Gravedigger receives top award at the ‘Death Oscars’

A father-of-two has been voted gravedigger of the year at a prestigious awards ceremony known as the ‘Death Oscars’.

Martin House, the burial site manager at Eden Valley Woodland Burial Ground in Kent, was bestowed the accolade at the annual national Good Funeral Awards.

The 37-year-old father-of-two from Edenbridge, Kent has been running the burial ground for just two years and proudly digs each grave by hand to avoid disturbing the area with heavy-duty equipment.

Martin House, 37, is the burial site manager at Eden Valley Woodland Burial Ground in Kent

Martin House is a former armed police officer

Mr House also trained to be a landscape gardener when he discovered the concept of natural burials

Mr House, who is a father-of-two, has dug some 300 graves by hand over the past two years

This is considered a more environmentally friendly approach to grave digging, and also means that the graves that are dug out are precisely neat and tidy.

Mr House received the nomination from many of the funeral directors he worked with, after being highly commended for his perfectionism and professionalism in his work.

Families of those he has buried have also supported his nomination, and praised his hands on and caring approach to his work.

The burial site also won runner-up in the ‘Cemetery of the Year’ category, and its ethos is to give families a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly route for those burying their loved ones.

Mr House has dug more than 300 graves, and around 150 plots for cremated remains.

According to Mr House, digging a grave by hand is far more neat than using a heavy machine

According to Mr House, digging a grave by hand is far more neat than using a heavy machine

Mr House, pictured outside the burial ground, used to be an armed police officer 

Mr House, pictured outside the burial ground, used to be an armed police officer 

He runs the woodland burial ground on behalf of the Natural Death Centre in Kent 

He runs the woodland burial ground on behalf of the Natural Death Centre in Kent 

Prior to his start as a gravedigger two years ago, he worked as a landscape gardener and armed police officer.

Mr House said: ‘It can seem like quite a grim job burying someone, but I take pride in the fact that I can give a cost effective and natural option to those who are unfortunately burying their loved ones.

‘I’ve built quite a lot of relationships with families since working with them, and it’s brilliant that I can make a small difference in a sad time for them.

‘It’s quite a lot of work digging by hand, but it means that I can ensure that every hole is neat and precise.

‘I’m incredibly pleased to have won the award, as well as surprised.

‘Even though it wasn’t a lifelong dream to be a gravedigger, I saw a seminar about natural burial whilst studying landscape architecture, and it really struck a chord with me.

‘I  then contacted the Natural Death Centre charity after graduating from university, as I was inspired by the natural approach they take to funerals.

‘They contacted me a few months later to tell me a new lot was opening in Edenbridge, and asked if I wanted to run it.

‘I was inspired to create a unique burial site, where families know that their loved one will be buried with care, and that is more environmentally friendly as well.

‘It’s the highest award in my industry, and I’m really touched by the positive feedback I’ve received – my job is to support people in their time of need and I’m glad that I can make a difference.

‘I take huge pride in my work, and I have the highest standards with everything that I do.

Mr House runs Eden Valley Burial Ground on behalf of the Natural Death Centre charity with his wife Amy and two children.

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