Sir Basil at work...

Basil Spence was born in India in 1907 - his father working there for the Royal Mint. He was sent home to school at George Watson's College - just along the road here. He studied architecture and became an assistant to Sir Edward Lutyens (Cenotaph, Lindisfarne Castle remake, etc).

He became the most celebrated of post-war British architects - his magnum opus being to rebuild Coventry Cathedral after the bombing.

In 1960 - Edinburgh City Council asked him to design a new Crematorium, and 7 years later Mortonhall was opened. The whole concept was based on Coventry Cathedral - with the same tall stained glass windows. Spence insisted that all the interior fixtures and fittings were kept simple. Pine pews set into concrete blocks allow for quiet reflection; a white concrete and bronze platform supports the coffin; and dark grey concrete slabs comprise the flooring. The only colour within the chapels comes from the windows, which cast coloured patterns onto the white plaster walls.

As you may have guessed I was at a funeral this morning. So close to Christmas - but many a time I've come across families choosing to sing carols at funerals. And why not?