Why is our glorious summer weather now seen as a problem instead of something to be celebrated? Tell that to someone who lived through the frozen winter of 1684 when the seas froze and livestock died in the fields. The climate has always changed. Think about the Great Ice Ages of pre-history or the medieval warm period when Britain basked in a tropical climate. How do our summers compare with that? We’re just lucky to be living in an upward curve. The biggest threat to the environment is the cutting down of the World’s rain forests. But no-one is doing anything about that. Why?
Even as the Government prepares to lift Covid restrictions, there are millions of UK citizens who just don’t want to let go. Why? Most of us have already been double-vaccinated. Of what are we frightened? The campaign of fear has worked too well. As a population, we are now so cowed that we are frightened to think for ourselves. We’d rather stand back and let someone else do the thinking for us. Someone like Matt Hancock. Like blotting paper we just absorb the official line and tag along. How sad.
Can there be anything less sexy than a book on burial and crematorium law? But that has not stopped Essential Law for Burial and Crematorium Managers from being flagged as Amazon’s No 1 best selling business law book. Is that worldwide? See for yourself.
The ICCM is pleased to announce the publication of an important new book on the law relating to cemeteries and crematoria.
‘Essential Law for Cemetery and Crematorium Managers’, published 3 June, 2021, is written for anyone involved in the management of a cemetery or crematorium in England or Wales, whether public, private or not-for-profit.
Commissioned by the ICCM and authored by its company solicitor, V. Charles Ward, the 245 page ‘Essential Law’ is the first authoritative book on burial and cremation law since Davies Law of Burial, Cremation and Exhumation (7th Edition) last appeared in 2002. But even if the 8th edition of Davies appeared tomorrow, there is still arguably room for another authoritative book on the subject, which puts academic law into a practical context. Burial and cremation law does not exist in isolation but is part of the wider legal framework which governs all business activity in England and Wales.
There is never a ‘right time’ for publishing a new book on burial and cremation law. Certainly not when the Law Commission has announced a comprehensive review of burial and cremation law. Though as yet we have no indication as to when that Law Commission review is likely to be published and how long afterwards it will be before any of its recommendations translate into law. In the meantime something is needed to fill the gap.
Since the last 2002 edition of Davies, burial and cremation law has moved on. There are the 2008 Cremation Regulations. There are new rules allowing re-use of grave-space within London municipal cemeteries. There is the 2009 Coroners and Justice Act. There are medical examiners. There are the 2019 death notification regulations. And there is the case-law.
Subjects covered in ‘Essential Law’ include: the Local Authorities’ Cemeteries Order 1977 (LACO); Victorian burial statutes which are still relevant today; cremation legislation; grants and transfers of burial and cremation rights; registration of deaths; cemetery regulations and byelaws; data protection; procurement of cemetery and crematorium services; competition law; land-issues; faith and equality issues; recent case-law; exhumation; cemetery closure; redevelopment of disused burial grounds. Amongst its appendices are specimen grave and memorial grants and assignments; model cemetery regulations and byelaws; and an example of a business plan.
Essential law can be purchased online for £39.00 as a paperback or £9.99 for the kindle version.
You can purchase the paperback version of Essential Law for Cemetery and Crematorium Managers here.
You can purchase the Kindle version of Essential Law for Cemetery and Crematorium Managers here.
Please see the enclosed link to my piece relating to tax on the purchase of homes in the course of construction in the UK as published in Local Government Lawyer May 2021. Warning: contains practical advice which could severely reduce your tax.
