James Hawes & Goodchild Funeral Directors

09/10/2026

The team at Andrew Grey Funeral Directors were proud to welcome more than 55 people to our Macmillan Coffee Morning at The Burn Inn, Houghton-le-Spring, raising an incredible £750 for Macmillan Cancer Support through coffee, cakes, raffles and community spirit.

For the team, the most rewarding aspect was seeing so many people come together for a worthy cause, while giving something back to a charity that means so much to many of the families they support.

A big thank you to everyone who attended, donated and supported the event.

08/10/2026

Celebrating Jack's 90th Birthday & Retirement

Earlier this month, on 2nd October, Jack celebrated his 90th birthday, marking an incredible milestone in what has been a truly remarkable life and career.

After an astonishing 68 years in the funeral profession, beginning in 1958 and joining the Walker & Morrell family in 2002, Jack has now retired. Throughout his career, he has supported countless families with compassion, professionalism and kindness, making a lasting difference to the communities he served.

We would all like to thank Jack for his years of dedicated service, friendship and commitment. His contribution to both the profession and local communities has been invaluable, and his presence will be greatly missed.

06/10/2026

Frank Dooley & Son Funeral Directors were delighted to host a Breast Cancer Now Afternoon Tea on Sunday 13 September 2026, bringing members of the local community together in support of a cause close to many hearts.

Organised by Fiona Holding (formerly Fiona Dooley), the event featured live entertainment and Reiki sessions kindly provided by Kathryn Teale, creating a welcoming and enjoyable afternoon for all.

Thanks to the generosity of our attendees and supporters, approximately £700 was raised for Breast Cancer Now.

Thank you to everyone who joined the team and helped make the event such a success.

05/10/2026

This Black History Month, James Hawes & Goodchild Funeral Directors celebrates the rich Black heritage of Hackney. 🖤
From the Windrush generation to the families, businesses, artists and community leaders shaping Hackney today, we honour their stories, achievements and lasting contributions.
We’re proud to serve a diverse community where every life has a story worth remembering.
What person, place or memory represents Hackney’s Black heritage to you? Share your story below.

01/10/2026

Congratulations to Molly Dowling, Funeral Director at Douglas Mercer & Son Funeral Directors, on achieving her NAFD Higher Diploma in Funeral Directing.

Molly is pictured with Richard Van Nes, Director of Central Operations at Funeral Partners, at the recent NAFD Conference, where her achievement was recognised.

The Higher Diploma represents a significant commitment to professional development and excellence in funeral service. Well done, Molly, on this fantastic accomplishment and dedication to supporting families with the highest standards of care.

&SonFuneralDirectors

01/10/2026

🖤 Celebrating Black History Month 🖤
This Black History Month, we are proud to stand with our community in Hackney in recognising and celebrating the history, culture, achievements and contributions of Black people in Britain and around the world.
As funeral directors, we have the privilege of supporting families from many different cultures, faiths and traditions. We understand how important it is that every person is remembered in a way that reflects their life, heritage and beliefs.
Throughout Black History Month, we celebrate the generations who came before us, honour those we have lost, and recognise the people who continue to enrich and strengthen our community today.
Remembering the past. Celebrating the present. Inspiring the future.

30/09/2026

☕🍰 Let’s make talking about death a little easier.
St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney is hosting a Death Café—a welcoming space to talk openly about death, dying and loss over tea and cake. Everyone is welcome, with no pressure to speak.
📅 Wednesday 7 October 2026, 2pm–3.30pm 📍 Garden Room, St Joseph’s Hospice, Mare Street, E8 4SA
No booking needed—please arrive for the start. Come along, listen and connect. 💜

21/09/2026

Our team at Howard’s Funeral Directors in Southport and Ainsdale ran a fundraising car wash to support Queenscourt Hospice.

The event brought together colleagues, family, friends and local supporters, all helping to raise funds for a hospice that provides invaluable care and support to people living with serious illnesses across West Lancashire, Southport and Formby.

The team worked incredibly hard the entire day and managed to raise an impressive £626.94 for the hospice.

Thank everyone who attended, donated and helped make the event a success. Your generosity will help Queenscourt Hospice continue providing compassionate care to those who need it most.

19/09/2026

We have the priviege of looking after The Late Tyrone Herod

Tyrone was an accomplished British kickboxing and Muay Thai champion who made a lasting impact on the UK combat-sports community.

Career Highlights and Legacy
British Champion: Herod was recognized as an ISKA British Champion during his career, establishing himself as one of the leading fighters of his generation.

Elite Competition: Competing at heavyweight, Herod faced some of the biggest names in the sport. He appeared on major international platforms, including K-1, where he fought British kickboxing legend GaryTurner at K-1: Global Heat 2000.

A Pioneer of British Kickboxing: Herod belonged to an earlier generation of British full-contact kickboxing and Muay Thai fighters who helped establish and popularize the sport.

Tyrone was also a former Firefighter for the London Fire Service

R.I.P. Champ🥊🚒

18/09/2026

Our very own Deana 'pocket rocket' Bicette went and watched our Tony 'Gimli' Harms get punched in the face and thought, 'that's a bit of me'

Sooooooooo,

On Saturday 21st November 2026, Deana will be taking on a UWCB (Ultra White Collar Boxing) charity boxing match — all to raise money for PAPYRUS, supporting young people’s mental health and helping prevent young su***de. 💛

This is something that means a lot to me, and I’m aiming to raise £200 for this amazing cause. 🙏

Every donation, no matter how big or small, will help make a difference. ❤️

💥 PLEASE SPONSOR ME & HELP ME REACH MY £200 TARGET! 💥

🔗 Donate here:
https://givestar.io/gs/1axjb5t

You can also scan the QR code on my poster to donate! 📲

I’d absolutely love your support — whether that’s through a donation, sharing this post, or simply cheering me on from the sidelines! 🥊❤️

Together, we can change lives. 💛

🥊💛

I'm stepping into the ring for a fantastic cause! I'm taking part in Ultra White Collar Boxing in Romford to raise money for Papyrus Prevention Of Young...

18/09/2026

We had the honour of carrying out the funeral for a wonderful young man by the name of Bradley Barnett. Bradley's mum Mandy, is taking part in the Mental Health UK 20k GLOW Walk London on the 10th October in Bradley's memory. If you can, please follow the link and sponsor Mandy for this worthy charity.

I am joining Mental Health UK’s 20k night walk GLOW, and am fundraising to help change lives of people with poor mental health. Could you support and make a small donation? Click the link here: https://fundraising.mentalhealth-uk.org/fundraisers/MandyBarnettourBrad

17/09/2026

Bill and Toni from Bexley and Dartford Funeral Service recently took part in the Hunt the Bears trail across Dartford and Bluewater, enjoying the incredible creativity on display from local artists, schools and community groups.

They also visited ellenor Hospice to donate prizes for their bingo evenings and were given a tour of the hospice. It was an inspiring visit, offering a valuable insight into the compassionate care and support the team provides to local families.

A big thank you to everyone at ellenor for the warm welcome and the amazing work you do

14/09/2026

We are hiring

James Hawes & Goodchild Funeral Directors are looking for a calm, compassionate individual to join our team in London as a Casual Funeral Service Operative.

As a vital member of our team, you’ll play an active role behind the scenes and help bring people’s loved ones into our care. You’ll also participate in funeral services, ensuring everything goes smoothly and our families have the best possible experience.

In return you’ll receive a competitive salary of £14.79 per hour. Our shifts are flexible, and can work around other commitments.

To find out more about this role and apply, please click: https://funeralpartners.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/4317531?cid=3318

07/09/2026

❤️ Hearts Together ❤️

Sometimes, the smallest gestures can bring the greatest comfort.

We are pleased to offer Hearts Together at our funeral homes — a pair of lovingly knitted hearts created to provide a special connection between families and their loved ones.

When visiting the Chapel of Rest, families can choose to place one heart with their loved one and keep the matching heart themselves.

Two hearts. One stays with them. One stays with you.
Forever connected at heart. ❤️

There is no charge for our Hearts Together. They are simply a small gesture of comfort and remembrance from us to the families we are privileged to care for.

A massive thank you to Crochet By Becks for her expertise in making these for us.

28/08/2026

James D***s Funeral Service is celebrating their 65th anniversary this year. They are proud to continue to provide the highest levels of care to families and service to their community, maintaining the reputation we have helped to build up over the years and for many more to come.

26/08/2026

A lovely review was recently left for Bev, Nicki and the team at Merstow Green Funeral Home, Evesham.

A heartfelt thank you to the team for going above and beyond and showing such dedication and compassion, helping to make a difficult time a little easier for the family.

24/08/2026

To have your say about what you want at your funeral, be it classic or quirky, record your personal wishes with a Choice Funeral Plan.

All the choices are yours... including the music and now you can Save £200 on all Choice Funeral Plans until 8th November 2026. Quote SAVE200

If you’d like to find out more, pop into branch for a chat or visit our website here: https://www.hawes-goodchild.co.uk/prepaid-plans/

24/08/2026

We're delighted to congratulate Louise Jarrett, Funeral Director at Woking Funeral Service, on successfully completing her Funeral Director Level 3 Apprenticeship with Distinction.

Achieving the highest possible grade is a testament to Louise's hard work, dedication and commitment to providing exceptional care and support to the families she serves.

This fantastic achievement reflects both Louise's professionalism and her passion for continuous learning and development within the funeral profession.

Congratulations, Louise, on this well-deserved success. 👏

21/08/2026

We're delighted to share that Sacred Heart Church, Kilburn, received funding through Cycle one of the John Nodes Funeral Service Community Fund to support their fantastic foodbank project.

The cheque was presented during Sunday Mass in front of the congregation, providing a wonderful opportunity to recognise the vital work the church and its volunteers do to support local individuals and families.

We're proud to support initiatives that make a real difference in their communities and would like to thank everyone at Sacred Heart Church for their ongoing dedication and commitment.

Applications for our final Community Fund cycle have now closed, and we'll be announcing the successful recipients soon, so keep an eye on our page for updates.

20/08/2026

We are hiring

James Hawes & Goodchild Funeral Directors are looking for a calm, compassionate individual to join our team in London as a Casual Funeral Service Operative.

As a vital member of our team, you’ll play an active role behind the scenes and help bring people’s loved ones into our care. You’ll also participate in funeral services, ensuring everything goes smoothly and our families have the best possible experience.

In return you’ll receive a competitive salary of £14.79 per hour. Our shifts are flexible, and can work around other commitments.

To find out more about this role and apply, please click: https://funeralpartners.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/4285747?cid=3318