Suzanne Bairstow Independent Funeral Director

13/11/2025

I'd much prefer to be planting summer bedding plants, looking forward to the warmer weather...

Today, I've managed to plant all the winter bedding plants at The Sidings. I'll now look forward to watching these flowering and the bulbs coming up, knowing then that spring is on it's way. X 🍁🌳🌻🌷❤️

08/11/2025

31/10/2025

Today we said goodbye to a Yorkshire gentleman who always faced life's difficulties with a trademark smile. The beautiful, bright autumnal flowers in tribute to him were a reminder of how he brought colour into the lives of those he loved. Thank you to the wonderful staff at Skipton Crematorium, and to the incredible team at Suzanne Bairstow Independent Funeral Director. Your care for the family was wonderful, and those extra little touches really made a big difference 🧡.

22/10/2025

Earlier this month we cared for a special gentleman who's funeral service was at Shay Grange Crematorium.

Ian contacted me a few months before he'd died to discuss his plans for his funeral with me, he said he had had a good life.

As you can see he had a passion for cycling, so to personalise his funeral his wife chose this bicycle cardboard coffin and asked his many friends and family to write a memory about Ian, which we then printed and stuck to the top of his coffin. There were some lovely stories on them and everyone had time at the end of the service to come and read them.

Ian had arranged for the banner to be printed and this was fastened around the catafalque, a quote of how he felt about his life and also quoted by Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Ian had even visited Saltaire Brewery before he'd died to arrange his gathering after his service where friends and family raised a glass to him and continued to share stories and memories of him. 🚴‍♂️🍻

Many thanks to Ian's family for allowing me to share these photos and details with you x

18/10/2025

This morning I visited Brocklands Woodland Burial with the family of a young man that I have been working with over the past couple of months, I feel like I've been on quite a journey with them.

Today the family and I were there to plant a Hawthorn tree, bluebell and snowdrops bulbs, fox gloves and other native plants. The adored young mans children rolled their sleeves up and took a trowel each and helped plant the bulbs and plants together.

After we had finished we returned to the Haybarn for a cup of tea, whilst the children had some lemonade, buns and biscuits.

I've attached some photos from today but unfortunately Ingleborough and Penyghent were in the clouds today.

Many thanks to Chris Brocklands Woodlands Burial for your help with the tree planting and guidance this morning.

17/10/2025

Today, we visited the beautiful church at Arncliffe which has recently featured in All Creatures Great and Small. The funeral service was for a true, proud Yorkshire man who lived in Hawkswick.

A very personal service was led by the lovely Revd. Tom L***y which followed with the committal and burial in the churchyard.

Many thanks to James Blades and his team for digging such a well presented grave and to Mark at Marsden Funeral Vehicle Hire for the scenic and steady drive to Arncliffe in their lovely Mercedes hearse taking our true Yorkshire man on his final journey.

02/10/2025

As many of you will know, we work very closely with the amazing team of midwives at Airedale Hospital who support families so brilliantly when their precious little ones leave this world before us.
Lara who is a super talented singer, celebrant and friend hosts this event each year. If anyone would like to attend, please see all of the details on Lara's post. Take care x

Our annual Yorkshire Saying Goodbye service hosted by Andy and Zoe Clarke-Coates (founders) and Bradford Cathedral is right around the corner. This is always a special date in mine and Jon’s diary as we gather with those from across our region to remember and give thanks for our babies who went on ahead of us. Perhaps you have never been able to conceive? This service is also for you. The service is 1 hour long and features beautiful readings and appropriate songs (I’ll be singing) and also the opportunity to light a candle. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming and uplifting.. Sunday, 26 October 3.30pm. Please would you help me spread the word by sharing the flyer - many thanks. All welcome. www.sayinggoodbye.org

23/09/2025

Today, we visited Oakworth Crematorium to conduct the funeral service of a special lady.
After the service I was given these lovely flowers by the family for helping them through this hard time. It really makes me feel proud of the role I play in caring for families and their loved ones. Xx

17/09/2025

When a father dies, a daughter’s grief never truly ends. His absence settles into her life like a quiet ache — present in every memory, every milestone, every ordinary moment that feels incomplete without him. She carries the weight of what is lost, yet she also carries the gift of what he gave.

In the silence of her sorrow, his love still speaks. It whispers in her heart, in the lessons he left behind, in the strength he planted within her. Though she can no longer hold his hand, she feels his presence guiding her steps. A part of him lives on in her, always — a love too strong for even death to erase.

In memory of my dad Malcolm Hutton,
26th November 1951 - 17th September 2008 xx

10/09/2025

Yesterday, we had our first service at Skipton Crematorium since it opened it's original Chapel again this week, following the completion of their new extension. It has given the chapel a fresher feel and obviously more space for larger attended funerals.
The service we were there for was for a young gentleman. Kevin the celebrant did an amazing job at delivering such a personalised service in his memory, which hopefully his young family will have taken comfort from.

03/09/2025