My job: What it’s like digging graves for a living

The pandemic has remodeled the world of labor. From establishing a desk within the backyard shed, to a lack of hours or earnings – few individuals’s working lives have been left unchanged.

This upheaval has left many questioning what they do and why they do it. As a part of a series called ‘My Job‘ we examine how completely different individuals discover function of their day by day work.

Mark Sealey digs graves for a living – though the extra correct description for his job is a sexton. He additionally maintains the grounds and graveyard at Wigston Cemetery in Leicestershire and assists at funerals.

I knew a few guys [working] on the cemetery. There have been a lot of bikers and hippy sorts within the upkeep sector and we have been all into rock music – so it appeared like a pure transition to start out working there too. It was a place the place all of us shared related pursuits and needed to work exterior.

I additionally labored with a lot of ex coal-miners with accidents. They have been used to utilizing equipment and trenching and people expertise have been transferrable to cemeteries.

A traditional day would contain grounds upkeep. But there’s at all times burials and people can are available at any time. At the beginning of the week we have got nothing, however by Friday we might have 5. In a method, it’s like being on-call.

For burials, very first thing, we go to the place the household are going to congregate. We normally arrive any time from 07:30.

The paths are blown, garbage bins emptied, we get [the area] prepared and put together for the funeral. The graves are normally ready at the very least one full day earlier than a burial. Then we drape the graves with material that is formed and comes from a correct provider to suit them. Everybody will get the identical therapy.

We at all times say individuals get an concept after they come to the burial [that] it’s going to be like the one they noticed on EastEnders – all the things’s sunny they usually’re all throwing daffodils in. But we’re coping with nature and it’s unpredictable, so we won’t 100% assure how issues may go.

Source: National Careers Service

I like being right here. When I’m looking the window, I’m craving to be again exterior.

It’s additionally a comforting position for individuals and also you develop into it over time. If you have bought an concept you wish to make a distinction, you may. I cope with all of the tree-planting and may counsel completely different ones, or work with relations on how they wish to commemorate their family members.

If you are right here for a whereas, you may see issues change. We’ve planted all the things from hawthorn and rowan bushes, to cherries and pears. Seeing all the things change and rotate is satisfying.

I feel the most important one is that we do not care – we’re simply employees. I’ve been on this line of labor for so lengthy now, anybody doing a machinery-dependent job like this, we’re all aware of the actual fact the machine we’re utilizing makes a mess. We’re at all times following as much as tidy up.

Lots of people consider gravediggers as a lonely bunch of fellows too. In literature, typically a character could not get one other job and ended up as a gravedigger. Lots of expertise are concerned although – it’s important to be updated on well being and security, threat assessments and digital expertise.

I feel it’s nonetheless bought an old style picture, a high hat and purple neckerchief – barely spooky. But I’ve subscribed to a paranormal journal for years and I’ve learn extra in there than I’ve ever seen right here.

Cemetery life is a bit strange. People might imagine I’m pushing my method by spirits, however it’s nothing like that.

“It in no way follows that as a result of a man is a sexton, and consistently surrounded by the emblems of mortality, subsequently he needs to be a morose and melancholy man; your undertakers are the merriest fellows on the planet”.

The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton, by Charles Dickens.

I do not suppose individuals realise how a lot went into making ready for the pandemic. We had a month to get all the things prepared for no matter occurred and get a spare mortuary up and operating.

There was a large quantity of logistics we by no means thought we would need to cope with. You cannot dig a slit trench and put 20 individuals in there. We’ve bought to unfold issues out and ensure no person thinks: “My god, there’s been 15 deaths in a single day”.

We had Zoom calls each Monday, the place we have been being advised about newest issues. We have been coping with contagion, social distancing at funerals.

It was a machine that was unstoppable as soon as it went, and it’s solely simply slowing down now.

I suppose, in a method, [knowing] that the issues that come up are usually not going to final.

Lots of points are a knee-jerk response, venting. Grief is a horrible factor to see day-by-day. You do not see that individual of their typical way of thinking. People write inscriptions on headstones after which six months later, they want they’d by no means gushed like that.

You do get used to it. You discuss to somebody [who is grieving] they usually slowly however certainly come spherical. There are literally programs on grief that we do go on, however it’s not the be-all-and-end-all of it.

There are additionally fairly humorous stuff you come throughout, uncommon issues. One lady left a notice saying: “Oh for god’s sake, do not bury me wherever close to my husband.”

And I did one [burial] as soon as of a younger disabled lady. About 4 years earlier than that, we had buried a trainer from the close by college within the subsequent plot alongside. The household requested me if this was intentional, and I did not know what they meant.

We had truly buried their daughter subsequent to her trainer. An individual who cared for her in her life, and in some individuals’s minds could be caring for her afterwards. Certain coincidences like that occur which might be very unusual, that time in direction of the supernatural.

The factor I’m most happy with although is the actual fact I’ve caught it out, to inform the reality.

You journey by life and you’ve got your individual issues. I’ve six children, we have had all method of issues happen. But you stand up and also you are available as soon as each day, for 43 years.

I’m most happy with my lengthy service and the actual fact I’ve labored with individuals who’ve appreciated it. I’ve had awards over time for lengthy service and I really feel valued right here.