01/04/2026
Congratulations to our very own Mark Porteous, who has just received a surprise commendation for his years of dedicated service to SAIF independent funeral directors. The award was announced at the association's AGM weekend, which took place in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire between Friday and Sunday.
Having served as both National and Scottish President, and as a long-standing member of SAIF's Executive Committee, Mark’s commitment to upholding the standards of independent funeral directors has always been central to what we do here at Porteous Family Funeral Directors.
But the weekend wasn’t just a celebration of service - it was a vital opportunity to discuss the future of our profession, with highlights including:
Empowering bereaved families: We explored the launch of a major new national campaign designed to help the public understand the true value of a local independent funeral director. In an era of "online-only" direct cremations, we remain committed to proving that personal care, local presence and transparent service are irreplaceable.
The Final Salute: A particularly moving session was led by Lanae Strovers from the US, who shared her work on the "Final Salute" project. Her dedication to ensuring a dignified resting place for unclaimed cremated remains struck a chord with everyone in the room, reinforcing our belief that every individual deserves respect, regardless of their circumstances.
Mark returned from the weekend with fresh insights and a renewed commitment to serving our community. At Porteous, we don't just follow industry standards - we're proud to help set them.
