Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

There's definitely something at the bottom of Willows Lane Darby!

In front of Wolstenholme's Funeral Parlour there is a sort of glass gazebo which has housed floral arrangements in the past. There now seem to be several chickens, a fox and other small creatures plus what appears to be an elephant under a cloth. (life size baby elephant)

Can anyone enlighten me?

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

Are you sure there's not a python? They blend in well, you know.

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

For all I know there could be a python under that cover. All you can see is the back end of the elephant (ie bum and tail)

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

It is an elephant.. I've been driving past there quite a lot lately. During the day it is uncovered and in the evening they cover it up for the night! :) Quite good of them really...

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

Are they slowly morphing from a funeral parlour into a taxidermist's????????

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

yep your right roy it is an elephant, i saw it to-day & yes theres cockerals & various other stuffed animals in there, was wondering if he' doing funerals for animals too //

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

Well, there's a fine line between embalming and taxidermy you know ....

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

I have just been past this morning and saw the elephant without its cloth cover. I find it even more puzzling that they cover it up at night and uncover it during the day. I'm tempted to phone them up and ask but I feel like I would probably sound stupid. "Scuse me, why have you got an elephant and several chickens in your gazebo?"

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

No problem. Tell them you are a researcher from the University of Central Lancashire and you are writing a thesis on "the social implications of domesticated and undomesticated wildlife in a bereavement setting: - costs and benefits, a wider appreciation". They'll open up like nobody's business. I guarantee, if you tell people you are writing a thesis, they will tell you the most amazing personal details, and I mean amazing. Retirement plan no. 2 is to write a book about it.

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

Oh please can we all see? Anyone able to take a piccy please?

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

I never thought of that! I'll try to pop down there again later today, germs permitting.

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

Unfortunately the elephant was covered this afternoon.

Considering I'd dragged my poor germ ridden coughing, sneezing and sniffling self down the road to take a photo of it I wasn't going to be deterred - Ok, I know you can't see much but hopefully on Monday it will be uncovered and I'll take another one.

Unfortunately the last one is full of reflections in the glass.

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

Thank you willow...............Taking your condition into account I appreciate the effort even more, you good un. Has for you cold, that’s carnforth for you, told you should have taken a duffel Coat and you heavy duty underwear...

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

:)It wasn't so much Carnforth as the Sunday evening Light & Water Festival in Morecambe! It poured with rain!!!!!

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

well they cant put bodys in the window.so animals will have to do

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

Why? What was you expecting lol. It was a water festival. heheheheheeheh. Sorry willow. I am really, I am...........hahahaha. hosnest.

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

Yup, that's definitely an elephant's bum. Are we moving into new realms here? - people used to have angels on tombs, perhaps elephants are the new thing - "Just as elephants never forget, we will never forget you" .... but what about chickens? "Your memory warms the COCKles of our hearts"?

Sorry.

And the answer is ....
 

An Elephant Never Forgets Its Loved Ones!!!! :)

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

Interesting thought but I can't see elephants being permitted in the cemetary can you? There's been enough hoohah in the past when people wanted fancy tombstones.

I do like this elephant though. It's cute.

Elephant update!
 

Not only do they uncover it during the day but they open the doors so it can have some fresh air.

Doesn't it look sweet?

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

Great photos Willow. Have you asked yet why they got it? Its not a tribute to Lord Ganesha is it? No thats a rabbit not a mouse.

Re: Wolstenholme's elephant?
 

No, I haven't asked them but I'm not sure I can cope with curiosity for much longer. I probably will phone them.

It's a really cute elephant.

There are some headstones in there too and it all looks very incongruous.