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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics

Behind the Last Closed Door

A crematorium
A crematorium Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Empty nameplates for funeral wreaths
Empty nameplates for funeral wreaths Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Coffin storage
Coffin storage Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Flower cards
Flower cards Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Crematorium chapel
Crematorium chapel Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Coffin altar at crematorium
Coffin altar at crematorium Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Marks made by coffins on crematorium altar
Marks made by coffins on crematorium altar Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Documentation being filled out in storage room before coffins are ready to be used
Documentation being filled out in storage room before coffins are ready to be used Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Deceased being prepared for flight to Pakistan
Deceased being prepared for flight to Pakistan Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
The embalming room
The embalming room Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Before embalming
Before embalming Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Final dressing and preparations before funeral and viewing in chapel of rest
Final dressing and preparations before funeral and viewing in chapel of rest Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Fleet of cars cleaned before a funeral
Fleet of cars cleaned before a funeral Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Fleet of cars cleaned before a funeral
Fleet of cars cleaned before a funeral Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Mourners' wreaths arranged in a hearse
Mourners' wreaths arranged in a hearse Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Control room behind the crematorium chapel, from where music and curtains are operated
Control room behind the crematorium chapel, from where music and curtains are operated Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Crematorium furnaces
Crematorium furnaces Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Cremated remains - and metal objects - which are removed and then buried in consecrated ground, before ashes are processed. Some are prosthetic body parts, others are personal effects. They have all whithstood temperatures of more than 900C in the furnaces
Cremated remains - and metal objects - which are removed and then buried in consecrated ground, before ashes are processed. Some are prosthetic body parts, others are personal effects. They have all withstood temperatures of more than 900C in the furnaces Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
A prosthetic hip joint
A prosthetic hip joint Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
Sikh Kirpan, miniature symbolic religious swords
Sikh Kirpan, miniature symbolic religious swords Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
A belt buckle
A belt buckle Photograph: Laura Peters/Laura Peters
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