We’ve all become accustomed to seeing a funeral hearse as a long, black car. However, it was not always this way. One of the oldest hearses to survive lies in the Hermitage in St Petersburg, Russia and dates back to 350BC, at which time all manner of transport was been used to convey the departed to their place of burial. In fact, the term hearse is derived from the old French word 'herce', meaning harrow – and refers to the shape of a wooden framework studded with candles which was customarily fixed above the casket for the journey to the church.

"Many of our ideas about the modern 'funeral car' only took shape with the arrival of the purpose-built horse-drawn hearses of the 19th century. Their large glass side windows giving bystanders the opportunity to pay their respects as the hearse passed, and also to display flowers that family and friends provided by way of appreciation. Even the wooden construction of those early vehicles finds its echo inside today's motor hearse", explains Alun Tucker of the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral directors.
Up until recently, the furthest people would go as far as personalizing a funeral, would be to choose silver or even white hearses and matching limousine. But the SAIF is holding a National Bereavement Awareness Week in September and hopes to show today's hearse can come in a variety of forms.
For those seeking an emphasis on traditional values, there are classic Rolls-Royces. For a contemporary twist, people can seek out the more streamlined shapes. Not everyone may wish to follow steeplejack Fred Dibnah's example by having his coffin drawn by a steam traction engine but motorcycle and trike hearses are becoming more commonplace, and there is even a Volkswagen Microbus available for VW enthusiasts.
Tucker added, "Choices like these are about trends to add a sense of celebration at a time of grief, and to reflect a life well lived. It comes down to not being afraid to be different."