Outrage as crematorium replaces organist with karaoke machine

Tony Edwards, 49, has played at thousands of funerals over the last 13 years, and believes grieving families appreciate the human touch of a live performance as they commemorate the death of loved-ones. However, managers at the Counties Crematorium in Milton Malsor, Northampton, have told him he is going to have to make way for an automated music machine.

Traditional hymns as well as chart hits will be downloaded and played from a digital music library through speakers, with requests requiring 24 hours notice. The crematorium's owner, Dignity funeral services, claims that the new Wesley Music System, to be introduced next month, will offer more variety and choice for customers.

But local clergy and funeral directors have criticised the move to replace Mr Edwards with the jukebox style gadget, which they described as "dreadful". Mr Edwards, who began playing the organ at 14, has been told by Dignity that people could still request his services but they would charge an additional £35 to have him play. Previously his organ playing was included in the £565 funeral bill.



Mr Edwards, from Hardwick, Northants, said: "I feel really let down. "Being a musician I take a great deal of pride in my work and I don't think people are going to get the same level of sound quality or music from this machine."

Reverend Brian Stevens, vicar of St Edmund Church in Hardingstone, Northants, condemned the move, describing the karaoke machine as "rubbish". Rev Stevens said: "Dignity are only interested in making money and do not care about the human side of the funerals and people grieving for the loss of loved ones.

"The music the machine plays is dull and uninteresting and the tin-like sound is just dreadful – it sucks any feeling out of the music and people do not sing along." Dignity has 22 crematoria across the country and claim to be Britain's largest provider of funeral plans.