It is my privilege to interview the wonderful Poppy Mardall, Director of Poppy’s Funerals – a modern funeral company, providing personal, affordable funerals. Poppy lives in London with her husband and daughter.
I was lucky enough to grow up with Poppy and her family. Even as a toddler, she helped people (even if it was just filling up their buckets with hose water!). Interested in art, she became a Deputy Director at Sotheby’s in London (arguably already a ‘dream job’). But after a series of big life events, including travelling to Ghana and contracting typhoid, during her six month recovery she realised she wanted to do something to help people and that “although death is a scary, and taboo subject, I could help to make funerals a better experience.” So she started her own funeral business.
Poppy’s Funerals won the Natwest Everywoman Demeter Award 2015 and Wandsworth Business Award for Entrepreneur of the Year.
What would you do if you were Queen for 24 hours?
I’d throw a massive daytime garden party for all the unsung heroes in our communities who work tirelessly in difficult circumstances. There’d be midwives and community nurses and gravediggers and volunteers from excellent charities like Cruse Bereavement Care and Samaritans. The royal wardrobe would be in the middle of the garden in a huge dressing up box so everyone could look smashing.
Who would you make time to see?
What, and where, would you eat, and with whom?
Where would you go/visit (i.e. part of the country or attraction)?
What would you make a public speech about?
What would you wear?
What would be your greatest indulgence?
And finally … what new law would you introduce?
I’d impose mobile device free zones so there are safe spaces you can go where you’ll never feel your conversation is less interesting than a Facebook notification. If you break this rule, you lose the right to access social media for 10 years.
Oh my word this is brilliant!! Made me chuckle so much 😆😆 fab post #fortheloveofBLOG
Thank you – Poppy is amazing and it was so much fun to interview her :)!
Ha the Queen on the ride at Alton Towers in dungarees would be a sight to see. Must say those zones do sound fab, I think too many people would either break the law or explode. Anyway congratulations on the awards, that is an amazing achievement and all the best with your business going forward. Excellent Queening too xx thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime
Haha – thank you! 🙂
Definitely should have written #fortheloveofblog. Haven’t had my coffee yet, sorry xx
Funeral business. Now that’s an interesting venture.
Oh the greyhound beds sound fabulous! #eatsleepblogRT
Aah what a fab idea for a regular feature! LOVED Poppy’s commitment to the humble greyhound, bless her. Thank you for linking to #Chucklemums with this one, looking forward to reading more in the series. Much love xx
I saw the word “funeral” and wondered if this might be a really sad kind of post but this really made me smile, so funny. And I’d love a pic with the Queeen on every single Alton Towers ride! #bloggerclubuk
Haha – it’s always a bit of a curveball putting something like that in a post but Poppy is so amazing and funerals have never been less taboo than when she started talking about them. Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your lovely comment. xx
I love her final rule! We all need to get off our phones. I would quite like to see pics of the queen on rides at Alton towers too! How funny! Great idea and thanks for sharing with #bestandworst x
What a great read! Poppy’s story is inspirational and I enjoyed immensely the totally original interviewing perspective. Thank you so much for the inspiration!
What a wonderful idea for a series. I love Poppy’s answers and I love her story. I need more details!
My favourite answer is the last answer about mobile phones. I remember when mobiles were a fairly new invention…I was working as a pharmacist in a community pharmacy and I was serving a customer whose phone rang and they answered it despite me serving them. I was so shocked at how rude it was…Now it seems to be par for the course. Am I just getting old?!!
Great post!!! #bloggerclubuk
ooo a BBQ on the roof of Buckingham Palace with the Royals bringing a dish each – i love the sound of this! Thanks for linking up to #EatSleepBlogRt
I must admit I did think “WTF?” when I saw you’d submitted this post for #chucklemums! But of course it made me smile – what a lovely, funny post. And a fabulous idea for a series 🙂
Love a woman who loves greyhounds! #chucklemums
Lovely read – thank you! #FridayFrolics
No problem – glad you enjoyed it, thank you Clare 🙂 x
I am loving this series and I want those dungarees! #FridayFrolics
Thank you Emma! 🙂
Love this feature Polly. And I love the idea of a dress up box from the royal wardrobe! Thanks for linking up to #FridayFrolics
Thanks Claire – I’m really glad you like it and I think a dress up box is a MUST for any royal or otherwise! #FridayFrolics
This is a great interview! Where can I get some purple diamond encrusted dungarees from?! #EatSleepBlogRT
Thank you; she is amazing. I’m sure there’s a gap in the market for them! x
Lovely that she’s trying to do something different, I feel like funeral worker is seen as such a taboo job whereas anything that can help someone suffer a loss is something to be pretty proud of. Thanks for linking up to #MarvMondays. Kaye xo
What a wonderful reason to start a funeral business. She also sounds like a lovely and jazzy woman! I’d love to eat on tthe top of Buckinham Palace too, imagine the views! #marvmondays
Great series, also great idea to interview a friend! Love the dungaree response haha #stayclassymama
Great series! Diamond encrusted dungarees!!
Thanks so much for joining us on #FridayFrolics. Hope to see you next time