Holmes and Family

Holmes and Family funeral directors

‘It would be hard to find a team of people more committed to helping bereaved families.’ High praise indeed from Fran Hall, director of The Good funeral Guide - speaking about Holmes and Family funeral directors.

The GFG are champions for the bereaved, not the interest of funeral directors. The GFG inspects premises, facilities and interviews management and staff before forming an independent judgement about how good they think they are. A family trying to choose someone to care both for them and the person who has died should be well informed, and the GFG website is a great place to start. Not all funeral directors are the same, not all reach the high standards required for accreditation. Over twenty years ago, the Holmes family took the tough decision to sell their ‘daughters’ funeral business to the Ford-Mears Group. Sharp eyed locals will notice the former premises in Church Road have been rebranded as Ford-Mears funeral directors, although still incorporate the Holmes and daughters name too.

Six years ago, the Holmes family decided to return to the local area, opening their comfortable funeral home at 197 Laleham Road Staines. Oliver Holmes (who was born at Ashford hospital and still lives locally) is in day-to-day charge of funerals conducted by the family, he’s often spotted at Laleham Road with his dad, David washing and polishing the firms beautiful Jaguar hearse and limousine. David Holmes works alongside several other family members to ensure everything runs smoothly. Madeleine Holmes is responsible for the website and social media; the shop fit out was done by his dad, John Holmes and Cousin Arthur.

‘When we say family business, we really mean it' says David. As well as that prized recommendation from the GFG, Holmes & Family are members of both major UK trade associations, NAFD and SAIF and have one several national awards. ‘Not all funeral directors are the same’ says Oliver, ‘and when you lose someone, you definitely need someone you can trust.’ ‘The Holmes family provide a dedicated and personal service to every family who put their faith in us.’ ‘We offer everything, from ‘direct cremation’ – that’s a funeral without ceremony, to a full-service traditional funeral, with our hearse and limousine starting from the home address. ‘Whatever people want to do; we are very happy to help’ says Oliver. ‘Our aim is to arrange the perfect send-off, regardless of what your funeral choice may be.’ ‘You can contact us by telephone at any time to discuss your plans and ideas, we offer advice and help without any obligation.’ ‘We were one of the first funeral directors in the country to put a price list on our website, years before others did so because they had to, not because they wanted to’ says David Holmes. ‘Our charges are highly competitive, and huge savings can be made by shopping around.’ ‘You don’t always get what you pay for when it comes to funerals, some well-known corporate local firms have much higher charges, while others use fairly tired older vehicles.’

Funeral regulation is almost here, at first covering pre-need funeral plans, and Oliver thinks that’s way overdue. ‘Up to now, funeral plans have been completely unregulated, and that attracted some unsavoury characters to the pre-need funeral planning market.’ ‘If you need a secure funeral plan, please speak only to a trusted local funeral director’ says Oliver. Last year, David and Oliver opened a second local funeral home at 129 Convent Road Ashford, from here, the family have been conducting funerals throughout Spelthorne, including Sunbury, Wraysbury and Stanwell.

‘Our new premises are beautiful inside’ says Oliver, they have every facility, including a lovely, air-conditioned arranging room. ‘we’ve thought of everything and have already looked after several families in Ashford that previously came to us when we still owned the old firm.’ ‘It’s really good to be back’ says David, ‘Ashford was our home town, our first funeral location and we still have a lot of friends and family living here.