Circle Funerals, 23 Ashley Road, Altrincham (2026)

02/03/2026

You may have seen in the news that Scotland has become the first UK nation to legalise water cremation.

Also known as alkaline hydrolysis, it’s an alternative to burial or traditional cremation and is considered to have a lower environmental impact. It isn’t currently available in England, but the legislation marks an interesting moment in the ongoing conversation about sustainability and choice at the end of life.

For us, the headline isn’t really about technology. It’s about choice.

The decisions people make about their funeral are deeply personal. For some, environmental impact will be important. For others, tradition and familiarity will matter most. What’s right is what feels fitting for the person who has died and those closest to them.

As funeral directors, our role is to explain options clearly and gently, and to help people make decisions they feel comfortable with, whatever those decisions may be.

It will be interesting to see how this develops across the rest of the UK.

02/03/2026

Remember your loved ones this Mother’s Day.

From 02 March - 16 March we’ll be posting remembrance candles as a special token to those who can’t be with us this Mother’s Day.

If you would like to create a remembrance candle, please click the link below where you can choose a design and write a short message to a loved one.
Your candles will be posted to our page throughout the period.

https://gbnf.online/340125

25/02/2026

We’re pleased to announce the return of Light a Candle for this year!

You will soon be able to create online memorials to remember your loved ones this Mother’s Day.

We'll be sharing virtual candles on our page between 02 March - 16 March. Remember, there is no cost for you or your family to get involved and create an online memorial. Look out for updates...

23/02/2026

Recently, we supported a family with a funeral for their husband and Dad, and they shared with us a very particular dislike of his.

Potholes.

He would notice them, comment on them, steer around them. Point them out to anyone in the car. It became something of a family joke.

As we were planning the funeral, the family mentioned it with a smile and said, “Could the hearse driver try to avoid potholes on the way to the service? He would have hated going over them.”

“Absolutely,” was our response.

It wasn’t a dramatic request. It was affectionate. A small detail that mattered.

We spoke with the driver and explained the story behind it. On the day, as the hearse made its way to the service, he took particular care - slowing where needed, steering gently round the worst parts of the road.

Most people watching wouldn’t have noticed anything unusual. But the family did.

Funerals are often made up of these very specific, very human details...the things that might seem small to someone else, but carry significance for the people who knew their person best.

19/02/2026

Today I (Sara) attended a training session at Oakfield Croft care home, led by Amber and Beth, on dementia-friendly conversations.

I’m already a Dementia Friend, but I thought it would be really useful to do a refresher; and I’m glad I did - it reminded me how much the small things can make a difference.

We explored what it means to meet someone living with dementia in their reality, rather than trying to correct or reorient them. We talked about starting conversations gently, creating failure-free conversations, and using sensory approaches to help someone feel more settled and understood.

Many of the families we support are living with dementia themselves, or caring for someone who is. That can shape how conversations happen — including conversations about funeral wishes and planning ahead. Taking time to deepen our understanding helps us to be more mindful, ask questions carefully, and create space where people feel safe and listened to.

Care UK also offer a number of free resources for anyone wanting to learn more.

Thank you to Amber and Beth for a thoughtful and practical session. Lovely to see Sian Steeples, de Berry and Turner there too ☺️

18/02/2026

Questions to ask a funeral director – Part 4
Where will the person who has died be cared for?

This is the final post in our series of four – Questions to ask a funeral director. Many families tell us that knowing where their person will be cared for, and who will be caring for them, matters a great deal. It is a very natural question to ask, and we're happy to provide as much or as little information as you are comfortable with.

Question
Where will the person who has died be cared for, and can you explain what that looks like in practice?

Our answer
Different funeral directors work in different ways. Some larger providers use a central mortuary that serves multiple branches. Others care for people on the premises you visit. What matters most is that you understand what will happen, and that you feel comfortable with the care being offered.

At Circle Funerals, we care for the person at our premises in Altrincham – and it is Jeremy and me (Sara) who will be looking after them. We listen to the stories you tell us and the details that matter to you, and we apply that to the care you would like for your person – always respectfully, and never making assumptions.

We think of this as caring for them in a way that reflects how they would have been cared for in life. That may be very simple, or it may include more personal details, depending on what feels right for you. It can involve things like washing and moisturising, brushing or washing their hair, giving them a shave, dressing them in a favourite comfortable outfit, or something more formal such as a shirt, blouse, jacket or suit. If you would like us to apply make-up, you are very welcome to bring their own make-up and a recent photo – that can really help Sara to do it in a way that feels familiar and true to them. We can also include small finishing touches such as a preferred fragrance, and we will take care of practical things such as replacing dressings if needed.

You can be involved in any of this if you would like to be. And if you would rather not, we will look after your person as carefully as we can, to the standard we would want for our own family. We are always happy to talk you through this in as much or as little detail as feels comfortable for you.

14/02/2026

Many people assume there’s a set order to a funeral.

A service.
Then a committal.
All on the same day.
All in front of everyone.

But it doesn’t have to follow that set structure.

Recently, we supported a family who wanted to do things differently. They weren’t sure how they would feel at the crematorium. They didn’t know what emotions might surface as they grieved for their Mum. What they did know was that they wanted space to experience that moment privately, just as a family.

So we arranged a small, quiet committal first, at a local crematorium. No wider congregation. No pressure to hold it together. Just time to be exactly as they needed to be.

A month later, they held what they described as a “massive party” in their Mum's local hall.

It was full of their Mum's friends. People who had known her for decades. Her favourite hats were displayed. Collections she had lovingly built over the years were laid out on tables. Her music played. Stories were shared - loudly and proudly.

The two gatherings felt completely different.

Both were right.

We’ve also supported families who prefer to have private time at a burial ground or crematorium first, and then join everyone else for the main ceremony afterwards. For some, that early quiet moment creates steadiness before facing a larger group.

There is no fixed formula.

Sometimes separating things -by space, by audience, or even by time, allows families to honour someone in a way that feels more manageable, more honest, and more reflective of who they were.

12/02/2026

When someone dies, it can feel important to reflect what mattered most to them. Sometimes that includes choosing funeral options that are gentler on the environment.

There are more choices available than many people realise. These might include:

– Wicker, bamboo or woollen coffins
– Simple cardboard or unvarnished wooden coffins
– Natural fabric shrouds
– Woodland or meadow burials
– Locally grown, seasonal flowers
– Floral arrangements made without plastic or floral foam
– Living plants that can be taken home and replanted

Some families also choose shared travel arrangements, charitable donations in place of flowers, or planting a tree in memory of the person who has died.

Not every option suits every family, and that is, of cours, completely fine. Our role is simply to explain what is available locally and support you in making the choices that feel right.

If you’d like to talk through environmentally conscious funeral options, do get in touch. We’re here to help.

06/02/2026

Questions to ask a funeral director – Part 3

Are your prices clear and easy to understand?

This is the third in our series of four posts: Questions to ask a funeral director. We are sharing these questions because having clear, practical information can make a difficult time feel more manageable, and help you make decisions that feel right for you and your family.

Question
Can you show us a clear price list, with a breakdown of all the different elements, before we make any decisions?

Our answer
At Circle Funerals, we believe in transparent funeral costs, so you know exactly what to expect. We feel it is important that families can see the individual choices available – from coffins and urns to vehicles and flowers – with clear prices for each.

For this reason, we do not offer set packages for traditional attended funerals. Instead, we believe it is more helpful for people to see what each element costs, and to build a funeral that is bespoke and reflective of their person, rather than trying to fit into a pre-set structure.

After our initial meeting, we will always provide you with a written estimate, based on the choices you have made together. We understand that things can change as plans develop, so we will talk through any adjustments with you and update the estimate as needed, keeping everything clear and open throughout.

Our aim is to help you make informed decisions, at your own pace, with openness and care.

28/01/2026

We’re really pleased to share that Sara has been asked to become a CAFT Ambassador for CAFTcharity.

Based on the outskirts of Altrincham and supporting families across the North-West, CAFT creates meaningful, joyful experiences and days out for children living with illness, disability, or really challenging circumstances – giving them space to play, explore and have fun, without barriers or judgement. Their work makes a real difference to children and families who need it most.

Jez and I, and our family, have been supporting CAFT for a while, so it feels especially meaningful to be getting more involved in this way and helping to raise awareness of the incredible work they do.

We’re also sharing CAFT’s upcoming events in case any appeal. If any of these sound like your sort of thing, they’re a wonderful way to support a brilliant local charity:

– The CAFT Boogie – Saturday 7 March – Bowdon Rooms
– Quiz Night – Thursday 19 March – Bowdon Rugby Club
– Golf Day – Thursday 14 May – Dunham Forest
– Country Ladies Lunch – Wednesday 10 June – Nunsmere Hall
– Summer Games (Corporate Sports Day) – Friday 26 June

If you’d like details or links to book, feel free to message us and we’ll point you in the right direction. And if you already support CAFT, we’d love to hear what drew you to them.

15/01/2026

This week, Jeremy and I (Sara) are marking four years since we began supporting families here in Altrincham.

Over the past four years, it has been an absolute privilege to help people create funerals that feel meaningful and right for them. Thank you to everyone who has chosen us during that time; we never take for granted the trust you place in us.

This year has involved an important change for us. After beginning our journey as a franchise of Full Circle Funerals, we are now proudly independent and working as Circle Funerals. While the name has changed, what sits at the heart of our support has continued: compassionate, thoughtful funeral care, shaped around each family and what matters to them.

Looking back, we’re incredibly proud to have grown into a small but established part of our community, and to continue learning and evolving along the way. And we firmly believe that, with the right support, planning a funeral can be a powerful and positive experience, even at the hardest of times.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has encouraged, supported and worked with us over the years. The kindness and welcome we’ve received continues to mean a great deal to both Jeremy and I.

Thank you everyone, Sara and Jeremy (aka Jez) x

31/12/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we wanted to say a sincere thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share feedback with us this year.

We’re also very mindful of anyone who is bereaved and missing someone they love, we know this time of year can feel especially hard.

Your comments mean a great deal to us both (Jeremy and Sara). It’s a real privilege to be trusted, and we’re always proud to have been able to support families in a way that makes things easier and feel a little more manageable.

Circle Funerals

02/03/2026

02/03/2026

25/02/2026

23/02/2026

19/02/2026

18/02/2026

14/02/2026

12/02/2026

06/02/2026

28/01/2026

15/01/2026

31/12/2025

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