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Want a retirement hobby? Build your own coffin
Wellington, Dec 18: New Zealand builder Tom Pinfold and his friend Roy Booth, of Rotorua, had time on their hands when they retired and did not fancy filling it with golf, bowls or croquet.
Wellington, Dec 18: New Zealand builder Tom Pinfold and his
friend Roy Booth, of Rotorua, had time on their hands when they
retired and did not fancy filling it with golf, bowls or croquet.
''We old men (both are in their '70s) need something to do,''
Pinfold said. ''There isn't that much about...We don't want to go and
chase little balls around a lawn.''
So, over a few drinks one day, and being capable 'do-it-yourself'' handymen, they came up with a novel idea: to build their own coffins.
After some research at a local funeral parlour they measured each other up and with Pinfold's building skills and his friend's assistance, they knocked up a couple of made-to-measure final resting places.
Two friends were so impressed with their handiwork that they ordered individually tailored coffins for themselves, but the pair said their production line was stopping there.
''Four mates, four coffins,'' Pinfold told the local Daily Post. ''And we've all had a bit of a laugh about it.''
He said the cost of building the coffins was ''pretty minimal'', with time being the main factor - ''and really, time doesn't mean a thing to us''.
Wayne Lyons, President of the Funeral Directors of New Zealand, told the paper people could build their own coffins as long as they complied with standards, including having a liner to prevent leakage and being safe to handle for crematorium staff.
Bureau Report
So, over a few drinks one day, and being capable 'do-it-yourself'' handymen, they came up with a novel idea: to build their own coffins.
After some research at a local funeral parlour they measured each other up and with Pinfold's building skills and his friend's assistance, they knocked up a couple of made-to-measure final resting places.
Two friends were so impressed with their handiwork that they ordered individually tailored coffins for themselves, but the pair said their production line was stopping there.
''Four mates, four coffins,'' Pinfold told the local Daily Post. ''And we've all had a bit of a laugh about it.''
He said the cost of building the coffins was ''pretty minimal'', with time being the main factor - ''and really, time doesn't mean a thing to us''.
Wayne Lyons, President of the Funeral Directors of New Zealand, told the paper people could build their own coffins as long as they complied with standards, including having a liner to prevent leakage and being safe to handle for crematorium staff.
Bureau Report