Funeral Service Times August 2017 November 2018 | Page 10

10 DISPATCHES
Brookwood
Cemetery
celebrates its
heritage day
Paul Allcock,
SAIF public relations office and past SAIF president
A new era
The funeral industry is embarking on a new era. An era which every funeral director
will have no choice but to embrace. We already have in place the implementation
of the new medical examiners from April next year. The fact that this will initially be
non-statutory doesn’t take away the fact that there will be change to embrace and that
further changes will continue to be implemented over the coming years.
Our colleagues in Scotland are already witnessing change with the inspector of
funeral directors having been in place since July 2017. There are also of course the
current enquiries from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the Treasury
looking into the funeral industry and the pre-paid funeral planning market. The CMA are
due to release an interim report in November which will hopefully clarify the direction
the review will be taking.
SAIF has been constantly active in offering our advice and guidance to all of the
government departments, responding willingly to every request for information, whilst
keeping our membership informed as events unfold. Many funeral directors have
expressed concerns about the future and how any changes will affect their businesses.
There is one thing however which is very clear through all of these changes and
investigations. The only reason any business should have any concerns is if it falls short
in any areas appropriate to ensure best practice. If everything is in place in any funeral
business to ensure that the deceased is cared for and treated with the utmost respect
and in an appropriate premises. All shall be well.
If the bereaved clients are similarly treated with care and respect and are informed
with complete clarity in every aspect of arranging a funeral. All shall be well. If funeral
directors are prepared to accept and better still, embrace change for the sake of the
business and more importantly for the client. All shall be well. If funeral directors
strive to improve. Even after having been in business for many years there is a need
to continue improving premises, staff training and the business as a whole. If this is
implemented. All shall be well.
If however, any businesses ignore the changes happening around them, then they
are likely to be digging themselves an ever deepening hole, which ultimately it will be
extremely difficult to get out of. (No pun intended)
I cannot emphasise enough the importance of increasing the awareness of bereaved
clients. And the only way to achieve this is to keep eyes, ears and mind open to the
changes happening right now.
Be aware, be prepared, improve and be the best. Then all manner of things shall be
well.
Alan Greenwood of Alan Greenwood
and Sons attended the event to
show his support
Alan Greenwood of Alan
Greenwood and Sons and funeral
director David Chester had the
privilege of being invited to support
the Brookwood Cemetery Heritage
Day on 15 September.
The cemetery’s open day event
gave visitors the chance to explore
the grounds and join in with
guided walks and talks held by the
Brookwood Cemetery Society. They
also got to visit to the Columbarium
and other Mausolea.
The Commonwealth War
Grave Commission, American
Battle Monuments Commission
(American Cemetery), The Trench
Experience, Natural Home Funerals,
Stonemasons, Funeral Directors,
UK Owl and Raptor displays all had
stands at the exhibition.
Greenwood brought his vintage
Dennis fire engine, one of his Jaguar
hearses and his Daimler Thomas
starting low line hearse to showcase
at the event. He told the history of the
fire engine as children and adults sat
in the vehicle and showed them the
difference in technology between the
two hearses and the different types
of service the family run business can
offer. As this was going on, chauffer
Wayne Vineer assisted those that
wanted to sit in the vehicles.
Greenwood said: “I had fabulous
afternoon and it was always a
privilege to support other businesses
and charities when I could, being
part of my local community and
supporting.”
Paul Allcock,
SAIF public relations office and past SAIF president
NOVEMBER 2018
www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk