Funeral Service Times August 2017 November 2018 | Page 6

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DISPATCHES
Funeral director to offer
‘traditional funeral’ for half
the average cost
The new service will provide people with all the practical and
essential elements of a cremation, without the obligation to pay for
traditional ceremonial elements they might not want
A funeral director has launched a unique new funeral service
providing people with all the practical and essential elements of a
cremation, without the obligation to pay for traditional ceremonial
elements they might not want.
Simplicity Cremations is to offer “the first service of its type
available across the UK” for half the cost of a traditional funeral, giving
people the freedom to choose when the funeral takes place rather
than having to accept a time slot allocated by the provider.
Consumer demand for alternative and lower cost funerals is said to
be rising, with the company’s entire service costing £1,895 including
crematorium and doctors’ fees. It offers almost a 50 percent saving
on the average cost of a traditional funeral quoted by the 2018 Royal
London National Funeral Cost Index Report.
Mark Hull, group head of marketing at Simplicity Cremations, said:
“There is a rising consumer demand for lower cost funeral options.
We believe our new fully attended funeral offers a level of value and
choice not previously available on a national scale.
“We’ve focused on the thing we believe many consumers will
value most, attending the actual service. If you don’t have to pay
to visit to a funeral director or for the expense of a hearse and
limousines, you can significantly lower the cost. It complements our
direct cremation offering, which we launched in 2016, providing a
greater choice and flexibility for families to remember their loved
ones in the way they want.”
Funeral group expands its
free bereavement service
Douch Family Funeral Directors' bereavement group is now
available at three more of its branches
Dorset’s Douch Family Funeral Directors has expanded its free
bereavement group sessions to a further three branches.
Due to the increased number of people attending its Ferndown
meetings the company has now launched the service at its
branches in Swanage, Wareham and Blandford. Anyone living with
bereavement is invited to book themselves on one of the sessions
that lasts for about an hour and a half.
They are led by Cindy Weller, a member of the British Association
for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and a member of the
National Counselling Society (NCS) and the sessions are open to
anyone in the community.
NOVEMBER 2018
Ewan Reynolds awarded
‘Funeral Arranger of The
Year’
Reynolds has been involved in the profession since he was 17
Ewan Reynolds from Edinburgh has been awarded the national
title of ‘Funeral Arranger Of The Year’ at this year’s Good Funeral
Awards.
Reynolds, who has been involved in the funeral profession since
2007 on a part-time and casual basis, was awarded the title at the
event held at Highcliff Marriott Hotel.
Commenting on the award, Reynolds said: “I am honoured that
I have been nominated for this award, Since I was 17 years old I
have been involved in all aspects of the funeral profession and I
successfully achieved a highly recognised training certificate which I
funded myself a few years ago.
“I am delighted that a few people including my family have seen
how much this type of work means to me by putting my name
forward, this job isn’t for everyone, oou either love it or you hate it.
My future plan is to be self-employed and run my own independent
funeral business.”
Brian Jenner, organiser of the event, added: “The Good Funeral
Awards recognise exceptional service to bereaved people from
all aspects of the funeral industry and supporting services. By
progressing this far, Ewan has already demonstrated outstanding
professionalism, empathy and a willingness to go the extra mile for
bereaved families.”
The meetings are held monthly in Ferndown at the Royal British
Legion and in Blandford at the parish council offices. The monthly
Purbeck groups meet alternately at the libraries in Swanage and
Wareham.
The Wareham group is being supported by the Albert Marsh
branch and in Swanage the James Smith branch is supporting the
sessions.
www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk