Suffolk funeral director Nikki Markham keeps three snakes at home, including a royal python named Voldemort, and hopes to one day add a 20ft python to her collection. While her husband steers clear of the snake room, Nikki says the reptiles are calm, sensitive and sometimes even meet funeral home clients. Click the title of this article to find out more.
Matthew Uden, MD of W Uden & Sons, has launched The W Uden & Sons Podcast to share unspoken truths, challenges and values in the funeral profession. The show invites open discussion on care, standards and the realities of funeral work, aiming to spark bigger, more honest conversations. Click the title of this article to find out more.
Melvin Rowlands Funeral Services in Llangefni has added a new graphite grey Mercedes-Benz Superior Vito removal vehicle to its fleet. The bespoke Rise & Fall deck and discreet interior are designed to enhance service quality, dignity and professionalism across the firm’s operations. Click the title of this article to find out more.
Tiddles, a beloved tabby at St Mary the Virgin Church in Fairford, served as both a companion to parishioners and a skilled church mouser from 1963 to 1980. Her legacy lived on through a memorial stone and another cat, ‘Tiddles 2’, who was equally cherished by the community. Click the title of this article to find out more.
Marian Millington moved from financial services into the bereavement sector, building a career focused on raising standards and improving service delivery. Her work has spanned crematoria management, consultancy, and a term as ICCM president. Click the title of this article to find out more.
East Midlands funeral firm AW Lymn has joined forces with Archway Learning Trust to pilot Healing Hearts, a bereavement education programme for schoolchildren. The scheme, the first of its kind in the UK, aims to give pupils age-appropriate tools to understand and talk about grief. Click the title of this article to find out more.
Family-run Sandy Close Funeral Services in Belfast has joined Funeral Partners, marking the group’s continued expansion in Northern Ireland. Founder Sandy Close praised the move for relieving the pressures of independent ownership while preserving the business’s legacy and community ties. Click the title of this article to find out more.
Jade Wilcox, MD of Wilcox Limousines, is leading one of the UK’s oldest funeral vehicle manufacturers into a new era of innovation, compassion, and precision. With a background in funeral directing and nursing, she brings deep understanding and bold leadership to a family legacy built on care and craftsmanship. Click the title of this article to find out more.
Funeral director Susan Whymark began learning British Sign Language to make her services more inclusive after realising a grieving family member was deaf. “I think it’s so important to be inclusive… the Deaf community really appreciate any effort to communicate,” she says. Click the title of this article to find out more.
Pre-need plans are no longer a simple sale, they’re a regulated commitment with financial, operational and reputational consequences. Funeral directors must now balance trust, compliance and long-term sustainability. Click the title of this article to find out more.