What happens on the day of a burial?
The cortege will arrive at the agreed address at the time given to you on your confirmation letter (please allow us a couple of minutes either side of this time for variations in the volume of traffic). Your Funeral Director will greet you at your door, and escort you and your family to the limousine(s). Once everyone is seated, the Funeral Director will walk the cortege away from the house, before getting in to the hearse and travelling to the place of service.
At a church, the Funeral Director will first go and speak with the minister, then come and collect you when everything is ready. Please remain seated in the limousine until the Funeral Director returns to assist you. The coffin will be taken in to the church and you will be asked to follow behind. Once inside the Funeral Director will guide you to your seats. At the end of the service, the coffin will be taken out of church, and placed on to the hearse to travel to the cemetery.
At the cemetery, the Funeral Director will lead the way to the grave, and again you will be asked to follow behind the coffin. You may gather around the grave, whilst the committal takes place, and you will be invited to scatter earth/holy water into the grave. Some people also choose to bring single stemmed flowers for the same purpose. Please give thought to suitable footwear when attending a burial in winter/wet weather, as the ground can be quite slippery. The Funeral Director will then lead you to look at the flowers, which will be laid out along the ground. Once you have left the cemetery, the flowers will be placed on to the grave. If you wish your floral tribute to remain on the coffin whilst it is lowered, then please tell us in advance.
Following the committal service at the cemetery, the limousine(s) will take you back to an address of your choice, or to a reception venue. Please advise us of the return destination prior to the day of the funeral to ensure our chauffeurs can be instructed accordingly.
What happens on the day of a cremation?
The cortege will arrive at the agreed address at the time given to you on your confirmation letter (please allow us a couple of minutes either side of this time for variations in the volume of traffic). Your Funeral Director will greet you at your door, and escort you and your family to the limousine(s). Once everyone is seated, the Funeral Director will walk the cortege away from the house before getting in to the hearse and travelling to the place of service.
If the service prior to cremation takes place in a church, on arrival, the Funeral Director will first go and speak with the minister, so please remain seated in the limousine at this point. The Funeral Director will then assist you out of the limousine when everything is ready.
The coffin will be taken in to the church and you will be asked to follow behind. Once inside the Funeral Director will guide you to your seats. At the end of the service, the coffin will be taken out of church and placed on to the hearse to go to the Crematorium. You will be asked to lead the mourners out of church, behind the coffin.
At the crematorium, the coffin is taken in to the chapel, and placed on the catafalque. Again, you will be invited to follow behind the coffin, and the Funeral Director will show you to your seats. After the service, the Funeral Director will lead you to the courtyard to look at the flowers. The main family flowers are usually placed on top of the coffin and will stay there until the chapel is empty at which point the Funeral Director will collect them and bring them to the terrace. If you wish your flowers to stay with the coffin for the please inform us.
Following the committal service at the crematorium, the limousine(s) will take you back to an address of your choice, or to a reception venue. Please advise us of the return destination prior to the day of the funeral to ensure our chauffeurs can be instructed accordingly.
Can you provide themed funerals?
Yes, we can offer many types of themed funerals. Please get in touch to see if we are able to provide exactly what you require. See also our popular football club themed funerals and jazz band funerals.
Do you offer international repatriation?
Yes, we can provide a repatriation service to any part of the world. Each country and airline has their own regulations so full advice, guidance and price can only be given upon application. Do check out our information on taking a deceased person home.
Can people donate to charities instead of giving flowers?
Yes, and we can arrange this for you. Read our page on In Memoriam donations.
Can you carry out exhumations?
We are able to provide a full exhumation service including liaising with all third parties including the cemetery and Environmental Health department. Exhumation services