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Powell and Family
Address: 15 North Street, Droitwich, WR9 8JB
Phone: 01905 827767 Email: info (AT) powellandfamily (DOT) co (DOT) uk Web: www.powellandfamily.co.uk
Funeral Director/s: Bryan and Catherine Powell, a husband and wife team. Bryan was drawn to funeral directing by an inexplicable attraction – that’s the way vocation works. After a week of work experience when he was at school he knew that this was what he wanted to do, so he gave up his A Levels and went to work. Bryan possesses a dynamism and intelligence rarely to be found in the funeral industry. He bought his first business when he was still in his twenties and, after building it up by sheer hard work, stepped away in order to recharge his batteries and reflect. He has since spent time abroad, especially in the United States and Canada, studying their approach to funerals and learning about how they can be improved. Catherine comes from a sales and event management background and was drawn to funerals because she wanted to focus on serious, meaningful events rather than frivolous corporate events and birthday parties. Both are active members of the local community, regular churchgoers at both the Anglican and Baptise churches, where Bryan is a leader of the Boys Brigade. Catherine is a keen singer, a member of local choirs. They both love walking and spending time with their six children and their daffy dog, Kobi. Bryan is a skilled web developer and acts as a consultant to other funeral directors.
Specific Gravity: As someone trained in the best traditions of funeral service, Bryan can lead a formal funeral cortege with conspicuous smartness and propriety. If, however, you want a more downbeat tone he will gladly dress down. In the office he and Catherine make a very refreshing change from most funeral directors. Their dress is smart-casual; Bryan often doesn’t wear a tie. Why? Because they are the sort of people who like to level with you. Their hearse and limousine are Daimlers – a fine, traditional choice of vehicle, and Midlands-built to boot. They can find you alternative hearses, and they’ll offer you the full range. The firm they use for their horse-drawn hearse is the best in the business easily, if a few bob more expensive. The horses even walk in step.
What’s important? What’s important to Bryan and Catherine is that you have the opportunity to create a funeral experience which is going to be emotionally useful for you, genuinely meaningful and, hopefully, very satisfying. For this reason, they say: “We begin with a completely blank canvas, our funerals evolve from listening to a family and to the story they tell us about their loved one. This might be traditional, totally contemporary or a blend. We are keen to help families understand that they have the freedom to create something very personal, and that this needn’t cost the earth. That’s a key part of our collaborative approach.” How we wish more funeral directors talked like this! There is no doubting the sincerity and wholeheartedness of their commitment.
What’s different? Bryan and Catherine are professionals to their fingertips. They have a very good head for business – in the best sense. In addition to their vocational commitment – yes, they really care – they bring an exact and well thought-out understanding of what people want. Their pricing policy, for example, has none of the confusing obfuscations of so many other funeral directors. They do not charge a woolly ‘professional fee’ but itemise everything in a completely transparent way. Their base funeral price is very low (see the cost comparison tables on their website), and you can add to this by upgrading services and merchandise according to your budget, using the price calculator on their website. The point is that you feel in control and they won’t try and upsell you. In this, they set standards for others to follow.
Services: Your call will be answered by Catherine or Bryan. They will look after you throughout and see things through with you on the day. They will discuss with you the desirability of embalming – and they favour the use of an environmentally friendly embalming fluid. Come in and help wash and dress the person who has died if you want – they will support you. If you want a same-sex person to wash and dress the person who has died, that’s no problem. If you want to care for the person who has died at home they will gladly act as consultants; they offer one hour of free consultancy at your home, then take it from there, making a small charge for what you want them to do. Come in and make arrangements at the funeral home if you wish, or they will come to you – evenings and weekends no problem. Skilled in serving all ethnic groups. Good celebrants on their books, and very careful to make sure you work with one who suits you. They too work in close collaboration with their celebrants, sharing information so that they can do everything to make the funeral personal and special. Other services include woven tribute blankets, memorials, keepsakes and catering. And they go on caring about you long afterwards. They say: “It’s so satisfying to know that our clients see us more as friends and feel able to pop in for a coffee and a chat when they are passing.” Premises in a converted industrial unit close to the town centre. It’s a brilliant idea, this – they’ve got bags of room, it’s all on one level and there’s masses of parking right outside the front door. They’ve decorated it beautifully in a style they describe as “deliberately different.” Superb website – perhaps the best we’ve seen.
Remarks: Bryan and Catherine combine respect for tradition with a savvy awareness of evolving expectations of a funeral. No mystique, no mystery, just lots and lots of careful listening to you, and absolute transparency of price. Above all, terrifically nice people.
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