The GFG Blog
2016Oct
Traditional Funeral Director of the Year
Fran Hall
Oct
07
No Comments
Trevor E. W. Hickton Trevor EW Hickton Ltd cleaves to funeral traditions and justly prides itself on its ceremonial excellence. The firm is also open-minded about new trends and works in a mutually supportive spirit with other independent funeral businesses. Cradley Heath-based funeral directors Trevor E.W. Hickton have been
Scotland leads the way
Fran Hall
Oct
03
24 comments
The GFG slipped over the border last week to take part in one of three Round Table Discussions on Funeral Poverty hosted by Angela Constance MSP, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security & Equalities. We were in grand company – sitting round the table were a number of fine
Modern Funeral Director of the Year
Fran Hall
Oct
03
1 comment
Fran Glover & Carrie Weekes of A Natural Undertaking Carrie and Fran run a funeral business in Birmingham where they have enjoyed rapid success by facilitating highly personalized, non-traditional funerals. Carrie Weekes and Fran Glover launched their business in Birmingham in 2014 because they felt that current funeral and commemorative
2016Sep
Most Promising New Funeral Director
Fran Hall
Sep
30
No Comments
Judith Dandy of Dandelion Farewells Judith is an outstanding example of a new wave of breath-of-fresh-air funeral business owners – what the Good Funeral Guide terms ‘artisan’ funeral directors. Some people call them alternative funeral directors. Typically, they reject what they regard as the arcane traditions and mystique of funeral
Funeral Arranger of the Year
Fran Hall
Sep
29
No Comments
Sarah Lee of Holmes & Family Funeral Directors Sarah offers an exceptionally caring service to bereaved families and has carried on doing so while coping and coming to terms with the sudden death of her mother. There are hundreds of superb funeral arrangers throughout the country but Sarah stands out
Green Funeral Director of the Year
Fran Hall
Sep
28
No Comments
Lorna and Jo Vassie of Higher Ground Family Funerals Jo Vassie is one of the leading figures in the world of natural burial; her site near Dorchester currently holds the Natural Death Centre’s People’s Award for the Best Natural Burial Ground in the UK. With a custom built facility and
Best Green Funeral Product
Fran Hall
Sep
27
No Comments
Andrew Briggs Of Brahms Electric Vehicles ‘This is a category that the judges think will grow over the years; with a number of strong contenders already jostling to win, the market for green funeral products is, forgive the pun, a ripening one. The Brahms electric Eco-hearse is the only one
Low Cost Funeral Director of the Year
Fran Hall
Sep
26
10 comments
Lucy Coulbert of Coulbert Family Funerals Having geared her business specifically to help families of limited means arrange dignified and respectful funerals, Lucy was the only funeral director in England and Wales to give evidence to the 2016 DWP Bereavement Benefits Enquiry. Lucy gives a 100% customer-focused service, unconstrained by
Exploring the stigma around baby loss
Fran Hall
Sep
25
No Comments
Guest post by Debbie Howard – Director/Producer – Big Buddha Films During the making of my previous short film Peekaboo, I had already built up close relationships with many families who had lost babies, so I had their trust from the beginning of this documentary and was able to gain remarkable
Best Maker of Hand Carved Memorials in an Indigenous Material
Fran Hall
Sep
25
1 comment
Hannah Wessel of Stoneletters Fergus Wessel, founder of Stoneletters, is a master of his craft, and provides a personal, sensitive service for bereaved families. He operates from his workshop in the Cotswolds with his small team, and prospective clients are encouraged to go and meet him there to see his