he can remember, Stan Harris (more commonly known as Stan Cribb), spent his weekends captivated by the goings-on at his grandparents' funeral home. At fourteen, and much to the reluctance of his father, he dons his first suit and joins the family business as an apprentice to his quick-tempered uncle.

Entering the profession at a time when an undertaker's role exposed them to the brutal realities of World War II, Stan spends his teenage years recovering dead bodies in the dark and standing guard over funeral carriages during air raids. After the war, with unfailing good humour, Stan takes us on a journey through his National Service, marriage, and unpredictable life as an East End undertaker.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 26, 2015

Reviews

[Nina Grafton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funerals and death rituals are one of those events that happen all over the world, all the time, but conducting them during bombing raids in WW2 London makes for fascinating reading. This book goes behind the scenes of a funeral home before they became so commercialised and traces the industry’s changes with an engaging narrator.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well constructed story of an apprentice becoming a fully fledged undertaker. The main character’s story is told is very endearing fashion, so although he clearly has flaws, I liked him. Enough detail has been entered to really feel the atmosphere of the time, the deprivations and the fear that without laying it on too thickly. The story flows extremely well and I found it very much a page turner. I would thoroughly recommend this book.

[Lindsey Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

A fantastic and brilliant insight into the works of an undertaker's from past to present. A wonderful insight into how things have changed from days gone by.
Some humours memoir's along with heartbreaking and loving moments. Would recommend to all interested in reading memoirs from past eras.

[Nikki Forrester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable book with an insite into east end life

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. Contains both tears and laughter.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the read through history in the east end.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well constructed story of an apprentice becoming a fully fledged undertaker. The main character’s story is told is very endearing fashion, so although he clearly has flaws, I liked him. Enough detail has been entered to really feel the atmosphere of the time, the deprivations and the fear that without laying it on too thickly. The story flows extremely well and I found it very much a page turner. I would thoroughly recommend this book.(Also posted under Ali Gardiner site name)