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Sussex Funeral Services Ltd
Address: 185 Portland Road, Hove, BN3 5QJ
Phone: 01273 926062 / 07789 174453 Email: philipevans@sussexfunerals.com Web: www.sussexfunerals.com
Funeral Director/s: Philip is what you might call one of the new wave of funeral directors who has come to this work motivated by a strong vocation. He does not feel bound by tradition and habit, but has fresh eyes and fresh ways. This doesn’t mean he is in any way a radical. A better way of looking at Philip is as a young man who puts first principles first, and who brings to his work all the passion of someone who really cares. And he does. Philip is, actually, the son of a funeral director but he didn’t go into the business after leaving school, he went out in the world to get himself some wider life experience, and he became a policeman. It was only when his brother died and he spoke about him at his funeral that he thought of becoming a funeral director. And as he thought, he came to the conclusion that his police work has given him plenty of transferable skills. Now that he is doing the work, he says: “I have never been more at peace with myself.” He has done a foundation course in counselling skills with Cruse Bereavement Care, and he is a qualified funeral celebrant. When not at work Philip is a member of the Rotary Club, he’s a keen petanque player, and he’s an avid indoor and outdoor climber. He enjoys good food, too, and is a member of an online social dining club.
Specific Gravity: For Philip, what you want is paramount. He wants you to have your funeral your way, and he will play the role you want him to – anything from the most traditional role to a much less formal role. As he says, “I am completely in favour of choice for the client.” He means it, too, and will spend all the time it needs to explore those choices with you, sensitively and thoroughly. There’s no hurry! He can offer you any sort of funeral transport you want and, because he is especially concerned to offer environmentally friendly options, he is looking to provide inexpensive horse-drawn transport. As he says, “My business ethos is founded on ensuring that my business has as little impact on the environment as possible.”
What’s important? In Philip's words, “What’s important to me is that my client is afforded as much choice as is possible in order to be able to make the right decision as to what type of funeral services are appropriate, according to the personality and beliefs of the deceased, the financial implications for the person paying and whether an impact on the environment is a concern to be considered.”
What’s different? For those who do not wish to have a full religious funeral but, rather, one which reflects their own beliefs, he is able to lead your funeral ceremony as well. There are very few funeral directors who can offer this sort of joined-up service.
Services: Your call will be answered by Philip himelf.. You will be seen by Philip, and he will be there for you throughout – and for as long after the funeral as you wish. Yes to a home visit. Yes to you coming in and laying out and dressing the person who has died. Philip is not keen on embalming and will only recommend it if it is absolutely necessary. Skilled in the needs of all ethnic groups. Will gladly work with those who wish to care for their dead at home: see the Plan Your Own Funeral section of his website. Same-sex funeral director to lay out the person who has died if you wish. Premises light, airy and completely un-gloomy, all freshly refurbished. Park outside, or off-road at the pay-and-display car park. Informative website.
Remarks: Good value for money, as you can expect from a business of this size. Attractive finance options, including interest-free credit. No packages offered here, but clear transparency. There is the professional fee plus only what you want chosen from a menu of services. Above all, superb personal service from a funeral director who really does live his work.
There is one comment about Sussex Funeral Services Ltd
Terri Shanks said...
I first met Philip Evans in 2009 when I had the pleasure of training him as an Independent Funeral Celebrant. I was touched and inspired then by his natural warmth, compassion and genuine desire to help the bereaved at such a very important time. Philip and I discovered then that we had an instant connection as within a few months of one another both of us had lost our brothers to AIDS, both in their mid-30′s. As funeral professions who had both experienced the raw side of grief, we became friends as well as colleagues, and since then I have watched Philip build his business with true dedication and with a true heartfelt desire to open a funeral directing business which offered a personalised service, choice and value for money. We are proud to have Philip as a member of the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants http://www.professionalcelebrants.org.uk and would not hesitate to recommend his services as both a celebrant and Funeral Director.