5 Weddings & 3 Funerals This was a film journey of celebration and grief, presented by The North West Group of the British Federation of Film Societies on 21-23 November 1997 at The Edenfield Country House hotel, Lytham St. Annes.

The movies screened were:

• Muriel's Wedding (Hogan, 1994)
• I was a Male War Bride (Hawks, 1949)
• Three Colours Blue (Kieslowski, 1992)
• A Wedding (Altman, 1978)
• Four Weddings and a Funeral (Newell, 1994)
• Daddy Nostalgie (Tavernier, 1990)
• The Wedding Banquet (Lee, 1993)
• The Loved One (Richardson, 1965.

The presenter was Dave Watterson, who is also the editor of these pages and cannot therefore comment on the quality of the introductions.  The films were great but the audience was even better.  A "New Age" wedding ceremony was acted out, complete with incense and Moody Blues music.  A very moving passage from Thomas Lynch's superb book of essays, The Undertaking, was perfectly read by John Pritchard.  The hard work behind the scenes was carried out by Michael Lockwood, Alan Payne, Tom Ainsworth and Alvin Sant.

Delegates floated candles on water in the hotel's magnificent Victorian glass conservatory where reflections mingled with the stars.  Though discussion time was limited it was very lively and continued informally over meals breaks in the hotel's attractive dining room.  There was even time on Saturday afternoon for a welcome stroll along the dunes to get fresh air and sunshine.

Among the delegates were Sue Gill and John Fox whose arts group, Welfare State International is also known as Engineers of the Imagination.  They specialise in devising rites of passage and had just produced a new book:

John's vision and sense of theatre are perfectly complemented by Sue's practicality.  The book contains ideas for amending the normal funeral formats and creating your own.  There are lots of practical tips, addresses where you can buy cardboard coffins for painting and so on.  It is very practical and quite inspirational. Copies are available at £9.50 each (pounds sterling) plus post and packing charges of £1.50 in UK, £2.50 in Europe and £4.00 elsewhere.  Make cheque payable to "Welfare State International" and send to: Engineers of the Imagination, The Ellers, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 0AA, England.  Phone 01229 581127.  Fax 01229 581232. Those interested in alternative funeral arrangements might also enjoy looking at The Natural Death Centre's web-site.