Alternative Hearses for Charity
Provided for the Community & Funeral Homes of South Devon by
Reggie Kray Jnr
in return for a set donation to Torbay Bikers for Kids (Registered Charity No: 1200973)
Victorian Hand Bier
About this service and why I only require a set donation to charity for its use
I will shortly be able to provide a fully refurbished Victorian Hand Bier, which is the same design as the one in the above photograph, for funeral homes within the South Devon area.
Throughout the Georgian, Victorian & Edwardian eras hand biers of this type were pulled by the bearers when a family was unable to afford the more luxurious and expensive horse drawn hearses. These days hand biers of this type are mostly in museums or on display at funeral homes, but this one will be well suited for cemetery & woodland funerals or for processions on the public highway.
The bier is made from cast iron with independent bow suspension for each of the iron spoke wheels that are fitted with solid rubber tyres. The deck is made of slatted wood and it has an iron steering arm with a wood handle at the front. The bier is currently being adapted to meet the requirements of the modern funeral home, but it will still be in keeping with its heritage. The deck has been lengthened to accept a coffin with a maximum 7' 2" exterior length to allow for the increase in the average person's height over the past one hundred and fifty years. The bier will have rollers and stops fitted and the wood will be stained antique pine. It will even have a portable Bluetooth speaker underneath to play chosen music and will be transported from our base on a trailer. Photographs of the bier will be uploaded to this page when it's completed and in service, but below is a photograph of it in its current state of refurbishment.
If an authentic Victorian themed funeral is required, I am able to provide undertaker's apparel of the era which was hand-made by a theatrical costumier for television and it includes a stove-pipe top hat, frock coat, Inverness cape and cane, all in black.
Like my alternative hearse services, I do not require payment for this service. I only ask that a set charitable donation is made to Torbay Bikers for Kids (Registered Charity No: 1200973) who raise funds to purchase essential items that will help improve the lives and/or education of children who are disabled or severely ill, living in Torbay and the surrounding area. 225+ children have been helped from donations.
