Undertakers keeping fit during coronavirus crisis
It would be quite an undertaking to put the “fun” into a funeral parlour.
It is a tough way to ‘urn’ a living, especially amid a pandemic, so staff of one firm have created a makeshift gym in the courtyard of their premises, so they can let off steam.
Staff at A Yeatman & Sons Funeral Directors in West Norwood, now exercise together before work – a sort of gym reaper, if you like.
Jamie Groves, regional development director of Funeral Partners Greater London South, helped his colleagues convert the branch’s open space into a gym with dumbbells, skipping ropes and a punch bag brought from home.
Jamie said: “The support we give each other during these sessions carries into our day’s work, and really motivates us to do our best, especially amid the stresses brought on by Covid-19.”
And it clearly isn’t a way to get out of starting work early.
“We usually arrive at 5am and spend 45 minutes on the fitness stations, cleaning each one between us, then pack everything away and get ready for work,” Jamie added.
Jim Varley, an undertaker at A Yeatman & Sons, who previously trained the armed forces and worked as a personal trainer, asked Jamie if he could spare some outdoor space in one of the company’s South London branches so he could exercise while public gyms were closed during lockdown.
Jamie saw how helpful it would be to exercise as a team. And fellow fitness enthusiast Narada Maull-Robinson, funeral director of Steven Mears Funeral Directors – which has branches in Lewisham, Sydenham and Beckenham, was also keen to work out there three mornings a week.
Jamie said: “We were doing our own routines in our gardens to keep fit, but it’s not the same without moral support.
“I ensured the courtyard was big enough to maintain social distancing and that our workouts wouldn’t disrupt the funeral business.
“Then all three of us brought in equipment from home. The initial idea from Jim was a great one, which I was happy to support.”
Jamie is now opening up the sessions to other colleagues after receiving interest from 15 people and has been joined by Katie Maull-Robinson, acting hub manager at A Yeatman & Sons in West Norwood.
He said: “We’ve introduced night shifts at A Yeatman & Sons because of Covid-19, and team members watching us before going home have been spreading the word.
“I’ve contacted those interested, explaining the strict social distancing rules and encouraging them to come along.”
Death may just be God’s way of telling you to slow down, but that’s not happening here.
Jamie now plans to bring in his rowing machine from home and offer a greater variety of equipment for the growing number of participants.
After all, funeral directors are the last people to let you down.
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