Religious leaders with the restored memorial to William McGregor
Dignity help Aston Villa supporters to remember the founder of The Football League
On Tuesday 20 December 2011, Dignity funeral directors, E F Edwards of Erdington, Birmingham, helped supporters of Aston Villa to mark the centenary of the death of William McGregor, founder of The Football League and Chairman of their club during its formative years.
Dignity offered to cover the shortfall in funds raised by Villa supporters who were looking to restore McGregor’s grave at St Mary’s Church in Handsworth and E F Edwards funeral home provided a limousine and chauffer, Chris Harper, to transport high profile guests to the church and the VIP reception at Villa Park.
"As a long time Villa fan and season ticket holder I have a personal interest in helping give William McGregor the resting place he undoubtedly deserves," explained Dignity’s corporate services director, Richard Portman. "Due to the generosity of Villa’s supporters we have only had to make a small financial contribution to cover the shortfall but we were pleased to provide a Mercedes limousine and chauffeur to transport the religious leaders and dignitaries that were attending this special event."
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham and the Chairmen and Chief Executives of the 12 founding clubs of The Football League attended the Service of Commemoration. It was jointly conducted by Reverend Dr Kirsty Thorpe, leader of the United Reformed Church in the UK (McGregor was a devout member of the Congregational Church, now part of the URC), Reverend Leo Osborn, leader of the Methodist Church in the UK (in recognition of Aston Villa’s Methodist origin) and the Right Reverend Andrew Watson, Bishop of Aston. Also taking part was the Reverend Stuart Picken, minister of Ardoch Parish Church in Perthshire, where McGregor was baptised.
E F Edwards also provided a limousine for Lord Brian Mawhinney, President of The Football League, who paid tribute to his organisations founder as part of the service.
The Service concluded with a procession into the Churchyard led by the Bishop of Aston, who re-dedicated McGregor’s grave followed by a reception at Villa Park.
Other Stories
-
Bradford branch commemorates 125 years service to the community D Walsh & Son in Bradford recently held a Service of Re-dedication to celebrate the business’ 125th anniversary.
-
VIP’s visit J H Kenyon for Churchill funeral lecture The Rt. Hon Sir Nicholas Soames, MP, was guest of honour at a lecture at J H Kenyon's Westbourne Grove offices on 13 October 2015 recalling the firm’s involvement with the death and funeral of his grandfather, Sir Winston Churchill, fifty years ago.
-
Donation to support bereavement counsellors Regional manager for North London, John Laker, recently presented a cheque for £1,000 on behalf of Dignity to support CARIS Islington, a charity that provides a bereavement counselling service for vulnerable people.
-
Dignity is a Big Hoot in Sutton Coldfield This summer, Dignity sponsored an owl for The Big Hoot, a massive art project that took place across Birmingham for ten weeks.
-
South East Regional Awards celebrate best business practice Members of the management team from across the South East Region gathered at the Deans Place Hotel in Alfriston on Wednesday 10 June for the sixth South East Regional Awards.
-
New Fleet for business acquisition In October 2014, long established Cheltenham funeral directors, W S Trenhaile, joined Dignity, bringing with it their beautiful premises, a converted church school. Dignity has now complemented this with investment in a new Binz hearse and limousine, supplied by Superior Automotive.