W&K Gerrie Funeral Directors

05/03/2026

Water Cremations 💧

Some of you will have seen that at the beginning of this week, the Scottish Government brought Water Cremations into Scottish Law, meaning that this process will become available once the infrastructure is in place.

But what are Water Cremations?

Over the next couple of weeks, we expect sensationalist headlines such as, 'Boil in the Bag Cremations now available!' This inflammatory language is very counter productive, to what is, a huge and positive development in the funeral industry.

We have decided to explain, to all of you, what it is, where it came from and what happens in the process. An honest explanation from people you can, hopefully, trust.

The History

The official term for the process is Alkaline Hydrolysis. The process was invented by retired pathologist Dr Gordon Kaye and Dr Peter Weber in 1993, where they developed the process, technology and patent. Originally, its use was developed to safely destroy pathogens in animals, such as Mad Cow Disease and Chonic Wasting Disease- meaning that animals which carried the diseases could be safely disposed of, without the risk of contamination or spreading the pathogens further.

They did not originally forsee the further development which would mean the process would be made available for humans, until the Spring of 2002, when a man named Brent Marsh, a Crematorium Operator in Georiga, USA, was discovered to have hidden and stored over 300 bodies, all of whom were thought to have been cremated- but sadly, were not.

Funeral homes across the USA feared that in light of this case, the public would be put off the idea of Cremations, and turned to Kaye and Weber, asking when the technology would be ready for mortuary use. It was Kevin McCabe, the owner of several funeral homes in Michigan who worked alongside Kaye and Webber, and was one of the first to offer Water Cremations to the American people in 2003.

What Happens?

The person who has died, is wrapped in a shroud, and placed in the chamber. Heated water and the alkaline solution is pumped into the chamber and the process begins. Once the process is completed, what remains is a completely sterile liquid, which is disposed of and the skeleton is dried, and then crushed, whereby it can be returned to the family as ashes. It essentially speeds up the natural process that bodies go through after death.

It is better for the environment than traditional fire cremations, and overall, it is said to be a cheaper process to carry out. Gas isn't used, and harmful fumes are not released into the environment.

Cremation

The first Crematiorium in the UK was in Woking, Surrey and was founded in 1878. It did not perform it's first Cremation until 1885. Despite the first Crematoriums opening across the UK and USA, the process was deeply distrusted, faught against, and remained massively unpopular. In fact, it was not until 1963, when the Catholic Church lifted the ban on Cremations did the process really take off, with more people choosing cremation- and today, it is the most popular method used across the world.

It is human nature to distrust and fear things that are new and unknown. It has been the case throughout the decades and the centuries. The best thing to do? Have a wee read, do some research and learn new things, before jumping to believe headlines and misinformation, designed to instil fear and distrust.

In Conclusion,

Water Cremations are an extremely positive step forward in the funeral industry, and we hope that before too long, it will be an option not for just us, but for funeral directors across the country to offer families.
Will it be the choice for everyone? Of course not, just as some dislike the idea of burial, and some the idea of cremations. However, what it does, is introduce another option for everyone.

Thank you all so much for reading 💜

Sources-

'Stiff, the Curious Life of Human Cadavers' by Mary Roach. 2003

'From Here to Eternity' by Caitlin Doughty. 2017

-https://www.chapmanfuneral.com/obituaries/Gordon-I-Kaye-PhD?obId=20626572

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/feb/18/matthewengel

https://www.gov.scot/publications/alkaline-hydrolysis-water-cremation-regulation-scotland/pages/4/

BBC News - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/dissolving_the_dead

A Scottish Government consultation on the regulation of alkaline hydrolysis (‘water cremation’) as a method of body disposal in Scotland.

03/03/2026

Well, would you look at that! 👀

Last week we set up our wildlife camera trap once again in the woodland behind our funeral home. It's in a new location, and wasn't capturing a huge amount- that was until this afternoon! 😍

We are so excited to see what appears over the next few months, but for now we are delighted to see wee red is back! 🥰

21/02/2026

Very proud to have a wonderful article about the impact of our memorial trees in the The Courier UK today 🥰

We send our sincere thanks to Michael Alexander for writing such a lovely article, and to the families who opened up about just how important for them to visit our trees every year 🎄💜

You can read the full article online by clicking here - https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/obituaries/5433589/memorial-trees-perthshire-fife/

20/02/2026

Hot off the press! 🖨

We are delighted to share that we have a brand new catalogue for our range of coffins and caskets available.

There is a large range of different styles and colours available, from the traditional, natural, cardboard, children's range, the budget friendly, the extravagant and the colourful coffins selection- there is something to suit all budgets and wishes.

Did you know that coffins we have in stock are all individually dressed by us?
All of our coffins are made locally by Brian Reid and Son near Scone, but when they arrive at our funeral home, they are the simple shell. We add the handles, the name plate, put in the lining and choose the frill and matching pillows.
We have a range of different coloured frills, and we carefully select each colour to ensure it matches with the clothing that has been chosen, or in line with a favourite colour or football team.
Different coloured Burial Cords are also available on request.
At every stage, we take the time to make sure every aspect is perfect ❤️🕯

In the coming weeks a digital copy will be available to view on or website 🌐

*Designed by Lizzy Gerrie, Printed by Danscot Design and Print, Perth

16/02/2026

On behalf of her family, this evening we announce the sad passing of Anne Stock.

Peacefully, at Robert Douglas Memorial Home, Scone, on Monday the 2nd of February 2026, Anne, beloved wife of the late Peter, much loved mum of Tim, Jeremy and Christopher, loving mother-in-law to Jackie, Mayeline and Tilly, and a dear nana and great nana.

Anne's funeral service will take place in Perth Crematorium on Friday the 20th of February at 11am, to which all family and friends are warmly invited.

Family flowers only please but donations if so desired can be made to Macmillan House, Perth. There will be a collection box in place at the Crematorium should you wish to contribute.

07/02/2026

On behalf of her family, this evening we announce the sad passing of Mary Hodgson.

Suddenly, but peacefully at Perth Royal Infirmary, on Tuesday the 27th of January 2026, Mary, beloved wife of the late John (Jock) much loved mum of John and Christopher and a dear granny and great granny.

Mary's funeral service will take place in the Holy Trinity Church, Pitlochry, on Tuesday the 10th of February at 12.30pm. Interment thereafter in the churchyard, to which all family and friends are warmly invited.

Donations if so desired can be made to Macmillan Cancer Support. There will be a collection box in place at the Church should you wish to contribute.

05/02/2026

The Late Shirley Walker 🌹

The funeral service of Shirley Walker will be live streamed at 1.30pm (UK time) on Friday 6th February 2026 on the following private website.

Please click the link below to join the live service:

www.scotstream.net/shirley-walker

After the service, to watch a recording for up to 28 days, please click the button shown on the webpage below the video screen.



Only those in possession of these details can view the service. It is your decision who to share these details with. Please be aware that those you share details with can share them further. The service can be viewed for a further 28 days following the service, after which time the video playback will no longer be available.

Live streaming will begin around ten minutes before the service starts with the on-screen message: "The service is due to begin shortly". You now have correctly logged in and there is nothing else to be done except switch on your speakers and wait for the service to start.


If, at the allotted start time, there is no live picture, please refresh your browser window. Live streaming relies on the telecom services present at this location. In the event that the location has poor cellular coverage and a link cannot be established, the service is being recorded and can be viewed later that day using the playback button mentioned above. If, during the service, an error message shows: "Live Stream Offline", please remain online as we try to reconnect. This may take a few moments. Please refresh your browser window to rejoin the service.

Once the service has concluded, live streaming will end. A recording can be viewed for the following 28 days using the playback button shown on the webpage below the video screen.

In Loving MemoryofSHIRLEY WALKER1933 - 2025 ST MARY’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BIRNAM, FRIDAY 6th FEBRUARY 2026, 1.30pm (UK time) W & K GerrieTO WATCH A RECORDING OF THIS SERVICE, PLEASE CLICK PLAY BUTTON ABOVE

02/02/2026

On behalf of her family, this evening we announce the sad passing of Shirley Walker.

Shirley Walker, formerly of Aberdeen, Musselburgh / Edinburgh, Dumfries, Sunnfjord (Norway) and latterly Birnam & Dunkeld.

Peacefully, after a short period of illness, on Boxing Day, December the 26th, 2025, widow of the late John, mother of Mandy and David and grandmother of Kate, Scott, Kim, Tom and Anna.

Shirley's Memorial Service will take place in St Mary's, Birnam on Friday the 6th of February at 1.30 p.m. The details of the live video link will follow.

Huge gratitude for the care from staff at Rivendell Care Services, Birnam and colleagues at the Craigvinean Medical Practice.

No flowers, please.

30/01/2026

On behalf of his family, this evening we announce the sad passing of John McNeill.

On Saturday the 17th of January 2026, John (Jack), passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Birnam. A devoted husband of the late Jill, loving father of Carol and John, doting grandfather to Rikki and Ruth, a dear great grandfather to Benjamin and Theodore, and a much loved brother to Evelyn and Hazel.

“He lived for those he loved and those he loved remember”

There will be a private family committal at Perth Crematorium on Wednesday the 4th of February, followed by a community Celebration of Jack’s life in Little Dunkeld Church at 1.30pm, to which all family and friends are warmly invited.

Donations if so desired can be made to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, there will be a collection box in place at the Church should you wish to contribute.

14/01/2026

On behalf of his family, this evening we announce the sad passing of Stephen Mannion.

Peacefully, after a short illness at Perth Royal Infirmary on Monday the 5th of January 2026, Stephen (Steve) adored husband of Sheila, loving father of Kathryn, Susan, Linda and Stephen, and a much loved grandfather to his six grandchildren.

Steve's funeral service will take place in Little Dunkeld Church on Monday the 19th of January at 12 noon, interment thereafter in the churchyard, to which all family and friends are warmly invited.

Family flowers only please, but donations if so desired can be made to Prostate Cancer Research. There will be a collection box in place at the Church should you wish to contribute.

08/01/2026

Scotland is a beautiful country, and when it's covered in a blanket of snow it looks even more stunning, and becomes peaceful and quiet.
This is the view today from Kilmaveonaig Cemetery in Blair Atholl this afternoon, a still, but bitterly cold day with more snow in the air.

We would like to share our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the workers at Perth and Kinross Council, and the Grave Diggers in particular who went above and beyond to ensure the road, car park, hill track and Churchyard itself was cleared of snow, salted and made safe for our burial service today.

The Grave Diggers are a group of men who don't get a lot of thanks, appreciation or thought spared for them. The squad today worked in temperatures which dropped to -12°C, digging, then filling a perfect grave in the freezing ground, thick snow, ice and a bitterly cold wind.

Thank you lads, we appreciate everything you do and all of your hard work in all weathers and locations through every unpredictable season of the year that Scotland throws at you, always there to lend a hand and always respectful and unassuming 🙏🤍