Martin Parr, the renowned photographer known for his unflinching and mischievous documentation of life's idiosyncrasies, was given a send-off that reflected his unique vision. His funeral, held at the chapel in Woodlands Memorial Garden near Bristol, was far from a conventional farewell. The ceremony featured speeches from those who knew him throughout his life, and his favourite music played as guests arrived, including Astrud Gilberto, João Gilberto, and Stan Getz's 'The Girl from Ipanema'. Parr had recently photographed the original girl from Ipanema, Helô Pinheiro, now 82.
A Fete-Themed Reception
After the ceremony, the family organised a colourful country fete-themed celebration, complete with bunting, clingfilm-wrapped sandwiches, cupcakes with sad faces, a collection of teapots with natty tea cosies, and a tombola of unwanted Christmas gifts. This was in memory of the annual auction the Parrs used to hold, with proceeds going to the Trussell Trust, a food poverty charity. The Art of Dining, a collaborative duo formed by Parr's chef daughter Ellen and set designer Alice Hodge, recreated food from many of Parr's most famous images.
Among the guests was artist Grayson Perry, who described the service as 'very tasteful, in a pared-back way, and very touching.' He noted that the fete-themed tea was a sweet tribute to Parr. Perry, a fan since the 1990s, first met Parr in 2004 and recalled his dry wit and obsessive nature, such as running multiple eBay bids for items like Saddam Hussein matches or Barack Obama Cheetos. Perry called Parr 'a trainspotter of a photographer' and 'the most hard-working person I knew.'
Photographing the Funeral
Sophie Green, a photographer who met Parr in 2019 and had been documenting death rituals, was invited to photograph the funeral. She reached out to the Martin Parr Foundation, who were receptive. 'Given Martin's interest in the subject, it felt like something he would want,' she said. Susie Parr, the photographer's wife, agreed: 'I'm sure he would have wanted this.'
Green's photographs capture the small, thoughtful details: artificially coloured cupcakes with union jack flags, plates of sandwiches and sausage rolls, and a reconstruction of Parr's famed fete picture featuring a bowl of cherry tomatoes with a sign reading 'Please do take ONE cherry tomato with your roll.' The images are soft and spontaneous, avoiding direct gazes, and convey grief in snatches.
Green's aim is to challenge the idea of what funerals can be. 'Funerals are solemn and sad, but they can be really beautiful parties where people connect,' she said. Her Death Rituals project began during the Covid pandemic, when funerals were restricted. She now photographs about five funerals a year, including woodland burials and events with Britney Spears drag impersonators. She believes documenting funerals can normalise death and help people see the power in having a photograph of a landmark moment.
A Fitting Tribute
The funeral ended with a bus taking guests back to Bristol getting stuck in the mud, which Susie Parr described as 'a fitting and very amusing end to a wonderful afternoon. Martin would have loved it.' The event was a real celebration of Martin, his work, and his quirks, with homemade touches and support from the foundation staff.
Green's photographs of Parr's funeral serve as a final collaboration, inspiring others to think about what a funeral could be. 'Everyone who attended will always remember that day,' she said. 'It was an amazing event; there was something so charming and fun and wonderfully Martin about it.'
