Poems by Christina Rossetti, particularly ‘Let me go’ and ‘Remember’ are popular choices at many funerals. Mary Frye’s ‘Do not stand at my grave and weep’ is another favourite. I’m always on the hunt for less well-known verse that might strike a chord. Read on.

Every funeral will have a solemn or moving moment. Some will be overtaken by grief and mourning, but increasingly funerals are undergoing a change. A prime example is that of Pogues’ frontman Shane MacGowan.