Funerals By Mark Drake

18/01/2026

16/01/2026

The East Coast funeral directors truths and not so much truths. Common "funeral director mistruths" often involve myths about their motives (only profit-driven), the necessity of expensive services (they can tailor to budgets), and the nature of their work.

However, genuine mistruths and misconduct do occur, like false representations about handling remains, the choices, options available or financial fraud, as highlighted in some high-profile cases. Families should research options and ask questions to ensure transparency, as some directors may downplay simpler, cheaper alternatives like cardboard coffins, smaller services or celebration of life funerals for profit.

Common Myths vs. Reality

Myth: They're only in it for money. Reality: Most are compassionate professionals, but it's a business; costs cover operations, so asking for deposits for third-party fees (disbursements) is normal, not untrustworthy.

Myth: Expensive or branded equals better. Reality: You can have a meaningful funeral on a budget; simple options (like direct cremation) exist, and costs aren't a reflection of service or quality and a small independent funeral director is the better choice.

Myth: They're death experts. Reality: They offer industry-specific advice and empathy, but aren't necessarily specialists in the psychology of death.

Myth: All loved ones are kept at the correct temperature whilst in care. Reality: Many do not have adequate refrigeration or bariatric provision.

Examples of Misconduct & Misinformation
Fraud: Cases exist where directors falsely claimed to care for remains or misrepresented services, sometimes involving financial fraud or mishandling ashes.

Misleading on Costs/Options: Some traditional directors may discourage cheaper, eco-friendly options (like cardboard coffins) because they lose profit margins, potentially presenting them as substandard.

Claiming to be family run, often using phrases like "our family looking after yours" or exaggerating the quality of their premises and or care, which can result in a smoke and mirrors approach to the business practices.

Unnecessary Procedures: Directors might over-sell services like embalming, which is not legally required in many places.

What Families Should Do

Ask Questions: Inquire about all costs, including disbursements, and request itemised estimates. Ask to see where your loved one will be cared for and what this care looks like.

Research: Look into alternatives like simple funerals, direct cremations, or green burials and don't presume that all funeral directors are the same.

Compare Providers: Get quotes from multiple funeral homes, just like any other significant purchase and make your decisions based on findings, facts and how they look after you, not price, location or fancy advertising.

At Funerals By Mark Drake the reality is clear and on view to all to see for yourselves. As unlike many invest 90% of our profits back into the business not shareholder pockets. Proudly differant in leading the call for higher standards across the industry based on facts not preception.

Best Always

Mark

15/01/2026

We are adding some very special touches to our funeral home to reflect the uniqueness of those we care for ❤️

09/01/2026

We Get Told We Offer Great Value For Money ! But What Does That Mean ?
Value for money (VfM) means getting the best possible outcome for the amount spent, balancing cost, quality, and benefits, not just the lowest price; it's about achieving the right quality at the best price, ensuring efficiency (doing things right) and effectiveness (doing the right things) to maximize overall value.

Key aspects of value for money with us are;

Cost-Effectiveness: Getting the most benefit for the money spent, minimizing prices and inefficiency.

Quality & Performance: Ensuring the product or service exceeds required standards and exceeds desired results, not just being cheap.

The "3 Es"

Economy: Minimising resource cost (lowest price).

Efficiency: Performing tasks effectively (doing things right).

Effectiveness: Achieving objectives (doing the right things).

We dont just talk about it, we listen to your needs and wants and deliver the service you wanted, your way at the fairest of price.

Best Always Mark x

09/01/2026

A special handpainted coffin for a very much loved lady🌹

Funerals as unique as the lives we honour ❤️

30/12/2025

A natural approach to death — why you don’t need to embalm and what are your choices.

Would you choose to be embalmed? There’s no right or wrong answer, but it’s certainly worth considering. That’s because roughly half of us will be embalmed, even though there’s no legal or hygienic reason why we should be.

Here’s what embalming really involves and why we prefer a natural approach.

Planning a funeral? Find out more about Funerals By Mark Drake and our natural approach to death care

What exactly is embalming?

Embalming isn’t something that gets talked about often, which means that it’s not always clear what really takes place. Embalming replaces all of the body’s natural fluids with a preservative liquid, which includes pink dye and usually formaldehyde. Embalmers also use stitches to close someone’s jaw, and spiked eye-caps to keep the eyelids shut.

Alternatively, there’s a partial embalming procedure called ‘a facial,’ where the jaw is sutured and eye-caps inserted, but no chemicals are used. In both cases, embalming is quite invasive and usually doesn’t serve any practical purpose apart from maintaing the bodies condition so that a longer period of viewing can take place.

Unfortunately, embalming isn’t wonderful for the environment because of the chemicals it uses. There’s evidence that suggests they might affect our groundwater sources and the surrounding land.

Although a growing number of people are hoping for an eco-friendly funeral, there hasn’t been any rapid decline in embalming rates — and it’s time to ask why.

Embalming shouldn’t be the default option
In the UK, embalming hasn’t always been this common. But we’ve got used to death being hidden away and controlled by gatekeepers like funeral directors, who aren’t always transparent about the choices you have.

At Funerals By Mark Drake we believe this is something that needs to change. Too many funeral directors still treat embalming as the default option and disguise what happens by calling it ‘hygienic treatment.’ Embalming can be important to some families, and may be absolutely right for them — the issue is that it may not be presented clearly and as a personal choice.

But embalming is entirely unnecessary for any hygienic or legal reasons. In fact, the only time there’s a legal requirement to embalm is when someone who has died is being repatriated. So how is it that embalming has become such an entrenched part of funerals?

In part, it’s because embalming can be convenient for some funeral directors. Large companies have smaller local branches, which often don’t have any refrigeration. Instead, there will be a large central hub where people who have died are kept cool.

These central hubs can be far away, which is a problem when someone isn’t embalmed and needs to be transported back to the local branch — where they’ll need to stay long enough for friends and family to visit.

Ideally, embalming should be chosen freely by someone who knows exactly what it will involve. But in reality, embalming often happens because it benefits funeral companies rather than the person who has died or their family.

Planning a funeral? Find out what choices are available and the likely costs.

What to expect from a more natural approach
The point of embalming is to delay any physical changes to the body, and ‘freshen up’ someone’s appearance. But the outcome of embalming is really variable, and often leads to changes that people find unnatural. It can also make it harder to say goodbye to someone when they look very different from the last time you saw them — which is a common outcome of embalming.

A natural approach doesn't use chemicals, stitching, or any of the invasive procedures that are part of embalming. We will gently wash someone, as well as apply Vaseline to their lips to keep them moisturised. We’re led by what friends and families want, which could involve things like doing their makeup & hair.

A natural approach: reclaiming our bodies in death

It’s still uncommon for people to express their wishes when it comes to their own dead body. But why shouldn’t we take ownership over our bodies in death, just like we do in life? Having a conversation about embalming means that you can really consider what options exist.

Lots of people are nervous about not embalming because they aren’t sure what the alternative is. This is because death has been placed firmly behind closed doors for far too long. But it’s our body that will need to be cared for, and what that involves is part of our legacy.

A gentle natural approach focuses on the humanity of the person who has died by treating them with kindness and dignity. In our experience, people will generally choose a natural approach when they’re given the option and choice.

We do not carryout an invasive procedures unless requested, which sets us apart from several of our fellow Funeral Directors, so please don't back away from asking the question why and telling them its your choice not there's.

Best Always

Mark

28/12/2025

SO WHATS NEW IN 2026 ?
Although Some Funeral Directors Would Like Us To Live In Victorian Times, We See The World As It Is Today. Exceeding Expectations Because Times Have Changed.

We Never Stand Still, Driving Change For The Better, As Its Never Been More Important To Make A Real Difference In The Care, Choice, Dignity & Respect To Loved Ones In Care & Their Loved Ones We As Funeral Professionals Are Privileged To Support.

January, sees Kelly joining us as a qualified funeral arranger, and I am delighted to welcome her to the team. Kelly brings her knowledge, care, understanding, professionalism and her bereavement support to our families.

February, sees the completion of our new offices, which will deliver a truly unique client focused environment for all. It will also be the month in which our tranquil, air conditioned, all faith chapel of rest is refurbished, not because it needs it, but when the opportunity to improve any aspect arises we don't miss it!

March, sees New Bespoke To Ourselves Funeral Plans being added to our services. Funerals By Mark Drake is proud to be putting together something so very special, offering as you would expect a fresh approach, guaranteed quality and FCA approved.

April, sees the improvements to our external areas, with planting, new seating area and much more.

Us Stand Still? Never!

All the very best for 2026 from us all

Mark, Gary, Kelly, Tim, Richard, Aaron & Betsy ###