An East End farewell
Subtitle: memoris of an apprentice undertaker during the Blitz and beyond : the life of Stan Cribb
By: Yvette Venables
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2015
Place of publication: London; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 257
ISBN-13: 9781471136962; 9781471136979
Subjects: Undertakers and undertaking; Biography
Description: This is the memoir of an East End undertaker, Stan Cribb, who began his apprenticeship aged just fourteen, burying the victims of London's Blitz. During the last century, East End households had a special relationship with their local undertakers due to the large familes and high mortality rates. Since he can remember, Stanley Harris (more commonly known as Stan Cribb), spent his weekends captivated by the goings-on at his grandparents' funeral home. At fourteen, and much to the reluctance of his father, he dons his first suit and joins the family business as an apprentice to his quick-tempered uncle. Entering the profession at a time when an undertaker's role exposed them to the brutal realities of World War II, Stan spends his teenage years recovering dead bodies in the dark and standing guard over funeral carriages during air raids. After the war, with unfailing good humour, Stan takes us on a journey through his National Service, marriage and unpredictable life as an East End undertaker.
Notes: Subjects real name is Stanley Harris but her is more commonly known as Stan Cribb.