A daughter has spoken of her disgust after her father's funeral procession was overtaken by an impatient driver, who narrowly missed hitting two people leading the cortege on foot.
A Solemn Moment Shattered
Elizabeth Owens, 42, was travelling in the hearse on January 7 in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, to bury her beloved father, 69-year-old Paul Whitehead. The emotional procession, which included a bagpiper and a limousine for family, was led on foot by a funeral director and the musician.
Mrs Owens described a quiet, poignant scene suddenly shattered when an elderly man in a car sped past the hearse. "It was a really beautiful moment, and then some idiot just decided they were in a rush," she told the Daily Mail. The vehicle overtook on the wrong side of the road, coming dangerously close to the funeral director and bagpiper walking ahead.
"It has stuck with me now - someone not giving a care in the world that that's my dad, and just overtaking," she said. Emotions were already high for the family, who had waited several weeks after Mr Whitehead's death on December 11 to hold the service.
A Second Act of Disrespect
Distressingly for the mourning family, the lack of respect did not end there. Mrs Owens claimed a second incident occurred on the return journey from the church. While at a roundabout in Oldham, a van cut up the funeral cortege.
"I just thought what is wrong with people," Mrs Owens said. "It's horrible being in that car, because you know that everyone's looking... There shouldn't be any disrespect." She expressed particular disappointment with the first driver's age, stating: "You think he'd have more respect."
Funeral Director's Warning Over Growing Trend
Following the alarming incident, the funeral director in charge, Michael from Oldham Independent Funeral Services, took to Facebook to highlight what he says is a worsening problem. He confirmed the dangerous overtaking manoeuvre in Failsworth, stating there was no way the driver could have seen him clearly walking ahead.
He issued a stark warning: "Sadly, this is not an isolated event. Funeral corteges are increasingly being overtaken, cut up, and rushed past by impatient and inconsiderate drivers."
In his post, he appealed directly to other road users for compassion and patience. "For the extra five minutes you may be 'held up' behind a funeral cortege, please remember: A family is grieving; A life is about to be honoured and celebrated; Someone deeply loved is being laid to rest."
The incidents have left a lasting mark on Mrs Owens, who emphasised the simple respect she was taught to show. "Every time I see [a funeral car], I always take my hat off and bow my head, because that's just what I've been brought up to do."
