Family Funeral Service Barming

21/11/2023

27/04/2023

We were recently asked to help a lovely family from Barming, who wanted a really unusual, but completely fitting funeral for their loved one, I won’t mention any names, but I will just say that he loved his own VW camper, just like this one. This one has been converted to operate as a bas hearse. The family reminisce about long so holidays in their camper. Great trips, including to Glastonbury. The service itself was held at Allington Castle Barn and it was so unusual, we even had the band playing that this chap used to play and sing with. They loved him but they missed his lead singing so much. What a truly great send off. Family taking and taking stories. Friend carrying the coffin. The band. Marvellous. Truly inspired funeral. This chap was able to say what he wanted and the family pulled it all together. A great tribute to them all.

20/09/2022

This is Eddie, he dragged Gary along to the Memory Walk just last week. Someone had to drive him there. Great job Eddie and a great cause to get behind. Oh and well done for getting him there and back Gary. 😂😂

10/07/2022

Rick is very pleased with the redecorations at Barming. And we get a picture of him standing around not doing very much. He’s always telling me how busy he is. Hah. Now I’ve got him. Mind you he does look very smart and the chapel looks great too Rick. Which bit did you do?

03/07/2022

We have a work experience person (Walderslade Girls School) with us for a while, at our office in Walderslade. Really great to see young people coming into our industry and being calm and professional about what they will see and do while they are with us. To be honest I think she (sorry Sydney) should be more scared of the men she is working with! Just look at them. Enough to scare even the most sensible person! And that dog! It (sorry Boo) gets in every picture because he thinks he owns the place. It’s all Emma’s fault really because she thinks she owns the place too. Back to work you lot. Not you Sydney, you can have a nice cup of tea! If you need help finding a work placement, we are happy to help. It could be working in the office on the admin side, or in the garage with the vehicles (10 vehicles in the fleet from diesel ambulances to petrol hybrid limousine and hearse) for those interested in a motor mechanic work. Or in the workshop watching to finish the coffins for someone interested in fabrics and materials and we are always interested in learn too!

23/06/2022

When the trailer was towed behind the Bobtailed Range Rover. Everything fell into place and what a fantastic tribute this family arranged for this chap. (Obviously I can’t say his name. You may know him but we can’t put that detail here) Now his family would be the first to say, this isn’t for everyone. But, there is a “something” for everyone. Everyone has a life to celebrate for one reason or another. Yes it’s the most difficult thing to do. And you have to think it out and then do it, in the middle of grieving for the person you love. This family really took the decision to get it right. Yes they were in an awful state having lost this guy from their family in his 50’s. Yes they will always ask those questions “why” “what if this or that” “could anyone have done something” “did the doctor…” Endless questions in the grieving process. But they will look back and remember a fitting tribute on the day. They won’t look back and say “I wish we had got the Range Rover out”

22/06/2022

So the next thing to solve was how to transport this guy in a respectful but at the same time, appropriate way for him. So this trailer was pressed into service as a coffin bier. (Old funeral word for coffin transport and pronounced beer). It looked really great when it was towed by his own Bobtailed Range Rover.

20/06/2022

An amazing family lost their man recently. They have given full permission to post photos here. They really wanted to celebrate this chap and his love for having fun. In the mud. Not those people who churn up your footpaths! This guy was a serious “off roader” and only used official sites for his fun days out. So serious was he, that the family wanted to bring his vehicle along to the service. Then they asked if it could somehow carry his coffin too. Fantastic! Let’s work out how we can do that.

16/06/2022

The new hybrid hearse looking rather smart in the sunshine at Medway Crematorium today.

21/04/2022

The very lovely Dave (seen in the photos where if purple. Not the lady!) and his pretty amazing family have been on a walk. One of the little ones had a tough time recently and the Evalina Children’s Hospital Great Ormond Street came to their rescue in fantastic style. Thankfully everything turned out very well and the little one is now a little more difficult to catch than before! Full of beans and giving everyone, especially grandma and granddad more fun and laughter than they ever thought possible.

To celebrate, this family decided to do a bit of a charity walk. Not your average stroll around the park either. No. That wasn’t quite enough of a challenge. So the whole lot (including lots of young ones) decided to walk from Medway to the Evalina Children’s Hospital in London. I thought at the time they were a bit crazy and it turns out I was right! They walked all the way. What an amazing achievement. And they raised a great sum in the process.

If you feel like supporting their fantastic efforts then please follow the link.

Dave is now off to the chiropodist and Mrs Dave is off for a pedicure!

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/shelleyhooperwalk?utm_term=AvVR4M3gQ

08/04/2022

Deep cleaning. I suppose there will be some who will say this is too “heavy” an issue for Facebook. It’s maybe a bit close to home. But that’s what we are. Funeral Director. And this is some of our equipment getting its weekly deep clean. It’s always disinfected after every use, but there’s nothing like getting the jet wash out (so long as big Andy isn’t watching) and giving things a thorough wash. So. Here is it Chris really going to town on this stretcher. I remember 30 years ago seeing one of these and being green with envy. My Dad the Funeral Director wasn’t keen on all that fancy metal work. So I couldn’t have one. That was that! Now we have several but they are £2500 each so they have to take great care of them. Any comments people?