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Desmond Henley

March 17, 2023

Desmond Charles Henley, OBE (1927, Marylebone, London[1] – 11 November 2005, Portsmouth[2][3]) was an English embalmer.

Career

After leaving school, Henley joined the London company of funeral directors James H. Kenyon Ltd in 1941. Established in 1880, J. H. Kenyon Ltd were the undertakers to the Royal Household, and had in that role assisted in arranging the funerals of many members of the Royal Family. After training in all theoretical and practical aspects of embalming, Henley passed his professional examinations in 1948. Four years later he was appointed the company's chief embalmer.

In 1961, Henley became an examiner of the British Institute of Embalmers. He also taught embalming techniques, embalming fluid formulas as well as disaster management to funeral directors.[4][5] In an interview published in 1998, Henley expressed doubts that the mummification of Lenin's body in Moscow was indeed as permanent as claimed by the Russian authorities.[6]

Notable cases

In his role as chief embalmer for J. H. Kenyon Ltd, Henley carried out the embalming of King George VI at Sandringham House in 1952,[7] that of Queen Mary at Marlborough House in 1953, and that of Sir Winston Churchill at the latter's London home at 28 Hyde Park Gate in 1965.[8]

Churchill's body was embalmed in the same room where he had died on the morning of 24 January 1965, a Sunday. When the process was completed, the remains were dressed in his silk pajamas and dressing robe and placed back into his bed. Churchill would lie in repose in private at his Hyde Park Gate home until 9:00 pm Tuesday evening when Kenyon's staff transported his remains to Westminster Hall to lie in state[8] and for the funeral at St Paul's Cathedral.

Four years later, Henley embalmed the remains of Mutesa II of Buganda; and when Idi Amin had Mutesa II's body returned from London to Uganda in 1971, Henley was requested to accompany it.[4] In 1973, Aristotle Onassis had Henley flown to Athens in his private jet to embalm the body of his son, Alexander. Henley also oversaw the embalming of Judy Garland in 1969, Jimi Hendrix in 1970, Field Marshal Lord Montgomery in 1976, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Mountbatten of Burma in 1979, Bon Scott in 1980, and Billy Fury in 1983.[4]

In the time between 1963 and 1976, Henley also worked extensively in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Benin and Malawi, and continued to advise royal families worldwide until his retirement from J. H. Kenyon Ltd in 1992, after 51 years of service.[4]

Disaster management

After training in disaster management, Henley also served as head of J. H. Kenyon Ltd's emergency services mortuary team. In this role he was involved in the recovery and repatriation of bodies after numerous disasters, including the Kano air disaster in Nigeria in 1973, the Zeebrugge ferry disaster in 1987 and the Lockerbie bombing in 1988.[9]

It was for this work at major disasters around the world that Henley was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire "for services in the aftermath of disasters involving the loss of human life" in the 1997 New Year Honours.[9]

Retirement and death

In retirement he lived in London and Portsmouth.[9] His funeral was held on 23 November 2005 at St. Wilfrid's Church, Portsmouth, followed by cremation at Portchester Crematorium.[3]

Honours

References

  1. ^ "findmypast.co.uk". search.findmypast.co.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  2. ^ "findmypast.co.uk". search.findmypast.co.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b "HENLEY - Deaths Announcements - Telegraph Announcements". announcements.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g . Internet. Christopher Henley Limited 2008 – 2010. Archived from the original on 14 September 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  5. ^ E.g. to Graham Cook of Albin International 17 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Quigley, Christine (2006). Modern Mummies: The Preservation of the Human Body in the Twentieth Century. McFarland. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-7864-2851-9.
  7. ^ "Funeral Service in London: A Short History - London Association of Funeral Directors". lafd.org.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  8. ^ a b Van Beck, Todd (October 2012). (PDF). Canadian Funeral News. 40 (10): 10, 79. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2014.
  9. ^ a b c "Robert's a king of the road". Internet. The Mirror (London, England) 31 December 1996. Retrieved 8 March 2014.

External links

  • Ian Harvey: The Macabre Connection Between Jimi Hendrix, Judy Garland and Winston Churchill (2018, online)
  • Desmond Henley: A Great Embalmer
  • How Mutesa’s body was returned from London for burial
  • Desmond Henley receiving the OBE in 1997

March 17, 2023
desmond, henley, desmond, charles, henley, 1927, marylebone, london, november, 2005, portsmouth, english, embalmer, contents, career, notable, cases, disaster, management, retirement, death, honours, references, external, linkscareer, editafter, leaving, schoo. Desmond Charles Henley OBE 1927 Marylebone London 1 11 November 2005 Portsmouth 2 3 was an English embalmer Contents 1 Career 2 Notable cases 3 Disaster management 4 Retirement and death 5 Honours 6 References 7 External linksCareer EditAfter leaving school Henley joined the London company of funeral directors James H Kenyon Ltd in 1941 Established in 1880 J H Kenyon Ltd were the undertakers to the Royal Household and had in that role assisted in arranging the funerals of many members of the Royal Family After training in all theoretical and practical aspects of embalming Henley passed his professional examinations in 1948 Four years later he was appointed the company s chief embalmer In 1961 Henley became an examiner of the British Institute of Embalmers He also taught embalming techniques embalming fluid formulas as well as disaster management to funeral directors 4 5 In an interview published in 1998 Henley expressed doubts that the mummification of Lenin s body in Moscow was indeed as permanent as claimed by the Russian authorities 6 Notable cases EditIn his role as chief embalmer for J H Kenyon Ltd Henley carried out the embalming of King George VI at Sandringham House in 1952 7 that of Queen Mary at Marlborough House in 1953 and that of Sir Winston Churchill at the latter s London home at 28 Hyde Park Gate in 1965 8 Churchill s body was embalmed in the same room where he had died on the morning of 24 January 1965 a Sunday When the process was completed the remains were dressed in his silk pajamas and dressing robe and placed back into his bed Churchill would lie in repose in private at his Hyde Park Gate home until 9 00 pm Tuesday evening when Kenyon s staff transported his remains to Westminster Hall to lie in state 8 and for the funeral at St Paul s Cathedral Four years later Henley embalmed the remains of Mutesa II of Buganda and when Idi Amin had Mutesa II s body returned from London to Uganda in 1971 Henley was requested to accompany it 4 In 1973 Aristotle Onassis had Henley flown to Athens in his private jet to embalm the body of his son Alexander Henley also oversaw the embalming of Judy Garland in 1969 Jimi Hendrix in 1970 Field Marshal Lord Montgomery in 1976 Admiral of the Fleet Lord Mountbatten of Burma in 1979 Bon Scott in 1980 and Billy Fury in 1983 4 In the time between 1963 and 1976 Henley also worked extensively in Bahrain Qatar Saudi Arabia Abu Dhabi Benin and Malawi and continued to advise royal families worldwide until his retirement from J H Kenyon Ltd in 1992 after 51 years of service 4 Disaster management EditAfter training in disaster management Henley also served as head of J H Kenyon Ltd s emergency services mortuary team In this role he was involved in the recovery and repatriation of bodies after numerous disasters including the Kano air disaster in Nigeria in 1973 the Zeebrugge ferry disaster in 1987 and the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 9 It was for this work at major disasters around the world that Henley was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services in the aftermath of disasters involving the loss of human life in the 1997 New Year Honours 9 Retirement and death EditIn retirement he lived in London and Portsmouth 9 His funeral was held on 23 November 2005 at St Wilfrid s Church Portsmouth followed by cremation at Portchester Crematorium 3 Honours Edit1972 Freeman of the City of London 4 1987 Fellow of the British Institute of Embalmers 4 1997 Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE 4 References Edit findmypast co uk search findmypast co uk Retrieved 15 June 2017 findmypast co uk search findmypast co uk Retrieved 15 June 2017 a b HENLEY Deaths Announcements Telegraph Announcements announcements telegraph co uk Retrieved 15 June 2017 a b c d e f g In memoriam Desmond C Henley Internet Christopher Henley Limited 2008 2010 Archived from the original on 14 September 2013 Retrieved 8 March 2014 E g to Graham Cook of Albin International Archived 17 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine Quigley Christine 2006 Modern Mummies The Preservation of the Human Body in the Twentieth Century McFarland p 36 ISBN 978 0 7864 2851 9 Funeral Service in London A Short History London Association of Funeral Directors lafd org uk Retrieved 15 June 2017 a b Van Beck Todd October 2012 The Death and State Funeral of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill PDF Canadian Funeral News 40 10 10 79 Archived from the original PDF on 16 March 2014 a b c Robert s a king of the road Internet The Mirror London England 31 December 1996 Retrieved 8 March 2014 External links EditIan Harvey The Macabre Connection Between Jimi Hendrix Judy Garland and Winston Churchill 2018 online Desmond Henley A Great Embalmer How Mutesa s body was returned from London for burial Desmond Henley receiving the OBE in 1997 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Desmond Henley amp oldid 1067685757, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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