HAVE you noticed there has been a big increase in the past year or two in the cost of a funeral?

The increase has been so large that the insurance companies have started jumping on the bandwagon and as they have found a new and lucrative market in which to sell expensive insurance to cover the costs.

Hence all the TV ads. I’m told the average cost of a funeral is actually around £1,000.

Someone is making a good profit from our deaths.

The average person doesn’t necessarily want a big expensive funeral and would rather, as their last gift, spend the money they save on a flight to sunshine for a week or two for their families.

If you agree with these sentiments for goodness sake put it in writing for your family so they won’t spend money contrary to your wishes. That’s what I’m going to do.

Dave Hodgson, Richmond