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Willow coffin for burial?
REST IN WILLOW: John Dog Callister making the willow coffin. PHOTO: John Maddrell JM130211 (36).
BEING laid to rest in a coffin made of willow taken from Manx hedgerows would certainly be different.
With this in mind, John ‘Dog’ Callister, of Kirk Michael, has been working on a matter of grave concern that could yet prove popular.
John has been creating willow baskets for 15 to 20 years following help initially, from a former island resident and expert basket maker Dru Leoidsson.
Since honing his skills to a high enough standard, John and Kevin Quayle, another basket maker, have been running classes regularly each winter and have given a great number of eager hobbyists the basics of basket making, allowing them to go on and expand their talents.
John has been making the coffin in his garage in his spare time, and, being about 6ft long and just under 2ft wide he said that it fits him like ‘a glove’.
The idea of the coffin came after he was approached by the families of good friends who had suffered a bereavement and who wanted to know if John could make a willow coffin, as that had been the wish of the deceased.
At that time John had not made anything so big – the largest to date had been a ‘kilt box’ – but he decided to give it a go.
The coffin incorporates five different types of willow, which give it contrasting bands of colour, and although of rustic appearance ‘it looks very classy and hopefully will fulfil its purpose,’ said John.
‘I have made it to fit myself,’ he added. ‘But hopefully I will not need it just yet.’
He has been in touch with a local funeral parlour, and a representative is going to call and advise him on the finishing touches for the lid and lining.
John said that if it doesn’t meet approval: ‘Then I will put a lid on it and it will make a useful, large box for storage, which is what could happen to it until required.’
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Weather for Isle of Man
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 8 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
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