Front Page of Lovely Moon

St Neots' Premier Publication Lovely Moon carries a picture of the recent skydive on its front page this month.

The following article also appears in conjunction with the photograph:

"Fear of heights didn't stop St Neots independent funeral director Andrew Hickson taking to the skies to raise money for charity.

"Andrew, of Kingfisher Funerals, overcame his vertigo to leap out of a plane 12,000ft over Chatteris airfield for a tandem skydive with instructor Mike Rust.

"His sponsored 35-second 140mph freefall raised £1500 to be divided equally between Sue Ryder St John's Hospice and the Little Paxton Church For Tomorrow project - and since Andrew paid the bill out of his own pocket, every penny of the sponsorship will go to the two causes."

As the only locally-owned and completely independent Funeral Directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, we are very proud to support local charities and appeals. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide 2011, on The Best of St Neots, and by The Natural Death Centre for our individual and personal approach to arranging funerals. For more details please visit our website or telephone (01480) 471001.

If you've ever wondered why we do this job, read on ...

The following is an extract from a testimonial card received this morning:

Dear Andrew
We would like to thank you for the compassion and understanding you have shown to our family over the last months. Your attention to detail made sure everything was perfect for us, allowing us to reflect on our memories. It takes a very special kind of person to go that extra mile and you did much more than that for our family. Nothing was too much trouble. Your kindness and thoughtfulness is something we will always remember. You are a truly dedicated professional offering a first class personal service. We have no hesitation in highly recommending you, and wish you every success.

A card like this means so much to us, re-inforcing the message that we are doing things properly and thoughfully, and that our small size is our greatest asset.

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to be the only locally-owned, completely independent Funeral Directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide 2011 and on The Best of St Neots.

What exactly does a Funeral Director do?

Traditionally, a Funeral Director would be charged with taking on the complete responsibility for arranging and conducting a funeral.

Our society, unlike many others, tends to shy away from the reality of death. It is the one and only certainty we all face, and yet we find it difficult to talk about it, perhaps because it scares us, or perhaps because we would rather not think about it.

This suited old-time undertakers very well. They became the experts in doing things how they wanted to do them. They created packages for people to chose from. Simple, standard, elaborate? Tick the box and we’ll do the rest. Many businesses still operate like this, some very successfully.

Times are changing though as we become more demanding, and the concept of a package funeral is being challenged daily. The bereaved want more input into the design of the ceremony, more choices, more flexibility.

I see the emerging role of the Funeral Director as a co-ordinator, an organiser, a confidante and a friend. Someone we can turn to for advice and help, but not necessarily hand everything over to.

Of course, changes don’t happen overnight, and many people still want the traditional funeral, and I am more than happy to take on that role, but even then I will try and involve people in ways that perhaps they hadn’t considered possible.

Feedback from clients is that they find this approach refreshing and hugely rewarding. It is for me too. The more you get involved, the more you will ultimately gain from the whole experience.

Talk to me, ask questions, challenge anything you want. Discussing a funeral in advance is becoming widely acceptable. Have a look at my website http://www.kingfisherfunerals.co.uk/ for some ideas, or ask me to help you plan something entirely unique.

Call me on (01480) 471001 or e-mail me info@kingfisherfunerals.co.uk in complete confidence if I can be of any assistance to you. I guarantee complete openness and I absolutely promise that I won’t try to sell you anything.

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to be the only locally-owned, completely independent Funeral Directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide 2011 and on The Best of St Neots.

Local Recognition Again

The St Neots News and Crier carries photographs and a report on the presentation of cheques for the funds raised from the Charity Sky Dive recently undertaken this week.

Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored me in this daredevil feat! A magnificent £1500 was raised, and shared between St John's Hospice, Moggerhanger and the Little Paxton Church for Tomorrow Project.

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to be the only locally-owned and fully independent Funeral Directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide and on The Best of St Neots. Please do not hesitate to call us on (01480) 471001 or contact us online if we can be of any assistance, or you would like further information or advice about any of our services.

Presentation to Little Paxton Church

Yesterday, the second cheque presentation took place after the weekly service at Little Paxton Church. Another cheque for £750 was given to help the Church For Tomorrow Appeal, which is raising funds to refurbish the Church, its bells and the ringing tower.

The picture shows Andrew with The Revd Annette Reed, surrounded by members of the congregation, and the cheque for the funds raised from the Skydive which took place a few weeks ago.

Annette said "Andrew's skydive is by far the craziest way that someone has raised funds for our Church For Tomorrow Project. I didn't believe him when he said he was going to do it, but having seen the photos we all think he has been very brave. The whole congregation at Little Paxton is very grateful for Andrew's effort, which really does prove that money can fall out of the sky!"

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to be the only locally-owned and fully independent Funeral Directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We are recommended on The Best of St Neots and in The Good Funeral Guide. To contact us please click here or telephone (01480) 471001.

A Very Proud Moment...

Today I have been to Sue Ryder St John's Hospice, Moggerhanger, to present a cheque for £750 to the fundraising team. This money is 50% of the total raised from completing the Sky Dive in July - the other 50% will be donated to the Little Paxton Church for Tomorrow project (presentation on Sunday!)

St John's carry out such important work in palliative care provision, and it is a privilege to support them in this way. A huge thank you must go to everyone who sponsored me. Every penny really does count, and nothing at all was taken from the sponsorship money to fund the Sky Dive.

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to be the only locally-owned and fully independent Funeral Directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, and we are very pleased to raise funds for local charities and appeals. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide and on The Best of St Neots. To contact us please click here or telephone (01480) 471001.

Roxie came too ... and insisted on being photographed!