Why we do it!

Whenever I tell anyone what I do, one of the first questions they ask is 'how can you do a job like that? Well, there are loads of reasons to be honest and I'll share some of my thoughts and the thoughts of the rest of the team at Armstrongs on here in time, but I have to say my first answer every time is 'the thank you letters'.

I can't think of any other profession where you receive letters like we do on such a regular basis. It's an honor to be able to help people through one of the hardest times in their lives and while it's not always easy for us too, the letters and cards make it all worthwhile.

Here are a few snippets......


Dear Armstrongs,

A big thank-you to all the team for arranging my late aunts funeral. I couldn't have received better service in an age when courtesy and commitment seem to have gone out of the window. It was something I've dreaded happening but you steered the whole thing through from start to finish with the utmost professionalism. My aunt especially had asked that you did her funeral and she was a very particular person born of an era when standards were expected to be high. I'm delighted to say that you more than fulfilled this.

It was a day when I didn't need anything to go wrong, as although 90 years of age, it was still very sad for us that she had gone. So well done the whole team.

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Your men are a credit to your business and your business and yourself are a credit to the trade.

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When my father came into your care I felt that both him and the family were treated as though we were your own family. It was very comforting and I thank you for that.

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Every aspect of the funeral was handled with impeccable taste and dignity and you really deliver your ‘caring and personal service'.

A worrying time for the independents?

Dignity profits up 17%

Dignity has reported a 17% jump in first-half, pre-tax profits to £21.1 million, excluding the sale of fixed assets worth £10 million. Revenue for the first six months of the year rose 12% to £90.6 million, boosted by the acquisition of nine funeral homes and a crematorium.

The group, which owns 548 funeral homes and 23 crematoria in Britain including L Fulcher and F Clutterhams in Bury St Edmunds said it is looking for opportunities to buy up smaller rivals in what remains a fragmented sector.


Armstrongs are the only independent family firm left in Bury St Edmunds!

Coming soon

Just to let you know we will be adding articles, pictures and interviews with the staff of West Suffolk Crematorium and also Bury cemetery soon. We also hope to add news from local charities and churches too.

The role of the coroner

The Coroner (Procurator Fiscal in Scotland)

The main duties of the Coroner are to investigate all sudden and unexpected deaths and also to give permission to remove a deceased person out of England and Wales if this is necessary.

Once a death has been reported to the Coroner he/she will decide what action is necessary following initial investigations of the facts surrounding the death by his/her officers. This may include a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death.

The Coroner will arrange the task of transferring the deceased to the local hospital, which is often done under contract using one of the big national or multi-national companies. This does not oblige the family in any way to use the services of that company. The family still have the flexibility to select whichever funeral director they require without incurring any extra cost.

In the case of unnatural, unexplained, violent, or workplace deaths the Coroner will hold an inquest after a post-mortem. This will be open to the public and is to ascertain who the deceased was, how, when and where they died and the particulars legally needed to register the death. Often an inquest can be opened and adjourned to allow the funeral to take place.

Further details on the roles and responsibilities of the Coroner are available in a pamphlet published by the Home Office entitled 'The work of the Coroner', a copy of which can be obtained from us.

Funeral News

Funeral directors in Weston, Somerset are warning clients that funerals and wakes in the area are being gatecrashed by people who claim to know the deceased, then help themselves to a 'free feed'.

What a way to go!!

Some traditional and not so traditional hearses!

All of these are UK based and can be used by
Armstrongs as part of the cortege

Funeral News

A report by Barclay's has found that Norwich is the 'region's funeral parlour capital'. The bank prepared a trading map of small businesses which showed the highest and lowest concentrations of types of business. One funeral director in the area commented that '....the abundance of funeral parlours in Norwich did not mean more people were dying in the city, but reflects the rural nature of the surrounding county'.

Ways to personalise a funeral

While we are involved with funerals on a daily basis, we never forget that completing all the arrangements of a funeral service is a task most families face only a few times. Our intention is to help make every service personal and meaningful, and truly reflective of the life that was lived.

While there are many different ways to personalise the service, here are some ideas and ways in which we can help:

Write a letter to the person who has passed away and express all of the feelings you ever wanted to say, but were afraid to or just never got around to expressing. Seal the letter in an envelope for us to place in the coffin. Your written thoughts will go with your loved one to his or her final resting-place.

Bring in the favourite song of the person who has passed away on compact disc or cassette to be played as part of the funeral service.

Flowers can be handed out to be placed on the coffin at the graveside after the service or at the church or crematorium before.

If your loved one had a hobby of building things or was involved in the arts, crafts or photography, bring some of their works in to be displayed at the funeral. We can even take quilt work and drape it over the coffin for example.

Balloons can be released after the service. Everyone can be given one and some brief words can be said before releasing them in the air.

Bring in photographs spanning the life of the person who has passed away and we will incorporate them into a memory board to be present at the funeral service. These can be photos with family, friends at work, fishing, golfing, knitting, baking, serious and comical.

If you have favourite scripture readings, let the minister know what they are and see if they they can be incorporated into the service.

The person who has passed away has likely touched the lives of many people. For those who knew the deceased, it is often viewed as quite an honor to be asked to speak at the funeral. The speaker need not have a professionally written eulogy but rather may write something personal or select a favorite poem or scripture verse.

If your loved one composed poetry or essays, let us have a copy, they could be recited as a part of the remembering ritual of the funeral.

Place cherished items in the coffin like pictures of the grandchildren and other family members, a photo of the family pet, a well worn cap, or a religious item. We are happy to advise on items which will be suitable.

If a husband always drove his wife everywhere or a wife drove her husband everywhere, consider having the spouse ride in the hearse with our staff member. It is a very personal way of accompanying your loved one to their final resting-place.

Consider a favourite place your loved one liked to go, like their favourite park, or a favourite restaurant, or maybe they were happiest at home. We can arrange to have the procession pass by this favourite place.

Hi there and welcome

This is our first post on what we believe to be the first "true" blog by a funeral service in the UK.

The idea behind our blog is to give members of the public funeral related news, interviews, articles, advice and helpful information.

Some of this will be news and stories about Armstrongs, some will be helpful information for those in need and some will be about the funeral service and funeral directors in general.

We hope you will find this blog both helpful and informative and that it will help to demystify our profession, giving you an insight into what goes on "behind the closed doors"

If you have any ideas for this site then please contact us and we will try to help.

For our company website please visit :-

www.funeralhelp.co.uk

Nick Armstrong M.B.I.E
Proprietor