About Simple Kent Funerals
I didn’t plan to become a funeral director but - as is often the case in life - a series of events led me down this path.
The first was when a dear and close friend called Giles died unexpectedly and suddenly.
Giles’s wife Harriet asked my wife Mags and I to help her. It was my job was to find a suitable funeral director. Giles was a big character and would not have wanted a run-of-the-mill funeral (a point Harriet made very clearly). I travelled widely across Kent visiting quite a number of funeral directors who were friendly and helpful... but each offered similar services - which were not really what Harriet was looking for. They were a bit old-fashioned and formulaic. To cut a long story short we successfully ended up making the majority of the arrangements ourselves, giving Giles the send-off he deserved and would have approved of.
It was around this time I was made redundant from by job in London and, having experienced for myself the similarity of funeral services on offer and having done more research across Kent, I decided to start my own funeral service, Simple Kent Funerals, to offer something different and more personal.
Funerals are about family
Going back in time, families were at the very heart of organising a funeral. The local carpenter would be asked to make the coffin, the wake would be at home and family and friends would come round and share memories and a drink or two, often with an open coffin. The coffin would then be sealed before being carried into the church or chapel by family and friends for a service before burial.
Obviously times have changed - but it’s as important now as it ever was that families should still be at the heart of things. Such a key part of my role - is to listen carefully and understand what’s important to each family, assume nothing, reassure them that there is no right or wrong way to do things – and by doing that I’m giving them (for want of another expression) – permission - to consider what’s really going to be the most meaningful and natural way for them to say goodbye to their loved one - such an important family affair. I believe that which funeral director you choose to help you will, to a great extent, determine how you, your family and friends will experience a funeral.
I started Simple Kent Funerals in 2018. If you’d told me when I was younger that I’d end up being a funeral director I would not have believed you! But, this is without doubt the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done. Thank you for reading my story, please get in touch if you have any questions about the service.
I am a member of the Association of Green Funeral Directors (AGFD) whose objectives are to help members of the public find funeral directors in their area which are willing to provide greener options in the funerals they carry out - and to encourage funeral directors to become more green-minded in all aspects of their work and help bring natural funerals into the mainstream.
I was an early signatory to The Fair Funerals Pledge, a voluntary initiative by Quaker Social Action to combat funeral poverty by encouraging funeral directors to be transparent, honest, and fair with their pricing. All prices are easily available on my website, I discuss affordable funeral options, I am clear about 3rd party costs such as cremation fees, coffin costs etc. and make no mark-up on these.
As a full-service funeral director business, we hold professional public and products liability insurance through Deeside Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Contact Simple Kent Funerals
Please get in touch if you have any questions.
Toby is just a phone call away. 07806 613 297
Alternatively, please message via the form below.
