Meet the people who will look after you

I was fourteen when my older sister started training as an embalmer, and her experiences sparked my interest in the funeral profession. At twenty I wrote to nearly twenty firms before I was offered a position as a casual driver and bearer.

After several years of casual work I left for construction, because I needed a steady income. I returned to the profession as a funeral operative with another independent family funeral director, learned my mortuary and clerical skills there, and went on to become a Funeral Director.

I wanted to establish an independent family funeral directors that offered a personal service, compassionate care and affordable funeral options. I opened Fulwell in 2017 and Grindon in 2020.

The part of the job I value most is the care that families never see. I take time to prepare each person so that they look peaceful and rested when their family comes to visit.

Away from work, I walk the Roker, Seaburn and Whitburn coastline most days. My favourite artist is Elvis Presley, and I have been to Graceland to visit his grave. My favourite place is Orlando, and my favourite food is Chinese.

After more than twenty years working as a hair and makeup artist, I decided to retrain and enter the funeral profession in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. My experience in hair and makeup helps me provide thoughtful, personal care to those entrusted to us.

I particularly enjoy the practical and caring sides of funeral directing and mortuary work. It is a privilege to support families and guide them, with compassion and dignity, through one of the hardest times in life.

Outside work I am happiest outdoors, hiking, camping or paddleboarding, and I escape into nature whenever I can. I am an avid reader and a huge fan of rock and heavy music. At home, life revolves around my family, my beagle, my snake and my bearded dragon.

After school I joined the Army as a tank crewman, mainly driving a Chieftain. I served in West Germany and later in West Berlin, before the Wall came down.

I then worked in the Civil Service until 2015, when Gavin introduced me to the funeral profession. He was working for a local funeral director at the time, and I worked with him until he started his own firm, helping out in those early days.

Over the years I worked for a number of funeral directors, before the chance came to join Gavin full time.

Being part of a small team means we can give families personal attention when they need it most. The gratitude expressed by families reinforces the importance of providing a personal, compassionate service at every stage.