Recommended Funeral Directors
«Back to Recommended Funeral Directors list
Richard Ward Funeral Services Ltd
Address: 2b The Cross, Cross Street, Enderby, LE19 4NJ
Phone: 0116 2866858 Email: enquiries@rwfs.co.uk Web: http://www.rwfs.co.uk
Funeral Director/s: Richard Ward. Newly established here, but with 30 years of funeral service behind him. It all began for him at 17 when he was waiting to be old enough to train as a nurse. The Youth Opportunity Programme asked him if he wanted to be a trainee embalmer for six months and, because it was vocation related, Richard said yes. He’s never looked back. He qualified first as an embalmer, then as a funeral director (Dip FD), and has worked with independent companies and also, in senior positions, with corporate funeral directors and 6 years in senior management at the Co-operative. He decided to set up on his own, a brave thing to do, because “I believe bereaved families are best looked after by families.” Yes, this really is a family business. Richard’s brother and father are also on the payroll. Richard lectures and trains worldwide with the ICRC (the International Red Cross). He’s a consultant with a disaster management company for which he is the Director for Europe and the Middle East. As you can see, he’s a very capable and considerable person. Richard is married with two small children. He’s in his mid-40s but he still plays a mean game of rugby (second row). He also golfs and plays squash. He’s a qualified rugby coach, a longstanding member of the Leicester Round Table and a member of the 41 Club.
Specific Gravity: Richard’s inclination is towards formality and, here’s the important thing, if that’s what you want then there’s no faulting his turnout. Superb. If, however, that’s not what you want, then Richard will very gladly fall in with whatever dress code you specify. If you don’t want a hearse, then Richard can provide a very suitable, less formal alternative.
What’s important? What’s important to Richard is best described in his own words. Here they are: “My basic principles, those I have tried to follow all my career, are quite simple: Never do anything for a client family you would not be happy doing for your own flesh and blood. Or to put another way, treat every family or deceased person you look after the same as you would a member of your own family. I get to meet people at the lowest time of their lives. They have in many cases received a hammer blow with their bereavement and I have the opportunity to make a positive difference to those people at that time. And I am fortunate to be able to make my living helping people in that way. That’s why I love being a funeral director.”
What’s different? Being his own boss means that Richard can do things as he thinks they ought to be done. That means two things. First, going the extra mile to make sure that his clients get what they want. Second, giving his clients all the time in the world to arrange their funeral as they want it. Richard seeks to “ensure that our families’ experience with us exceeds all their expectations and helps prepare them for their lives ahead without their loved one, knowing that their farewell to that loved one has been one that has been fitting, appropriate and meaningful.”
Services: Your call will almost certainly be answered by Richard. If not, it will be taken by his brother Peter, his father Rod or by Helen Bozon, his admin assistant. Only one person will look after you throughout; Richard attaches great importance to continuity of care. Richard will come to make arrangements with you at your home, if you wish, or at the funeral home, out of hours, if you wish. If you want a same-sex person to wash and dress the person who has died, that’s no problem. If you’d like to come in and help, or even do it all yourself, Richard will be very happy to support you. As he says, “Leicestershire has a large Hindu population and this is a cultural norm rather than a specific request, so it is not something I am unfamiliar with.” He is very happy to act as helper and consultant to anyone wanting to care for their dead person at home “at any level”. Richard is a great believer that “embalming of the body is the best way to ensure a family’s experience of viewing their loved one’s body is as positive an experience as possible. So much do I believe that, I don’t charge for the service as extra.” Helen is also a qualified embalmer. If you do not want this service, then of course you don’t have to have it. As you would expect of a funeral director whose life work has been in this area of Engand, and who also works with the families of disaster victims abroad, Richard is very knowledgeable about other cultures and religions. Good secular celebrants on his books, with whom he maintains a close working relationship. Handsome late C19 premises in the lovely village of Enderby, a conservation area. Light, bright and the very opposite of cheerless – a neat blend of modern and traditional. Parking normally available, free, on the street outside. Excellent website.
Remarks: Richard may be steeped in the funeral industry but, as well as being very nice, he is also unusually intelligent and forward looking. Looking to the future he sees evolving consumer expectations and a gradual break with tradition. “I embrace it and am very comfortable with it. I don’t think this should be considered a threat, it is a natural evolution and it is permeating all aspects of the industry. Bring it on!” When it comes to price transparency he is at the forefront. All his charges are listed on his website, together with those of other funeral directors. In addition to great professionalism he offers excellent value for money – see for yourself.
There are no comments about this funeral director