Gransnet forums

Chat

A question of etiquette ...

(33 Posts)
vegasmags Wed 21-May-14 09:00:40

I'm back on GN after a bit of a break due to family things (including beautiful new GD, 11 days old today). I know of no better place to turn to for help and advice on modern manners, so here's my dilemma. I often have to drive past Southern cemetery, which is very large and serves the whole of south Manchester - and is often referred to as the dead centre of Manchester by local wags. It's very busy, so I am frequently caught up in a long queue of traffic moving at 5 mph, taking 15 minutes to cover a few hundred yards. This happened to me four times in one day. So my question is a simple one - is it ever OK to overtake a funeral?

Lona Wed 21-May-14 15:29:33

vegas Congratulations flowers
Aren't there a lot of delays on that particular stretch because of the new tram routes?
I'm going down there on Friday, and I was hoping the work would have moved on [fingers crossed]

I don't think I'd overtake a funeral cortege along there.

annsixty Wed 21-May-14 16:15:18

The last funeral we went ,all the ordinary cars following were given black flags to attach to the drivers windows. It did feel rather odd but the Funeral Director said it was to stop us all being separated on the very busy A6.We got some rather odd looks but it served its purpose.No-one at the funeral had seen it done before.

HollyDaze Wed 21-May-14 16:19:45

I am in agreement with the majority in that I would feel very uncomfortable overtaking a funeral procession. I miss the days when people would stand still, men would remove their hats as the funeral party drove by as a show of respect and sympathy. What a sad society we have created if a moment's (which is all it is in the grand scheme of things) empathy is asking too much.

If it was something that happened regularly, I, too, would probably look for another route to take.

Galen Wed 21-May-14 16:53:42

A member of our church has just died. She's having a horse drawn hearse and it's going all round our town!

Aka Wed 21-May-14 16:58:22

I do think it shows lack of patience and respect for the dead Nina but that's only my opinion and you are entitled to think differently. When I've been in a funeral cortège (sadly too many recently) I've been saddened at the way some drivers behave, at the very time you don't need to feel any worse.

Grandmanorm Wed 21-May-14 16:59:24

Congratulations on your new Granddaughter. flowers
I agree with thatbags so won't repeat it.

ninathenana Wed 21-May-14 18:00:44

I'm very sorry Aka I didn't mean to offend or sound critical. As you say everyone is entitled to an opinion smile