Spreading Christmas cheer
On 6th December Wendy Tolley, Dave Evans and Katie Freeman from the Roy Quinton Funeral Directors in Walsall delivered selection boxes to Walsall Manor Hospital to be distributed to all the children on the ward over Christmas.
Thank you to everyone in the local community who contributed to the funeral homes annual appeal.
Defibrillator donation supports sporty children
Children taking part in a popular weekly run in County Durham will have the back-up of a special child-sized defibrillator, thanks to local business Walker & Morrell Funeral Directors.
The Riverside junior parkrun appealed for donations to replace their borrowed adult defibrillator and Funeral Director Martin Morrell stepped up to cover the cost.
Martin said: “Running can be a strenuous activity for children and when many of them gather to take part in exercise, it’s only right they have the correct first aid equipment.
“Adult defibrillators must be applied differently to children under eight years’ old, which can cause confusion and increase the risk of errors.”
Martin paid £750 for the defibrillator, which replaces the one borrowed from the adult Riverside parkrun.
The Riverside junior parkrun sees over 100 children and parents run 2 km across Riverside Park in Chester-Le-Street every Sunday morning, often including Martin and his family.
Martin said: “My wife and I regularly take our kids and because it’s run by volunteers it’s all self-funded.
“We knew if we didn’t step in, getting a new defibrillator wouldn’t be easy for the organisation.”
The gift of giving
Throughout December Funeral Arranger Helen Carr organised a whole host of community spirited activity for local causes.
Assisted by her colleagues at Firmager Funeral Service Helen supplied biscuits to the fifty members of the Marsh Companions which were delivered to their Christmas party by the team dressed as The Christmas Family. Next were the delivery of tins of sweets and diaries to local care homes and doctor’s surgeries and a donation of a bottle of whiskey to St Mary in the Marsh Church bazaar.
December 2019 ended with the annual Memories Service. A multi faith remembrance service for families and others in support of Pilgrims Hospice.
The Firmager’s team arranged the event with support and advertising from the Hospice with mince pies, sausage rolls, mulled wine and other refreshments kindly donated and served by the team. All local ministers and celebrants attended.
Funeral Service Operative Trevor Clark transported residents from a local care home in style using one of the limousines to Lydd Airport for their Christmas dinner outing. This is an annual event that staff at Firmager’s have been helping with for many years. A great time was had by all.
Supporting local Christmas tree festival
Elizabeth Way & Company Funeral Directors sponsored a tree at the annual St. Georges Church Christmas Tree festival, and alongside other local businesses raised £1069.00.
The Stamford Street church showcased creativity from the local business community with all funds raised shared between the church and Emmaus Mossley.
The festival which ran from Friday 13th December to Sunday 15th December started with an open day and evening event with musical entertainment provided by Mossley Hollins High School band, local primary schools. Special guests included Councillor Leigh Drennan, Tameside’s Civic Mayor, and Humanitarian and author Terry Waite MBE.
Saturday saw a full day of action with Santa making an early appearance for breakfast with the children, refreshments provided by the Brownies and rose queens, and an open day and concert featuring St John’s Band.
This highlight in the Mossley festive calendar was enjoyed by over 700 visitors, growing year upon year.
After the festival, some of the trees were taken home by their sponsors while others went on sale at Emmaus Mossley.
Funeral home sponsors football team jackets
Steven Mears Funeral Directors in Beckenham have sponsored Beckenham Town Football clubs girls U11’s team winter jackets.
The young ladies were presented with their jackets by Regional Development Director for Greater London South Jamie Groves on Sunday the 5th January at the Steven Mears Beckenham branch where refreshments were provided.
Masonry Support for Greater London Linda Gibbs who also attended the presentation said: “It was lovely to see the event so well attended by the team and their families. “
The new jackets will not only enable the team to keep warm and dry but also help with the feeling of team morale as they all have a uniform look.
Jamie, who is an avid football player himself, is looking forward to attending some training sessions with the team and continuing to offer support going forward. The initiative was a joint effort with Funeral Arranger Emma Phelps of A Yeatman & Sons Funeral Directors in West Norwood, also part of the Funeral Partners network of funeral homes.
Christmas carols and memorial service
This Christmas, Knox Brothers Funeral Service took part in supporting, and attending a Christmas Service hosted by the local church.
The service took place on Sunday 22nd December, at which members from the church and the community, from babies to the elderly, came together in a candle lit spectacular with Christmas carols and readings, followed by festive refreshments of mince pies, mulled wine.
Fighting hunger for Torbay schoolchildren
Torbay & District Funeral Service substantially contributed to the efforts of Feed a Child Torbay (FACT) in fighting child hunger in the borough.
The Torquay branch’s £120-a-year donation to FACT, the charity providing nutritious meal kits and snacks for disadvantaged primary school children across the borough, will provide six breakfast kits across six schools.
Sarah Lockton, Funeral Director of Torbay & District Funeral Service, said: “If we can give a little to help children have full bellies at school then it’s all worthwhile. If more people could do this, our children of the future will be able to learn more and feel better at school.”
When coming up with the idea of FACT, Founder and Chair Lesley Perrin was reminded of the hunger pains she and her sister experienced growing up in Manchester during the holidays, when free school meals weren’t available.
FACT was created with the help of teachers keeping an eye out for children who went hungry, and it became clear many pupils arrive at school in Torbay with little to no food.
Sarah and her family recently helped FACT organise a Christmas party for 106 children at Play Café, providing 250 advent calendars for the youngsters on behalf of Torbay & District Funeral Services.
There was also an abundance of donated prams, bikes, cots, nappies, toiletries, clothing and toys at the party for struggling parents to take home.
Sarah said: “Both myself and my daughters came away very humbled and proud to have been part of this event.”
After having fun in a two-storey play area, dancing at a disco and eating lots of food, the children received a visit from Santa who had a gift for them all, including two advent calendars each.
Spreading Christmas cheer
The caring team from Okehampton & District Funeral Services donated 40 selection boxes for the children on Bramble ward at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital plenty were donated for all the children and staff.
Thank you to everyone in the local community who contributed to the funeral homes annual appeal.
