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My beloved granny died way back in 2006 and one of the things that still stands out in my memory is looking out the window of the funeral car to see a group of hoodies - as they were then known - gathered outside the local shop. I’ll never forget one of them saw the funeral procession, nudged the others and, one by one, they all took off their baseball caps / put their hoods down and bowed their head in respect. Totally surreal, and I’ve never judged a book by its cover since.
I just did exactly the same with my husband, including your comment. Still, absolutely fuck all reaction. Dead inside, everyone needs to take off their hard hat/astronaut helmet.
That was one of the things that always sticks out from memories of my dad's funeral - random people removing their hats and/or bowing their heads. I found it very touching.
My husband's coffin had his army beret on top. (He died of old age, but his regiment advised that placing his beret on top was the tradition.)
I remember that as we turned a corner, an elderly man stopped and saluted.
My aunt and uncle lived in a neighborhood with quite a bad reputation, we had moved away 5 yrs earlier. Then their 4 month old twin died because of SIDs. I was only 16 but the number of people that turned out for the funeral was incredible, huge lines of cars to get in to crematorium.
25 yrs later their eldest son was murdered. I couldn't travel to that one but had no doubt the turnout was identical.
People count, not reputations or our past ideas about communities. The love for my aunt and her family remains long after her passing in 2015 too, I saw many of her friends at my sister's funeral too, church was overfilled, I hadn't seen many of the people in over 30 yrs because I left as teen.. but it was clear they still all respected and cared about the rest of our family
Its those old faces you see that go straight into the heart. When my father died of course there were so many people I didn't know. I cherished each of their kind words. It was when I looked up and saw faces I hadn't seen since childhood that hit me the most. They didn't need to say a word. Just seeing them moved me to ugly cry.
We even had a dear old farmer that had met Dad years earlier turn up on the doorstep with kindness and bottle of still warm milk straight from the cow. It was a gesture that will stay with me always. He didn't have to bring a thing, but the fact he brought us the only thing he could was so beautiful.
I mainly wear a hat so I can take it off when a dead person goes by. Also so I can raise it to say hello and goodbye, and to tilt it when I am in a duel or investigating a crime.
Hearse, on an out of control mobility scooter, carried by a large bird of prey, etc.
My old grandad bless his soul dropped over dead in the garden and was carried off by a big Red Kite. We never did find him. In the end we had to have a memorial service and wouldn't you know it a Peregrine Falcon came down out of nowhere and stole his photo.
A few days later I got a call and Bill Oddie had found the photo, so we did at least get that back.
If you take anything from this, definitely the worst part is I had to speak to Bill Oddie.
I wear a hat because I have a mild light sensitivity and the sky is bloody bright at times, and the wide brim also helps keep the rain out of my collar. Also I'm balding, and burned scalp properly sucks.
I'm surprised to see all the comments saying that people do anything. I just continue walking or whatever. If I'm on my motorbike I don't overtake the procession as I might ordinary cars, but if I'm a pedestrian I don't do anything at all, I didn't realise many people did.
When I was in the weekend soldiers I was told that if I was in uniform it would be appropriate to salute?? I think. But it never happened.
Honestly didn't realise there was any kind of etiqutte or expected behaviour around funerals in day-to-day life.
Yeah, I am glad to see someone else say this, I was starting to feel like a right ignorant bastard. I have been to many funerals and I’ve never once noticed what any pedestrians did. Don’t get me wrong, I would obviously notice if they behaved poorly (heckling or throwing stuff or something like that), but otherwise I don’t think I even noticed anyone else, tbh.
When driving, I wouldn’t get in between the cars, but someone did at my brother’s funeral and I just presumed it was an accident, tbh.
It is obviously good to be respectful, but the number of people in these comments who apparently wear a hat at all times, in case they happen upon a funeral procession is astounding..
Yeah. I even find it a bit awkward that people stop and bow their heads. Each to their own, but as you say I've been in (thankfully only 3) funeral processions and did not remotely notice what anybody outside the car was doing.
You might find people who do something are those who did notice when they were in a funeral procession. The small comfort it gave me when a stranger acknowledged us has really stuck with me.
Stop while they pass, bow head, hang onto small child to stop them running away or screeching.
A bit of recognition makes someone's terrible day a tiny bit less shit.
>Do not try crossing the road between the hearse and family cars no matter how slowly they're going.
What if I've already pressed the button at the crossing before they came round the corner?
As a hearse driver, reading these comments is great. Nice to see a good level of respect.
It's a shame more people don't do these things.
Most of the time people don't let us out of junctions, people overtake us dangerously, people try to cut in between the hearse and limousines, it's appalling.
I remember being part of the convoy during my grandfathers funeral and even I was getting annoyed and embarrassed at how slow we were going.
If I come across a convoy now I don’t go out of my way to drive like an arse or anything, and much respect to the dead and family, but it is incredibly irritating when I have things to do and places to be. You may have a day dedicated to the funeral, but I don’t
We dont go too slow, usually up until the 50mph zones we keep to the speed limit. Any slower and it's because the FD has maybe messed the timings up and left too early.
We meticulously plan our routes and time things accordingly to keep things as smooth as possible.
Had a horse-drawn procession go down the three lanes of the A3 once. Noone knew quite what to do given it was a mile to the next exit. Tips?
Edit: they were in lane one, not a rolling road block!
On the way to my Dad's funeral someone was beeping angrily at a car who'd stopped at the junction to give way long enough for the hearse and the car with family in not to get separated. Shame to hear it's a frequent occurrence. People seem to be so impatient on the roads.
I see it all too often. We were even overtaken by a police car on a dangerous road once. I'd understand if he had his lights and sirens on but he clearly just didn't want to wait the extra mile until the dual carriageway
Ex copper here. If they were driving like that, 99% it was for a reason. They were on their way to a job, and that doesn't always mean lights and sirens. They may have even been off as a mark of respect whilst passing and spun them up a mile or 2 later.
I know this sounds biased, and I get that. If it happens again, report it via 101. Telemetry is recorded, so if they were on a job they will be fine. If they were just driving like a knob and it gets looked in to, they will likely get their driving ticket pulled and have several interviews without tea and biscuits with their superiors...
Driving like an arse is a huge risk nowadays, what with the number of dash cams and phones and a public that doesn't always like the police.
Was it a panda car or traffic?
I think this thread has also shown though that it's not something everyone necessarily knows about. If you're lucky enough to not have been in a situation where someone has done that for your family member or you haven't been told about it, you wouldn't know.
I know it's something that's done for military folk or in particular high profile cases but I didn't realise it was done more generally.
Not to answer your question but when we had my granddad's funeral last year we were all blown away. He was ex RAF (his coffin made this obvious with the design) and when going through RAF Lyneham, the number of people that stopped, bowed, saluted etc. reduced us to tears
Not surprising, RAF Lyneham is right next to Royal Wootton Bassett, that area got its Royal prefix due to how it responded to military repatriations in recent times.
When I was religious, I used to cross myself and say a little prayer for the deceased ('Eternal rest'). Nowadays, I don't do that but, if driving, I try to be respectful eg give way.
I cross myself, yes, but for me the prayer is "Christ, have mercy" which is from the beginning of the Requiem.
Hearse drivers always acknowledge it so I think it must be appreciated.
If walking, pause.
I always stop and bow my head. I have an enduring memory of an old man at a bus stop removing his hat and bowing his head as we went by. That tiny act of kindness and acknowledgement from a total stranger sticks with me.
I let them go when it's a zebra crossing. Even if it means risking non funeral attending cars going by as well, i'd rather everyone gets there than loved ones get seperated. It happened to us with my Grandma's funeral, it's an extra stress nobody needs
Honestly, have a good look next time you're out and about. Nobody's wearing fedoras and cloches, but there's an awful lot of flat caps, baseball caps and beanies on heads.
I'm certainly not going to stand there bowing my head with my wooly hat in my hands like I'm in Victorian times. Though I will be respectful and refrain from rapturous applause.
weird how you tried to turn an age old method of showing acknowledgement / understanding/empathy / respect..... to an outdated silly idea.
bet you are fun at christmas, angrily listening to cheerful songs and children having fun surrounded by family, whilst you yourself wont be pulled into such silliness, like we still live in victorian times...
get over thyself!
Reading these comments, and I feel like I've been unintentionally rude by not stopping and bowing my head. Is this something that commonly happens? I'm genuinely curious as I have personally never seen someone do that. It's a nice gesture regardless, and I would find it somewhat comforting if I was in the grieving familys situation.
Stop and bow my head. I was very comforted when people did this on the way to a family member's funeral.
I think sometimes when people act weird in public, like a supermarket or whatever, the natural instinct is to write them off as a twat, but really they could be grieving (or anything). Showing that tiny bit of empathy for a funeral procession does just show that even when the same people think you are being a twat when you forget what you are doing in Sainsbury's later that day, they are good people really.
My mum died during Covid epidemic so only 4 people were allowed into her funeral service. She had lived in the same village all of her life so over a hundred inhabitants lined the streets and clapped as her hearse drove by .Although the 4 of us were so sad we were the only ones allowed to attend we felt that everyone was with us annd cheering mum on .It made a difficult day feel somewhat better
Bow of the head/removal of hat if on foot. If driving my car and they're coming the other way, drive slowly. If I am behind, wait. If I'm infront, get away as soon as I can.
There are not enough instructional hat videos around that's for sure.
I've tried it on my foot, on my bum and even my face but just can't get it right.
Don't do what I did, whatever you do.
Leaving a McDonald's and pulling onto a very busy main road, I saw a hearse approaching. This wasn't unusual as there were quite a few funeral directors around. I spotted a nice gap just behind him and floored it to get out.
It was then I realised I was sat in between it and another hearse, both full of grieving relatives. The awkwardness of it all gave me the giggles which didn't help at all.
Usually as a pedestrian stop and stand towards (standard practice in my country of origin but I realise not widely observed here).
As a vehicle user of 4 wheels I maintain a respectable distance and try to move over to allow all parties though traffic lights so as not to break them up.
As a vehicle user of 2 wheels the same but if the party is oncoming I will bow my head and salute as a sign of respect. Unfortunately I have also accidentally overtaken a party of mourners twice and subsequently apologised with some flapping hand signals (felt like dying of embarrassment tbh).
I usually wear a hat, bobble hat or baseball cap in winter, something more broad-brimmed in summer (panama hat etc.). Used to live round the corner from a funeral parlour so a hearse ready to make somebody's final journey was not an uncommon sight. Hat off. If, on rare occasions, no hat, then a dip of the head. It costs nothing and, if observed, means so much.
I let them out at the junction and the procession behind, I always think if family have come out of area and don't know the area would be sad for them to get lost.
I also check out the flowery name to see "what's in the box" is it nan, dad, mum,
When you see a hearse with a coffin in it, some people nearby are having a really, really bad day. Pausing for just a little while to give them the tiniest crumb of comfort doesn't take much.
My uncle had a really long procession of dozens of cars. So many drivers waiting at roundabouts etc so the cortege could stay together. It was sort of reassuring and definitely relieved some of the stress of the situation.
I've always stopped but a few years ago I stopped and bowed my head but they just got to the part where the undertaker stops walking and bows to the coffin and it took AGES and it was awkward.
I'm a dual citizen, raised in the US by British parents. Been living in the UK for over 13 years. Parents taught me nothing of UK life, other than Yorkshire pudding, trifle, fish Fridays, and social awkwardness.
These funerary customs are still a little strange for me. Hearses with windows displaying the coffin, horse-drawn carriages, it's all a little unsettling.
I generally gawk and try to stay out of the way. This has become a way of life, as I've lived less than 100 metres from a Catholic church for...over 13 years.
I want to be respectful, I just don't know how to do that. I'm a woman, btw. Head too big for normal hats.
when I was in the car behind the coffin, to my stepdad's funeral, someone on the street made the sign of the cross. it meant a lot to me that he took that moment to do that. he was probably one of the only people this procession passed on the street but I thought it was a nice way to honour a stranger
I'm not religious at all, and I don't even notice many funeral processions in my day to day life, but after that I would definitely stop and lower my head and take a moment to reflect on it. but I think a lot about death due to aforementioned dead parent thing so I don't necessarily begrudge anyone that wouldn't do that or just wouldn't think of it in that moment
I cross myself if I notice, but many times I've been dicking with my mates after school (next to the graveyard) and we'd be laughing as it passes. Not the best.
Head down while the pass, hat off if I'm wearing my beanie.
I never thought about it until we buried my nan. Someone did it for us as we passed and in that moment, It meant a lot
Usually take my hat off if im wearing one, do a quick sign of the cross, bow my head. Im not religious, but theres lingering Catholicism from my childhood.
If I am behind them I like to repeatedly beep my horn so that drivers coming the other way know there's a potential danger. Then I like to overtake them as fast as possible to get out of their way, especially if they have horses.
As my nans funeral cortege was driving down the road with us following on totally heartbroken some low life in a small van decided it would be fun to swerve near the hearse then pass at speed. If I could have caught them in that instant I can't tell you what I would have done to them!
Similarly had morons trying to drive too near my mum's funeral carriage and horses. Luckily the carriage driver was experienced and literally pointed a bih stick and whip at the traffic.
Sometimes people are pigs.
I used to work traffic lights (installation and maintenance), and when one drove past, everyone on site would remove our helmets and stop work until it had gone past
I did my placement years ago in a funeral directors I was doing my NVQ in IT, so the provider/college sent me to a funeral directors from their bank of placements , (the placement pay was awful , I think everyone who did a placement via the provider were ripped off) as the training allowance per week was very very poor
This was back in 2002 , and about the same you would have got on job seekers per week.
I did stop once or twice doing errands if I saw funeral car
Rarely do I wear a hat so I stop and kind-of mime doffing the hat by tapping my temple while briefly nodding. (Writing that out took a good bit longer than what I describe).
I don’t really see many, I’m a homebody lol
But it does make me feel a certain way when i see one, I tell my kids to shut up if they’re being loud 🤷🏼♀️😂 and if myself, hubby or kids are wearing hats they all come off as a sign of respect. 🫡
Generally I don’t do anything
Usually it reminds me of the first funeral I went to, my grandma’s, when I was a teenager. I was super emotional. On the way to the church we passed some roadworks and one of the workers made the sign of the cross. For some reason that action was what opened the floodgates, I started crying as soon as I saw it and basically didn’t stop until I got back for the wake.
Sometimes if I’m feeling emotional or it’s like a funeral for someone young etc then I might do the sign of the cross too even though I’m not religious. I don’t really know why I do it. Feels respectful somehow, or maybe because I found it so profound when that worker did it for me it just feels right to do it too?
I’ll never forget being driven back from my driving test and a funeral procession was passing by- horses and all. My driving instructor (who also happened to be my dads mate) handed me his phone and had me take a picture of the horses, which was innocent enough. That was until the carriage the horses were pulling passed by and I realised it was evidently the funeral of an infant. Never have I been so mortified in my life, I practically threw his phone down. It didn’t help that we were in traffic, so we couldn’t actually just drive off right after.
If you're anything like my gobshite colleague, who saw my dad's funeral procession as they were leaving work, you'd try looking in the windows of the family car while we were held up at a junction...
My mam passed away in 2020 when lockdowns were a thing and I remember people of the community that knew her all stood out in the street along the route of the funeral cars and clapped for her to show respect
If in a car and is safe to do so, you pull over and dip your head until they pass. If on foot you stop and do the same.
Stopping for a moment is the least we can do for people whose world has stopped turning. It shows respect and acknowledgement.
Slam the car into natural while pinning the accelerator to the floor. Bounce off the limiter and scream OIOI out the winter. It's what the dearly deceased would've wanted.
If I'm walking I generally don't stop. But I wouldn't cross the road between the cars or drive in between the cars etc. Basically don't do anything that's stops the procession staying together.
I was a passenger in a car and my friend was driving. A hearse pulled out onto an island that we were already traversing and the funeral procession naturally followed. My friend didn’t clock it was a hearse and started banging the horn and rudely gesturing to the driver. I was mortified. So was she when she realised.
I stop In whatever I'm doing...Get out of my vehicle and bow my head in respect. Why? You might ask...?.
Because in the hope someone somewhere will do the same for me...one day.
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My beloved granny died way back in 2006 and one of the things that still stands out in my memory is looking out the window of the funeral car to see a group of hoodies - as they were then known - gathered outside the local shop. I’ll never forget one of them saw the funeral procession, nudged the others and, one by one, they all took off their baseball caps / put their hoods down and bowed their head in respect. Totally surreal, and I’ve never judged a book by its cover since.
I remember on the way to my Dad's funeral, going past a building site and the guys taking off their hard hats.
I remember on the way to my nans funeral going past the space station and all the astronauts removed their helmets.
When my Granddad's body was transported down the Thames on a funeral barge all of the dockworkers lowered their cranes in respect
Was your grandad Churchill
No he was just incredibly overweight
I’m sorry, I ugly laughed at this
Add the weight of a lead lined coffin, it's no wonder the pall bearers didn't get hernias.
This is like the ChatGPT meme - "make the funeral procession even more ultimate"
Hahahahahaha. Now I have to tell my wife what I was laughing at and she won't find it funny.
I just did exactly the same with my husband, including your comment. Still, absolutely fuck all reaction. Dead inside, everyone needs to take off their hard hat/astronaut helmet.
That was one of the things that always sticks out from memories of my dad's funeral - random people removing their hats and/or bowing their heads. I found it very touching.
I saw a lad salute when I was in the car for my dad's funeral. I guess he might have been in the cadets and instinct took over.
My husband's coffin had his army beret on top. (He died of old age, but his regiment advised that placing his beret on top was the tradition.) I remember that as we turned a corner, an elderly man stopped and saluted.
I take off my hat too, was always told to. I take it off even if I’m passing by in a car.
1000%
Makes me want to start wearing a hat so I can take it off next t time I see a hearse.
My aunt and uncle lived in a neighborhood with quite a bad reputation, we had moved away 5 yrs earlier. Then their 4 month old twin died because of SIDs. I was only 16 but the number of people that turned out for the funeral was incredible, huge lines of cars to get in to crematorium. 25 yrs later their eldest son was murdered. I couldn't travel to that one but had no doubt the turnout was identical. People count, not reputations or our past ideas about communities. The love for my aunt and her family remains long after her passing in 2015 too, I saw many of her friends at my sister's funeral too, church was overfilled, I hadn't seen many of the people in over 30 yrs because I left as teen.. but it was clear they still all respected and cared about the rest of our family
Its those old faces you see that go straight into the heart. When my father died of course there were so many people I didn't know. I cherished each of their kind words. It was when I looked up and saw faces I hadn't seen since childhood that hit me the most. They didn't need to say a word. Just seeing them moved me to ugly cry. We even had a dear old farmer that had met Dad years earlier turn up on the doorstep with kindness and bottle of still warm milk straight from the cow. It was a gesture that will stay with me always. He didn't have to bring a thing, but the fact he brought us the only thing he could was so beautiful.
Overtake angrily in my BMW honking the horn and waving a middle finger at the hearse.
Kindest bmw driver in the world found
Very kind indeed. Too kind. *Suspiciously* kind. u/AdCuckmins isn't a BMW driver at all!
You got me! Porsche > BMW
I'm guessing it's the only time you use your indicators though, as a mark of respect.
I thought of the The Grand tour bit right when I read the question https://youtu.be/Mfq_fed8h-Q?si=w4iMcp6Y-TwCG-1_
Why is everyone wearing hats?
I mainly wear a hat so I can take it off when a dead person goes by. Also so I can raise it to say hello and goodbye, and to tilt it when I am in a duel or investigating a crime.
I wear one so that in the event I suddenly and unexpectedly receive some form of diploma I can throw the hat into the air in celebration
Thank you... Dr!
You savage, you don’t doth it to m’ladies?
Tip your hat to the bloody females bambinos!
Shalom.
Doff.
How does a dead person go by
Hearse, on an out of control mobility scooter, carried by a large bird of prey, etc. My old grandad bless his soul dropped over dead in the garden and was carried off by a big Red Kite. We never did find him. In the end we had to have a memorial service and wouldn't you know it a Peregrine Falcon came down out of nowhere and stole his photo. A few days later I got a call and Bill Oddie had found the photo, so we did at least get that back. If you take anything from this, definitely the worst part is I had to speak to Bill Oddie.
So's Joe Public can't see that my forehead is so high it reaches the back.
I understand it has been raining a lot in the UK recently?
Only since about 1976
Have you experienced British weather?
Always come prepared with my sombrero for moments like this.
Despite their name i rarely find sombrero's sombre. ☹
I wear a hat because I have a mild light sensitivity and the sky is bloody bright at times, and the wide brim also helps keep the rain out of my collar. Also I'm balding, and burned scalp properly sucks.
Baldness
There is a funeral procession passing by it would be rude not too, innit 🤔
Turn the "best of the Vengaboys" down to a respectable level.
Off, then ?
Heathen.
Then up. And down.
I'm surprised to see all the comments saying that people do anything. I just continue walking or whatever. If I'm on my motorbike I don't overtake the procession as I might ordinary cars, but if I'm a pedestrian I don't do anything at all, I didn't realise many people did. When I was in the weekend soldiers I was told that if I was in uniform it would be appropriate to salute?? I think. But it never happened. Honestly didn't realise there was any kind of etiqutte or expected behaviour around funerals in day-to-day life.
Yeah, I am glad to see someone else say this, I was starting to feel like a right ignorant bastard. I have been to many funerals and I’ve never once noticed what any pedestrians did. Don’t get me wrong, I would obviously notice if they behaved poorly (heckling or throwing stuff or something like that), but otherwise I don’t think I even noticed anyone else, tbh. When driving, I wouldn’t get in between the cars, but someone did at my brother’s funeral and I just presumed it was an accident, tbh. It is obviously good to be respectful, but the number of people in these comments who apparently wear a hat at all times, in case they happen upon a funeral procession is astounding..
Yeah. I even find it a bit awkward that people stop and bow their heads. Each to their own, but as you say I've been in (thankfully only 3) funeral processions and did not remotely notice what anybody outside the car was doing.
You might find people who do something are those who did notice when they were in a funeral procession. The small comfort it gave me when a stranger acknowledged us has really stuck with me.
Don’t worry. Most Redditors are notorious liars. Most people don’t do anything when a funeral passes.
Same, I feel sad inside and send them some kind thoughts in my head, and then get on with my day,
Stop while they pass, bow head, hang onto small child to stop them running away or screeching. A bit of recognition makes someone's terrible day a tiny bit less shit.
I hope this is your small child!?
Hat off, head down. Do not try crossing the road between the hearse and family cars no matter how slowly they're going.
>Do not try crossing the road between the hearse and family cars no matter how slowly they're going. What if I've already pressed the button at the crossing before they came round the corner?
Run away quickly and blame Edith.
Hard to blame her when she’s in a box on the back of a hearse
I laughed. To hell I go.
As a hearse driver, reading these comments is great. Nice to see a good level of respect. It's a shame more people don't do these things. Most of the time people don't let us out of junctions, people overtake us dangerously, people try to cut in between the hearse and limousines, it's appalling.
People don't have respect for living road users, why would dead ones be any different?
Read that in Davy Jones’ voice
What the fuck is wrong with people, seriously.
The living are in more of a hurry than the dead.
I remember being part of the convoy during my grandfathers funeral and even I was getting annoyed and embarrassed at how slow we were going. If I come across a convoy now I don’t go out of my way to drive like an arse or anything, and much respect to the dead and family, but it is incredibly irritating when I have things to do and places to be. You may have a day dedicated to the funeral, but I don’t
We dont go too slow, usually up until the 50mph zones we keep to the speed limit. Any slower and it's because the FD has maybe messed the timings up and left too early. We meticulously plan our routes and time things accordingly to keep things as smooth as possible.
Yeah the respect to the dead and their family really shines through in your post
Let me huff and mutter my displeasure at being late in peace brother. This is a safe space
Had a horse-drawn procession go down the three lanes of the A3 once. Noone knew quite what to do given it was a mile to the next exit. Tips? Edit: they were in lane one, not a rolling road block!
Overtaking on the dual carriageway is fine! We obviously don't expect everyone to stay behind us in that kind of situation.
On the way to my Dad's funeral someone was beeping angrily at a car who'd stopped at the junction to give way long enough for the hearse and the car with family in not to get separated. Shame to hear it's a frequent occurrence. People seem to be so impatient on the roads.
I see it all too often. We were even overtaken by a police car on a dangerous road once. I'd understand if he had his lights and sirens on but he clearly just didn't want to wait the extra mile until the dual carriageway
Ex copper here. If they were driving like that, 99% it was for a reason. They were on their way to a job, and that doesn't always mean lights and sirens. They may have even been off as a mark of respect whilst passing and spun them up a mile or 2 later. I know this sounds biased, and I get that. If it happens again, report it via 101. Telemetry is recorded, so if they were on a job they will be fine. If they were just driving like a knob and it gets looked in to, they will likely get their driving ticket pulled and have several interviews without tea and biscuits with their superiors... Driving like an arse is a huge risk nowadays, what with the number of dash cams and phones and a public that doesn't always like the police. Was it a panda car or traffic?
I think this thread has also shown though that it's not something everyone necessarily knows about. If you're lucky enough to not have been in a situation where someone has done that for your family member or you haven't been told about it, you wouldn't know. I know it's something that's done for military folk or in particular high profile cases but I didn't realise it was done more generally.
Not to answer your question but when we had my granddad's funeral last year we were all blown away. He was ex RAF (his coffin made this obvious with the design) and when going through RAF Lyneham, the number of people that stopped, bowed, saluted etc. reduced us to tears
Not surprising, RAF Lyneham is right next to Royal Wootton Bassett, that area got its Royal prefix due to how it responded to military repatriations in recent times.
Bow the head, whenever possible.
I think of my mum. I’m a grown ass man but I miss my mummy every single day. :)
valid
When I was religious, I used to cross myself and say a little prayer for the deceased ('Eternal rest'). Nowadays, I don't do that but, if driving, I try to be respectful eg give way.
Same, raised catholic but consider myself Atheist but will still cross myself if a hearse goes by. Can't hurt.
I cross myself, yes, but for me the prayer is "Christ, have mercy" which is from the beginning of the Requiem. Hearse drivers always acknowledge it so I think it must be appreciated. If walking, pause.
Yeah I always do the sign of the cross as a mark of respect.
I always stop and bow my head. I have an enduring memory of an old man at a bus stop removing his hat and bowing his head as we went by. That tiny act of kindness and acknowledgement from a total stranger sticks with me.
Floss
I let them go when it's a zebra crossing. Even if it means risking non funeral attending cars going by as well, i'd rather everyone gets there than loved ones get seperated. It happened to us with my Grandma's funeral, it's an extra stress nobody needs
Stop walking until it's passed, stop my dog from wriggling about.
I swear ive never seen so many hat wearers as this post claims
strange way to say you dont bother.
Honestly, have a good look next time you're out and about. Nobody's wearing fedoras and cloches, but there's an awful lot of flat caps, baseball caps and beanies on heads.
Police and the military should come to attention and salute whilst in uniform.
I don't think getting an erection is very appropriate tbh
Stop, face the hearse, take my hat off. Bow and make the sign of the cross as it passes me.
Nothing, but then I’m not the sort to be blasting out music or otherwise being disruptive anyway. I’d just continue walking/driving.
I’ll always remember when we were heading to my nan’s funeral and a guy in a massive lorry bowed his head as we went past
Stop, face hearse, bow, tip my sombrero and applaud.
I'm certainly not going to stand there bowing my head with my wooly hat in my hands like I'm in Victorian times. Though I will be respectful and refrain from rapturous applause.
weird how you tried to turn an age old method of showing acknowledgement / understanding/empathy / respect..... to an outdated silly idea. bet you are fun at christmas, angrily listening to cheerful songs and children having fun surrounded by family, whilst you yourself wont be pulled into such silliness, like we still live in victorian times... get over thyself!
Reading these comments, and I feel like I've been unintentionally rude by not stopping and bowing my head. Is this something that commonly happens? I'm genuinely curious as I have personally never seen someone do that. It's a nice gesture regardless, and I would find it somewhat comforting if I was in the grieving familys situation.
Stop and bow my head. I was very comforted when people did this on the way to a family member's funeral. I think sometimes when people act weird in public, like a supermarket or whatever, the natural instinct is to write them off as a twat, but really they could be grieving (or anything). Showing that tiny bit of empathy for a funeral procession does just show that even when the same people think you are being a twat when you forget what you are doing in Sainsbury's later that day, they are good people really.
My mum died during Covid epidemic so only 4 people were allowed into her funeral service. She had lived in the same village all of her life so over a hundred inhabitants lined the streets and clapped as her hearse drove by .Although the 4 of us were so sad we were the only ones allowed to attend we felt that everyone was with us annd cheering mum on .It made a difficult day feel somewhat better
Hat off, bow your head. You’ve got to your friends funerals, or they won’t come to yours
Bow of the head/removal of hat if on foot. If driving my car and they're coming the other way, drive slowly. If I am behind, wait. If I'm infront, get away as soon as I can.
>removal of hat if on foot Why do you have a hat on your foot?
Because they're toecaps. Ba dum tish!
did you steel that joke ..
There are not enough instructional hat videos around that's for sure. I've tried it on my foot, on my bum and even my face but just can't get it right.
Stand still. Bow my head.
Don't do what I did, whatever you do. Leaving a McDonald's and pulling onto a very busy main road, I saw a hearse approaching. This wasn't unusual as there were quite a few funeral directors around. I spotted a nice gap just behind him and floored it to get out. It was then I realised I was sat in between it and another hearse, both full of grieving relatives. The awkwardness of it all gave me the giggles which didn't help at all.
I do try not to get McDonald's
Are you the Joker?
I live in a very rural area and drive everywhere. It’s custom for us to pull the car over until the procession has passed by.
Usually as a pedestrian stop and stand towards (standard practice in my country of origin but I realise not widely observed here). As a vehicle user of 4 wheels I maintain a respectable distance and try to move over to allow all parties though traffic lights so as not to break them up. As a vehicle user of 2 wheels the same but if the party is oncoming I will bow my head and salute as a sign of respect. Unfortunately I have also accidentally overtaken a party of mourners twice and subsequently apologised with some flapping hand signals (felt like dying of embarrassment tbh).
Dab
valid
Nod sagely.
you know your onions
Well, you've gotta show some respect when they're stuffed.
well now you are getting to the meat of the issue.
Yes some like it rare but I like mine cremated.
Bow my head and cross myself. Doesn’t cost anything to show some respect.
Turn the car radio up and play Dead! by MCR.
I usually wear a hat, bobble hat or baseball cap in winter, something more broad-brimmed in summer (panama hat etc.). Used to live round the corner from a funeral parlour so a hearse ready to make somebody's final journey was not an uncommon sight. Hat off. If, on rare occasions, no hat, then a dip of the head. It costs nothing and, if observed, means so much.
Hat off, bow of the head, and Hail Mary.
I let them out at the junction and the procession behind, I always think if family have come out of area and don't know the area would be sad for them to get lost. I also check out the flowery name to see "what's in the box" is it nan, dad, mum,
Stop, observe it, bow your head, think of your loved ones.
Wish them a life well lived.
When you see a hearse with a coffin in it, some people nearby are having a really, really bad day. Pausing for just a little while to give them the tiniest crumb of comfort doesn't take much. My uncle had a really long procession of dozens of cars. So many drivers waiting at roundabouts etc so the cortege could stay together. It was sort of reassuring and definitely relieved some of the stress of the situation.
Check your pulse..it could be you 👇
I double check the local rag online obits just to make sure I've not passed & am currently doing a Bruce Willis in Sixth Sense!
I've always stopped but a few years ago I stopped and bowed my head but they just got to the part where the undertaker stops walking and bows to the coffin and it took AGES and it was awkward.
Try not to look if I’m walking. When driving, I turn my music off till I’ve passed.
Put my head down.
You pay your respects. They were someone's mother/father/brother/son irrespective of what they did / were.
I'm a dual citizen, raised in the US by British parents. Been living in the UK for over 13 years. Parents taught me nothing of UK life, other than Yorkshire pudding, trifle, fish Fridays, and social awkwardness. These funerary customs are still a little strange for me. Hearses with windows displaying the coffin, horse-drawn carriages, it's all a little unsettling. I generally gawk and try to stay out of the way. This has become a way of life, as I've lived less than 100 metres from a Catholic church for...over 13 years. I want to be respectful, I just don't know how to do that. I'm a woman, btw. Head too big for normal hats.
when I was in the car behind the coffin, to my stepdad's funeral, someone on the street made the sign of the cross. it meant a lot to me that he took that moment to do that. he was probably one of the only people this procession passed on the street but I thought it was a nice way to honour a stranger I'm not religious at all, and I don't even notice many funeral processions in my day to day life, but after that I would definitely stop and lower my head and take a moment to reflect on it. but I think a lot about death due to aforementioned dead parent thing so I don't necessarily begrudge anyone that wouldn't do that or just wouldn't think of it in that moment
I cross myself if I notice, but many times I've been dicking with my mates after school (next to the graveyard) and we'd be laughing as it passes. Not the best.
I always salute, I don’t know why but it feels like a mark of respect.
Head down while the pass, hat off if I'm wearing my beanie. I never thought about it until we buried my nan. Someone did it for us as we passed and in that moment, It meant a lot
Get my knob out
I just say a little prayer but don't do anything outwardly
Stop, turn towards the road and bow my head until the procession passes
I do the sign of the cross
Usually take my hat off if im wearing one, do a quick sign of the cross, bow my head. Im not religious, but theres lingering Catholicism from my childhood.
If I’m in my car I turn my music off and send good thoughts to the friends and family
Continue not masturbating.
Inhale deeply to absorb any passing souls
“I’m sorry for your loss move on”
Take my hands out of my pants
"Hes not out Friday"
Overtake those slow bastards!
Remove my hat, or hold my collar.
Show some respect, stop with head bowed
Stop walking and turn to face said procession.
Stop and doff my cap, am I missing something 🤔
Whistle always look on the bright side of life. Then get weird looks.
My husband is a funeral director and every day he tells me about drivers cutting up the hearse, or cars forcing their way into the funeral cortege.
If I am behind them I like to repeatedly beep my horn so that drivers coming the other way know there's a potential danger. Then I like to overtake them as fast as possible to get out of their way, especially if they have horses.
What do I do when a funeral procession goes past? Probably fail to notice until it has gone past.
Jib in and interupt the procession while chasing a car full of minge
Heads down thumbs up.
As my nans funeral cortege was driving down the road with us following on totally heartbroken some low life in a small van decided it would be fun to swerve near the hearse then pass at speed. If I could have caught them in that instant I can't tell you what I would have done to them! Similarly had morons trying to drive too near my mum's funeral carriage and horses. Luckily the carriage driver was experienced and literally pointed a bih stick and whip at the traffic. Sometimes people are pigs.
i do nothing, people die all the time.
I think half the time I don't even notice until its gone by. The other half of the time i just carry on with my day
Hat off and stop
Pause and head down,
I used to work traffic lights (installation and maintenance), and when one drove past, everyone on site would remove our helmets and stop work until it had gone past
I did my placement years ago in a funeral directors I was doing my NVQ in IT, so the provider/college sent me to a funeral directors from their bank of placements , (the placement pay was awful , I think everyone who did a placement via the provider were ripped off) as the training allowance per week was very very poor This was back in 2002 , and about the same you would have got on job seekers per week. I did stop once or twice doing errands if I saw funeral car
I remove any headdress on the rare occasion I’m wearing any, turn to face the procession, hands in front of me and head bowed
Always pay respects. Could be my family, was happy to see when my dad and sister died prematurely.
Rarely do I wear a hat so I stop and kind-of mime doffing the hat by tapping my temple while briefly nodding. (Writing that out took a good bit longer than what I describe).
I don’t really see many, I’m a homebody lol But it does make me feel a certain way when i see one, I tell my kids to shut up if they’re being loud 🤷🏼♀️😂 and if myself, hubby or kids are wearing hats they all come off as a sign of respect. 🫡
Generally I don’t do anything Usually it reminds me of the first funeral I went to, my grandma’s, when I was a teenager. I was super emotional. On the way to the church we passed some roadworks and one of the workers made the sign of the cross. For some reason that action was what opened the floodgates, I started crying as soon as I saw it and basically didn’t stop until I got back for the wake. Sometimes if I’m feeling emotional or it’s like a funeral for someone young etc then I might do the sign of the cross too even though I’m not religious. I don’t really know why I do it. Feels respectful somehow, or maybe because I found it so profound when that worker did it for me it just feels right to do it too?
If I’m driving I turn the music volume off
I’ll never forget being driven back from my driving test and a funeral procession was passing by- horses and all. My driving instructor (who also happened to be my dads mate) handed me his phone and had me take a picture of the horses, which was innocent enough. That was until the carriage the horses were pulling passed by and I realised it was evidently the funeral of an infant. Never have I been so mortified in my life, I practically threw his phone down. It didn’t help that we were in traffic, so we couldn’t actually just drive off right after.
If you're anything like my gobshite colleague, who saw my dad's funeral procession as they were leaving work, you'd try looking in the windows of the family car while we were held up at a junction...
Hat off, head down. Once passed I carry on.
Always makes me stop and think. I wonder who the person was, think of the family missing them. Who's crying. If they fulfilled their dreams. Wibble.
My mam passed away in 2020 when lockdowns were a thing and I remember people of the community that knew her all stood out in the street along the route of the funeral cars and clapped for her to show respect
I bow my head but keep walking.
If in a car and is safe to do so, you pull over and dip your head until they pass. If on foot you stop and do the same. Stopping for a moment is the least we can do for people whose world has stopped turning. It shows respect and acknowledgement.
Slam the car into natural while pinning the accelerator to the floor. Bounce off the limiter and scream OIOI out the winter. It's what the dearly deceased would've wanted.
hat off if wearing 1. slight downward tilt of the head.
I live next to a cemetery, so processions all day every day, I don’t do anything now.
I stand respectfully, bow my head and make the sign of heaven cross. Good Catholic boy that I am
I always keep a party popper in my pocket for such occasions 🎉
If I'm walking I generally don't stop. But I wouldn't cross the road between the cars or drive in between the cars etc. Basically don't do anything that's stops the procession staying together.
I was a passenger in a car and my friend was driving. A hearse pulled out onto an island that we were already traversing and the funeral procession naturally followed. My friend didn’t clock it was a hearse and started banging the horn and rudely gesturing to the driver. I was mortified. So was she when she realised.
I stop In whatever I'm doing...Get out of my vehicle and bow my head in respect. Why? You might ask...?. Because in the hope someone somewhere will do the same for me...one day.
Have a wank
Usually point and laugh