On Friday 2 August, it was judgement day for Scotland’s funeral industry – literally. A team of judges were locked in a city centre hotel room throughout the long, hot, sunshine-filled day, pouring over piles of anonymised paperwork to debate views and arrive at decisions for the new Scottish Funeral Awards 2019.

It was heads down for me and 4 other women who were tasked with analysing and scoring a big fat wad of nominations to identify and celebrate best practice.

I was delighted to be there flying the flag for quality and innovation on behalf of Final Fling, and honoured to sit alongside experts from a hospice, NHS mortuary services, a charity for stillborn babies and a national funeral business and social enterprise.

Event organisers, Paramount, were inundated with nominations for first class funeral directors across Scotland and for the caring, compassionate celebrants who craft and deliver ceremonies as tributes; each one a unique event to honour the dead, provide a safe place for public grief and offer some comfort to friends and families.

All nominations were anonymised so there was no potential for any of the judges to be swayed.

The awards ceremony is Friday 16 August in Glasgow. Watch this space for updates on best-in-field.

I have a feeling this one will be a grower and we can look forward to even more interesting and diverse categories and nominations in 2020.

See more about the first award Final Fling received, back in 2012, the year it launched.