Life-long resident of Great Gonerby tells the story of how he came to restore a dilapidated bier in the village

I have recently been asked exactly what a "bier" is, writes Jeff Thompson, a life-long resident of Great Gonerby.

Many believe that it is a distinctly more pleasurable opportunity to be enjoyed at The Recruiting Sergeant, but I'm afraid that the alternative spelling indicates a totally different (and less enjoyable) meaning. A bier is, in fact, a conveyance for the transportation of the coffin at a funeral.

Nowadays, the bier is a modern device and usually belongs to the funeral director involved. In days now long gone, however, many parishes had their own undertaker (as the funeral director was then known) which meant that a village bier was essential because the coffin would need to be conveyed from the place of rest ( often a private house) to the service and subsequently the churchyard for burial (no cremations in those days).

Great Gonerby was no exception. Our undertaker's premises was on the High Street opposite the Recruiting Sergeant where Harry's Place is now situated. The last one, and I well remember him, was Arthur Pulling. He was also the village wheelwright and had a small farm and dairy herd.

This all meant that a village bier was necessary, so in 1926 the Parish Council decided to purchase one from Messrs. Mawer and Curtis of Lincoln (both names are still prevalent in Lincoln, one for excellent cakes, the other an auction house). Regrettably, however, after nearly 100 years the old bier naturally became redundant, unloved and extremely dilapidated. It had spent many years in a shed at the burial ground until the area was needed for burials and the shed sold, and subsequently in a dingy farm shed where its condition deteriorated dramatically.

I made the decision to completely transform it as a wet day winter project in my workshop. It had buckled wheels, missing spokes, covered in cobwebs and mouse / rat droppings, patchy and scored varnish, tarnished brass work, non existent paint, and would probably have been ultimately scrapped. Essentially, however, there was not a single woodworm to be seen. I completely stripped it down to its individual components and really gave it the complete works!

The result is the very attractive piece of furniture you see now. The Parish Council agreed that should the church wish to make use of it, they were most welcome to do so, and it is now to be used as a bookstand / information centre.

It must also be said that it is still available for its proper purpose and has, in fact, already been so used for the funeral of the late Betty Hill (nee Eminson) whose family, like my own, goes back to 1560 in the village, when St. Sebastian's records began.

I asked Robert Holland if the family would like the opportunity to use it for Betty's final journey, and they were delighted to do so. It also necessitated a slightly wider ramp at the church door, which I have duly constructed, as there was only about an inch clearance on either side. This also better accommodates modern wider vehicles for the disabled.

The Parish Council minute from 1926 reads "The Undertaker will pay the Parish Clerk 1 shilling and sixpence (7 1/2p) to hire the bier, one shilling (5p) of which will be returned if the bier is brought back in a clean condition".

I have to say that we have yet to receive the 1 shilling and sixpence hiring fee from Robert!

Jeff Thompson

Great Gonerby