Visitors to Eccles Carnegie Library were met with an unusual sight today as a hearse pulled up outside, delivering a coffin which was mercifully empty, as part of a striking public event aimed at breaking down taboos around death.

Organised by funeral celebrant Caroline Jones and Kate Ramsey, “Collage a Coffin Day” began with the coffin being carried into the library by solemn-faced pall bearers from Co-op Funeral Care, creating a deliberately sombre and reflective atmosphere.

That tone soon shifted once inside, as the coffin itself was transformed by members of the public were invited to decorate it, gradually covering it in colour, messages and artwork – turning a symbol traditionally associated with grief into something more open, expressive and even uplifting.

The event set out to encourage honest conversations about mortality. As many acknowledged on the day, death is something we will all face, and initiatives like this aim to make it less of a taboo subject and more a part of everyday discussion.

By bringing the conversation into a public, community space, organisers hope to help people feel more comfortable talking about end-of-life matters with friends and family.

As always, Salford Media was there to capture the events with much thanks from local photographic legend Bill ‘Scoop’ McLaughlin, our good friend and local ‘Pie Man’ David Hill provided the cake and all was well in the world as the community got creative with the coffin.

Photos: Salford Media and Bill ‘Scoop’ McLaughlin