The Good Funeral Awards judges have sifted through hundreds of nominations for this year’s great event and have issued the following longlist. Every category is strong. Winners will be announced at the glittering, gala Good Funeral Awards dinner at Bournville, Birmingham, on 6 September 2014.
Who are the judges? We couldn’t possibly say. As with the Oscars and the Baftas, the identities of the judges are hidden in order to protect them from influence, on the one hand, and retribution, on the other. The process is as safe and fair and objective as possible.
Have you booked for either this event or for the Ideal Death Show, 5-7 September? Have a look at the Ideal Death Show website here and see what you’ll miss if you don’t book now. As ever, this is a great gathering of the most interesting people in the funerals biz. This year there will be lots of members of the public there, too.
Good Funeral Awards 2014 — the longlist
Funeral Director of the Year
Daniel and Sarah Wolsey – Daniel Ross Funerals, West Midlands
Mark Catchpole – Harrison Funeral Home, Essex
Sarah Clarke – Arka Original Funerals, Sussex
Julian Hussey – AG Down, Dorset and Devon
Chris Parker – Abbey Funeral Services, Kent
Poppy Mardall – Poppy’s Funerals, London
David Parslow – Walter C Parson, Devon
Jill Huelin – Co-operative Funeralcare, West Yorkshire
Colin Fisher – Colin Fisher Funerals, Kent
Lucy Jane – Individual Funeral Company, Oxfordshire
Embalmer of the Year
Liz Davis – Freelance
Helen Bozon – Richard Ward Funeral Services, Leicestershire
Bob Dyer – Midlands Embalming Services
Cara Wisznieski – Fred Hamer Funeral Services, Lancashire
Most Promising New Funeral Director of the Year sponsored by the Church of England
Claire Turnham – Only With Love, Oxfordshire
Evelyn Temple – Evelyn’s Funerals, Berkshire
Louris Hilton – Hilton’s Funeral Directors, Shropshire
Lesley Wallace and Sarah Stuart – Wallace Stuart Funeral Directors, Somerset
Funeral Arranger of the Year
Angela Bailey – Harrison Funeral Home, Essex
Donna Adams – AR Adams, Essex
Emma Fisher – Colin Fisher Funerals, Kent
Rebecca Diamond – AW Lymn, Nottinghamshire
Celebrant of the Year
Belinda Forbes
Wendy Weavin
Katie Deverell
Dee Ryding
Jane Morgan
Terri Shanks
Steve Emmett
Rebecca Williams Dinsdale
Lynne Watson
Lyn Banham
Lesley Arnold Hopkins
Lifetime Achievement Award
David Meek – AW Lymn, Nottinghamshire
Eric de Chalon – Bungard, Sussex
Chris Parker – Abbey Funerals, Kent
Major Contribution to the Understanding of Death
Barbara Chalmers – Final Fling
Jon Underwood – Death Café
Chantal Lockey
Best Alternative Hearse
Cemetery of the Year
Groby Garden of Remembrance
Florist of the Year
Cassandra Thompson – Stems
UK Flower Lounge – Didsbury, Yorks
Melanie Edwards – Flowers by Mel
Green Funeral Director of the Year sponsored by GreenAcres
Tracy O’Leary – Woodland Wishes
Respect – Margaret Rose
Tomalins, Henley
Crematorium Attendant
Peter Rodwell – Seven Hills
Paul James – Easthampstead Park
Gravedigger of the Year
Jonny Yaxley & Will Macdonald – Henley NBG
Ken McGarrigle & Steve Riddell – Dunstable Cemetery
Michael and Mark Symonds – Karen Hussey
Coffin Supplier of the Year
Sara Elliot – Terra Pura
Best Bereavement Resource
Congratulations to All the nominees for the Good Funeral Awards.
Congrats and good luck to all the nominees
Wonderful long list. So wish I could be there in person to congratulate them.
So lovely for good people to gain recognition
Perhaps next year, Kateyanne?
Some well known names in our profession are amongst this list, and its nice to see some new names here as well,
I have my ticket and its going to be good event……
well done to Charles and his team and good luck to all those that have been nominated.
Congratulations to all of the nominees – we’re really looking forward to this years show!
Really looking forward to attending the Good Funeral Awards and the Ideal Death Show this year.
I’m really proud to be nominated! Wish I could attend.
So chuffed to be nominated. So much so, I am taking the night off to attend!
It’s going to be a great night and gathering of so many wonderful people. I am dead proud to be on this list with many of my much respected colleagues. Looking forward to catching up with old “deathy” friends and making new ones. Hooray for Home Funerals and Oxfordshire!
No pun intended? ha ha 🙂
Surprised and delighted to be on the ‘list’ alongside the great and the good of funeral world. Good luck everyone!
Utterly surprised and completely honoured to have been nominated. I’m looking forward to the awards and a night of celebrating the hard working industry professionals. Congratulations to all who made the list!
So excited to be long listed!! Good luck everyone! Looking forward to the awards evening.
I am really pleased on reaching the longlist, a big thanks to all my customers .and the great work done over the year by all involved at the Good Funeral Guide. See you in Birmingham. Roger