J T Brookes & Co Funeral Directors

05/08/2026

We asked our conductors one quick question each. Not about the job. Just about them.

Because whoever walks in front of your loved one on that day isn’t just doing a job.

They’re showing up for you, as a person, not just a professional. And we think you should know who they are.

We are here. We are human. And we will make sure your loved one is looked after properly, right to the very end.

📞 Call us anytime
🌐 nedowning.co.uk

04/08/2026

The best goodbyes are often the most personal.

The memories, hobbies and passions that made someone who they were deserve to be remembered.

Please take a moment to watch this short film.

https://youtu.be/JDKRjvsCgII?si=mUwP1c1EcvwoQNq0

For one family, saying goodbye meant reflecting a life shaped by pa...

30/07/2026

A song can bring back a memory, tell a story or capture someone's personality in a way words sometimes cannot.

Please take a moment to watch this short film.

https://youtu.be/uVnlLu11ULo?si=KqLqvZjHPYYhGp4f

A life shaped by music deserved a farewell that reflected the man b...

28/07/2026

Funerals are not only about loss.

They are about remembrance, connection and celebrating a life lived.

Please take a moment to watch this short film.

https://youtu.be/30evn4svAxU?si=RLcSdaFFuBnQ1W0t

Ed Cullen shares his personal experience after losing his mother an...

27/07/2026

Can I leave a letter in the coffin with them?

Can my child put in their teddy?

Can they be buried or cremated in their jewellery?

Can I have a pink glittery coffin?

The answer to all of these is yes.

Yes to the letters. Yes to the teddies. Yes to the jewellery — whatever they wore, whatever mattered to them, it goes with them.

And no — the coffin does not have to be standard. If you have something in mind that feels more like them, tell us. We’ll do everything we can to make it happen.

There are no wrong questions when you come to us. The only ones we wish you’d asked are the ones you didn’t — because you assumed the answer was no.

It never is.

📞 Call us anytime
🌐 nedowning.co.uk

23/07/2026

There's no right or wrong way to say goodbye.

Every family deserves the opportunity to create a meaningful farewell.

Please take a moment to watch this short film.

https://youtu.be/pv3aNlMMe20?si=cXz-OI9_eO37WZ10

What does it mean for a funeral to be truly handled with care? This...

22/07/2026

The school holidays have arrived.
And if you’re grieving, that can feel terrifying.

The structure that got you through the last few months the school run, the packed lunches, the predictable rhythm of the week is gone.

Now it’s just you, them and all that time.

The questions will come.

Children grieve differently to adults. One minute they seem completely fine playing, laughing, asking for a snack.

The next minute they ask you something that stops you in your tracks.

“Where did they go?”
“Will you die too?”
“Why are you crying again?”

You don’t have to have the perfect answer. You just have to be honest.
“I don’t know” is a valid answer. “I’m sad because I miss them” is a valid answer.
You don’t have to protect them from the truth. Talking about the person who died is not harmful.

In fact, it helps

Say their name. Look at photos together. Tell stories. Let your children see that it’s okay to feel sad and okay to laugh at a memory in the same breath.

Grief isn’t something to be hidden from children.
It’s something to be shown gently and honestly at their level.

A little routine goes a long way.

You don’t need to fill every day. But a loose shape to the week a regular breakfast, a walk or something to look forward to gives children a sense of safety when everything else feels uncertain.

Small anchors matter more than you think.
And the most important thing.

Looking after yourself is not selfish.

Your children need you to be okay. That means you are allowed to ask for help. You are allowed to have bad days. You are allowed to tell someone you’re not coping. If you’re parenting through grief this summer you are doing better than you think.

And you don’t have to do it alone.

We are here for you when you need it most 🤍

nedowning.co.uk

21/07/2026

Planning ahead isn't about endings.

It's about making sure your wishes are understood, respected and carried out with care.

Please take a moment to watch this short film.

https://youtu.be/pv3aNlMMe20?si=cXz-OI9_eO37WZ10

What does it mean for a funeral to be truly handled with care? This...

20/07/2026

Important notice for anyone visiting J.T. Brookes & Co. in Hagley. 🚧

Roadworks begin in Hagley village on Monday 20th July and are expected to run for approximately 4 to 6 weeks.

During this time, access to the village will be one way, from the Kidderminster Road end only. There is no access from the Station Road, Park Road, or Worcester Road junction.

If you’re travelling from Dudley, Halesowen, or Bromsgrove, take the Kidderminster Road from the Cala Island and turn right into Hagley.

Street parking remains available where works are not being carried out, and the main community car park is accessible.

We are open as normal throughout, and we know that getting to us might feel like one more thing to navigate at an already difficult time.

If the roadworks make it difficult for you to come to us, we will come to you.

Please don’t let a road closure be the reason you don’t reach out.

📞 Call us anytime, we’re happy to arrange a home visit
01562 888041

🌐 nedowning.co.uk

20/07/2026

Nobody chooses a direct cremation to hurt their family 💔

They choose it because they love them. They don’t want a fuss. They don’t want to leave a bill behind. They want to make things as easy as possible.

But sometimes what felt like the kindest decision becomes the hardest thing their family has to live with.

The collection abruptly after their passing.
No chance to sit with your loved one, or provide clothing, trinkets etc for the coffin.
The phone call that says it’s done.
No moment to be there.
No chance to say goodbye.

We see this. Regularly.

Families who respected their loved one’s wishes and quietly fell apart when they understood what that meant in practice.

William Downing talks about this because we believe families deserve better, even within a simple, low-cost service.

Our simple cremation option keeps things straightforward. No large funeral, no lengthy service. But your family can be at the crematorium. Twenty minutes. Together. A moment to say goodbye before their loved one is committed.

Same simplicity your loved one had chosen. A completely different experience.

If someone you love has chosen a direct cremation, or if you’re considering one yourself, please talk to us first.

There is no pressure and no obligation. Just an honest conversation so everyone understands what they’re choosing.

Call us anytime
nedowning.co.uk