Video tributes to guarantee a happy ending

WHETHER it’s telling a life story with Glenn Miller providing the background music or to a parody of a Frank Sinatra classic, it’s a surefire way to bring a personal touch to a funeral.

Films featuring images and footage of late loved ones are in demand after a city resident set up what is believed to be the first company of its kind in Scotland.

Daniel Langdale, who lives in Murrayfield, launched Pictured Memories in March, providing a range of video tribute services, from simple photo slideshows to life stories set to the family’s chosen music, themes and wording.

The 39-year-old, who has been involved in the audio-visual business for more than 20 years, said: “Family and friends always enjoy reflecting on the life of a loved one, so the main purpose of a video tribute is to accomplish this by celebrating the cherished memories, life stories and life events shared by all.

“Video tributes are the perfect memorial to a loved one and can be used as part of a funeral service or made purely as a sentimental keepsake for family and friends.”

Pictured Memories has already provided tributes for funerals at Seafield Crematorium and Warriston Crematorium.

“It’s going really well,” Mr Langdale said. “Things are picking up and there seems to be a great deal of positive feedback.

“The life story tributes tend to be popular. They are played as part of a funeral service – a five-minute video of the person’s life, with words and captions along the presentation screen telling people where they lived and worked, and often mentioning family members.”

Nan Henderson, 67, who lives in Currie, used the service after her mother, Isabel Compson, passed away at the age of 91.

She said: “The trauma of the funeral can be harrowing. As I had made a photograph album of my mother’s life on her 90th birthday the previous year, it was suggested by the funeral director that I might have a DVD of the photographs and captions accompanied with my mother’s favourite Glenn Miller music. It was excellent and provoked happy memories.

“My mother had suffered from dementia for many years and the DVD showed my mum’s personality as she was before the dementia.” Prices for the service range from £80 for a simple slideshow of photos, to anywhere upwards of £200 for a video tribute incorporating personalised themes and music.

Among the more unusual requests that Mr Langdale has received was a family’s wish to have Radio Forth presenter Grant Stott’s “That’s Fife” video – a parody of the Frank Sinatra hit That’s Life – shown at the end of a funeral service.

Mr Langdale said: “The family asked to have it just as a reminder of the person and the sense of humour that person had, and to cheer everybody up on the way out.”

He added: “There are many benefits to video tributes. Most grief counsellors, funeral directors and family counsellors agree that a video tribute can significantly help in coping with grief and loss.”