Graham Ward Funeral Service

13/10/2026

Please see below details for this lovely service at Gedling Crematorium 🕯️

🎄✨ Christmas Carol & Memorial Service ✨🎄

We are proud to announce this years dates of our Christmas Carol & Memorial Services at Gedling Crematorium

📅 Tuesday 1st December at 6pm
📅 Tuesday 8th December at 6pm

Our immersive SuperVenue chapel will be brought to life with beautiful Christmas wall canvases, lighting and sound, creating a warm and peaceful space to remember loved ones this festive season.

✨ During the service, you can:
🎶 Enjoy a live singer performing Christmas music
🕊️ See a digital photo of your loved one displayed on our canvas wall as a special photo tribute
💌 Leave a personal message on our Christmas tree
🎄 Write a Christmas card to your loved one and post it in our memorial post-box

Light refreshments will also be provided.

📸 Photo tributes: Please email a digital photo of your loved one to [email protected] by 13th November.

📞 Booking: To reserve your place, please call 01159 675230 or email [email protected].

We hope you can join us for a comforting and meaningful time of remembrance this Christmas. 🕯️❤️

12/10/2026

❤️ A Simple Farewell, With the Reassurance of Local Care.

Recent headlines surrounding national direct cremation providers have highlighted just how important it is for families to know where and by whom their loved ones are being cared for.

At Graham Ward Funeral Service, we believe that choosing a direct cremation should never mean compromising on the quality of care, dignity or personal attention your loved one deserves.

As an independent, family-run funeral director, we are proud to offer families in Hucknall and the surrounding areas a genuinely local alternative, with our own facilities, experienced staff and a familiar, compassionate team supporting you every step of the way.

From the simplest unattended cremation to a fully personalised traditional funeral, our commitment remains exactly the same. Every loved one entrusted to us is treated with the utmost dignity, respect and compassion.

We are proud to be part of our local community, providing a personal service built on trust, care and traditional family values.

Choosing a local funeral director means supporting a business rooted in your community, where personal service and genuine care still matter.

03/09/2026

A lovely review received from a family we helped recently. We are truly grateful for all feedback ♥️

18/08/2026

💙MEET THE TEAM💙

Craig is our Funeral Service Operative and Trainee Funeral Director.

After leaving school in 2007, Craig joined the Army. He soon realised that military life wasn’t the path he wanted to follow and, after a short time working in warehousing, found his true calling in the care sector.

Craig spent several years supporting adults with acquired brain injuries before going on to work for the East Midlands Ambulance Service and the Accident & Emergency Department at King’s Mill Hospital. He then joined our team in 2022.

Within our business, Craig is often out and about driving on funerals, bringing loved ones into our care from their homes or hospitals, and ensuring our fleet of vehicles is always presented to the highest standard. He’s also always happy to answer questions, support families in any way he can, and, if you’re lucky, make you one of his famous cups of tea!

Craig is regularly praised by the families we care for for his compassion, kindness and calming nature, helping people feel comfortable and supported during some of life’s most difficult moments.

Outside of work, Craig enjoys spending quality time with his wife Kelly and their children, walking the dogs, exploring the countryside, and looking after and breeding canaries.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Craig as part of our team. His dedication, empathy and commitment to learning make him a valued colleague, and we have no doubt that, with his continued training, he will become an outstanding Funeral Director in the years to come. 💙

05/08/2026

💙MEET THE TEAM💙

Chris joined the Funeral profession in 2014 as a Funeral Operative. During this time he gained accreditation in Care, Preparation and Funeral Directing learning all aspects of the funeral profession. It wasn't long before Chris Started to arrange and conduct funerals, allowing him to be able to see funerals through from start to finish.

Chris prides himself on taking care of each family with compassion, empathy and he gives each client time, support and the dedication they deserve to make sure each funeral he arranges is truly personal.

Chris joined us in September 2023 as a Funeral Director and he is a great asset to our team. You will find Chris either with families helping them to arrange a final goodbye for their loved one, arranging pre-paid funeral plans or cleaning and helping with maintaining and restoring all of our equipment to make sure they are kept in good working order.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time on the golf course or with his partner of 21 years Lindsey and their 3 daughters, Molly, Martha and Birdie. He is a true family man and this shines through when dealing with the families that entrust their loved ones into our care.

Chris is a truly valued member of our team and we are proud of his unwavering support to all the families he looks after, his commitment, empathy and dedication doesn't go unnoticed.

03/08/2026

In light of recent news surrounding the funeral profession, we understand that many people may be feeling concerned or uncertain.

We would like to reassure our families and our local community that, when you entrust your loved one into our care, they are treated with the utmost dignity, respect and compassion at all times.

As an independent, family run funeral directors, we are committed to the very highest standards of care. Every person who comes into our care remains with us until the day of their funeral, in our purpose-built, temperature-controlled facilities. We have robust procedures in place, and every aspect of the care we provide is carried out with professionalism, integrity and respect.

We are proud members of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) and the British Institute of Funeral Directors (BIFD), and we fully support the ongoing regulation and high standards within our profession.

We appreciate that recent events may have raised questions, and we want every family to know that our door is always open. If you have any concerns or would simply like to talk about the care we provide, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Caring for your loved ones is not just our profession, it is a responsibility and privilege that we never take for granted ♥️.

31/07/2026

♥️MEET THE TEAM♥️

Anne joined our team as a Funeral Director in June 2012. Before joining us, she had built a varied career across several sectors, most recently working in the care profession in the Mansfield area. Having always found fulfilment in caring for others, Anne felt drawn to the funeral profession and volunteered her time with us to gain experience and discover if it was the right path for her.

It didn’t take long for both Anne and the rest of the team to realise she had found her calling. Her kindness, empathy and naturally caring personality shone through from the very beginning, and she soon became a full-time member of our team.

Anne is dedicated to ensuring every family she supports is treated with the utmost dignity, respect and compassion. She understands that every family is unique and takes great pride in providing reassurance, guidance and personalised care during one of life’s most difficult times.

Outside of work, Anne enjoys spending quality time with her husband, her grown-up children and her much-loved grandchildren. She also loves relaxing at her holiday home by the coast and catching up with friends.

Anne is a truly valued member of our team, and we are incredibly proud of her unwavering compassion, professionalism and commitment to the families we have the privilege of caring for.

26/07/2026

💙MEET THE TEAM💙

Will first joined our team in 2014 at just 16 years old, volunteering with us one day a week while he was still at college. Having always been interested in the funeral profession, he wanted to experience the role first-hand and discover whether it was the right career for him.

It quickly became clear that Will had found his calling. His natural compassion, kindness and caring nature shone through from the very beginning, and in 2015 we were delighted to enrol him on a Funeral Operations and Services apprenticeship. During this time, he achieved both his Certificate in Funeral Operations and Services and his Certificate in Principles of Funeral Operations and Services.

Will continued to develop within the business, and in January 2017, at just 19 years old, he conducted his very first funeral – a milestone that marked the beginning of a career dedicated to supporting families with professionalism, dignity and genuine compassion.

In 2022, Will was promoted to Manager, where he now oversees the day-to-day running of Ivan Bramley Funeral Directors, G. Gilbert Funeral Service and Graham Ward Funeral Service. Alongside managing our three businesses, Will personally supports hundreds of families each year, caring for people of all faiths and beliefs. He is particularly recognised for delivering a truly personal, bespoke service, ensuring every family receives the time, care and attention they deserve.

Outside of work, Will enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Faye, their two sons, Henry and Oliver, and their two dogs, Max and Barney. Whether it’s family holidays abroad or long walks with the dogs, family time is what he values most.

We are incredibly proud to have watched Will grow from a young volunteer into an exceptional funeral director and manager. His dedication, empathy and commitment to the families we serve make him an invaluable member of our team.

22/07/2026

♥️ MEET THE TEAM ♥️

Gemma is the owner of Ivan Bramley Funeral Directors in Mansfield, G. Gilbert Funeral Service in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and Graham Ward Funeral Service in Hucknall.

Gemma grew up around the funeral profession, as her father, Russ Gregory worked for Ivan Bramley from being 14 years old and her grandfather Ron Gregory was the onsite mechanic. Following Ivan’s passing, Russ took over the business. From a young age, she became familiar with the care, compassion, and the dedication required to support families at their most difficult times.

After working alongside her father for several years, Gemma decided to establish her own business in 2011, purchasing Annesley & District Funeral Service in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, making her the youngest female in the sector at the time to own and run a funeral home. Through her commitment to high standards of service and personal care, she built a strong reputation within the local community. In 2017, the business was renamed G. Gilbert Funeral Service, reflecting Gemma’s own name and continued personal involvement.

Following the sudden and unexpected loss of her father in 2017, Gemma took over the running of Ivan Bramley Funeral Directors. She has continued to uphold the long-established values and standards that families in Mansfield have trusted for decades.

Gemma later worked closely alongside respected Hucknall funeral director Graham Ward, regularly providing support with both vehicles and staff. When Graham retired in 2022, Gemma proudly acquired the business, retaining the trusted name of Graham Ward Funeral Service. This ensured continuity of care for families in Hucknall and the surrounding areas, while preserving the compassion, values, and personal approach that Graham had established throughout his years of dedicated service.

Gemma is fully qualified in funeral directing and holds the following recognised qualifications:

· Dip FAA
· Dip FD

These qualifications were achieved through the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), with whom Gemma and her businesses are registered. She is also a Licensed Funeral Director through the British Institute of Funeral Directors, reinforcing her and her businesses’ commitment to professionalism, integrity, and the highest standards of care.

Gemma is involved in the day to day running of each premises and wears many hats, she still arranges and conducts funerals, deals with pre paid funeral planning, payroll and is usually found zooming round with a hoover and duster in hand.

Outside of work, Gemma enjoys spending time with her family and friends, travelling abroad, and discovering new places. She is continuously updating her knowledge and is usually the friendly voice on the other side of the phone for all out of hour’s calls.

21/06/2026

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads who are no longer with us today. Thinking especially of everyone who is missing their dad or carrying the weight of grief today. You are in our thoughts. ♥️