- Contributed by听
- Sister_Doris
- People in story:听
- Doris Crook, Mrs Burgoyne, E.H.Harland
- Location of story:听
- St George's Methodist Church, Cable Street, East London
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A3659592
- Contributed on:听
- 13 February 2005
I was working as a Methodist Deaconess at St George鈥檚, Cable Street, in the east end of London in 1940. One Tuesday afternoon when the Sisterhood was over and the ladies had dispersed, I was busy clearing up and folding the second hand clothes that we had for sale on the stall, to put away into the cupboard, when Mrs. Burgoyne turned up. This was most unusual, as she had not attended the meeting. She had come to tell me that her husband had died in the shelter overnight. I talked with her, and decided to go with her to her flat and see the insurance book which she had in her husband鈥檚 name. It was a very poor 鈥渂ook鈥, with extremely few entries, a shilling here and there. It was obvious that it would not yield any substantial amount for a funeral. This was clearly a case where the Council would have to take responsibility. However, Mrs. Burgoyne鈥檚 chief concern lay elsewhere. She said, and kept saying, 鈥淚 must have my little bit of black!鈥 Whether she ever got her 鈥渓ittle bit of black鈥, I have no idea. As it was well on into the evening I suggested that she get her night鈥檚 rest and I would be with her at 8.30 a.m. the next day. I requested that she did not do anything until I arrived.
To my surprise, the next morning I discovered that Mrs. Burgoyne had been to the undertaker and had set in motion the funeral arrangements. I had to go to that gentleman and explain the financial situation. He soon realised that it would be a case for the Council, or he would be faced with a bad debt. So it transpired that poor Mr. Burgoyne had to suffer the indignity of being transferred from a private, to a Council coffin when the men came round to collect the body! In due time notice was received of the place and time of the funeral, and that transport for four would be provided.
On the day, the minister, Mr. Harland, went to conduct the service, together with Mrs. Burgoyne and her friend, and a Salvation Army officer. When the party was returning Mr. Harland indicated to the driver that he would like to get out at the Church, but Mrs. Burgoyne protested, 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to get out here, the paper said that there would be provision for four!鈥 For her that obviously meant food!
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