Two-Page Article in PE19 Magazine

This article has been published in PE19 Magazine this month. PE19 is a locally-owned community magazine which promotes local businesses like Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services.

The skydive raised £1500 for two local good causes, St John's Hospice, Moggerhanger and the Little Paxton Church for Tomorrow project.

As a locally-owned, community-minded business we are proud to support local charities.

Please give your support to PE19 Magazine, and use the local businesses who advertise in the publication.

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to be the only locally-owned, fully independent Funeral Directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide 2011 and by The Natural Death Centre, and we are the only funeral directors to feature on The Best of St Neots. For more information or if you require any help, please telephone us on (01480) 471001 or e-mail info@kingfisherfunerals.co.uk.

A Guide to Choosing A Funeral Director

In the past, it would have been considered very difficult to ‘shop around’ for a Funeral Director. The very thought of comparing the services of one against another would have been seen as pointless, because everyone did pretty much the same, and charged about the same.

These days, the reverse is true.

With the advent of the internet, and greater customer scrutiny in all walks of life, funerals are no exception. Standards of service differ greatly, as do charges levied by different companies.

Unlike the big supermarket versus the corner shop, reverse economics seem to work in this sector, and the small independent Funeral Directors frequently have much lower prices than the large corporate companies (click here for the source and full report).

So, before choosing a Funeral Director, make sure you know who you are dealing with. Look for the word Independent in the name. Many companies trade under the names of old-established businesses, so ask if they are owned by someone else. Would you rather deal with a locally-owned business or a nationally-owned one?

Ask for a quote and insist that this is accurate. Beware of companies which quote you for a simple service then try and upsell elements such as coffins and vehicles.

Ask anything you want to. You need to be certain that you will have full control over the arrangements. Funeral Directors work for (and are employed by) you. If a company can’t or won’t adapt to something you want, go elsewhere.

Ask if the same person will deal with everything from start to finish. In general, the smaller the business, the more likely this is. It is quite disconcerting when a stranger turns up on your doorstep on the day of the funeral asking who the next-of-kin is. Make sure you will have met this person, and preferably dealt with him or her throughout.

But above all, talk to your intended Funeral Director and make sure you are happy with him or her as a person. No-one can be expected to get on with everyone. A funeral is such a personal event, you need to make sure you are totally comfortable with the person who will be helping and guiding you.

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to be the only locally-owned, fully independent Funeral Directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide 2011 and by The Natural Death Centre, and we are the only funeral directors to feature on The Best of St Neots. For more information or if you require any help, please telephone us on (01480) 471001 or e-mail info@kingfisherfunerals.co.uk.

Kingfisher Funerals - One Year On

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are very, very proud to have completed our first year serving the communities of St Neots and the surrounding area. The business officially opened on 1st October 2010, and since then we have slowly established our name through our client-orientated approach to our sensitive profession.

Being completely independent of any other company gives us a huge advantage. We are able to be totally flexible in every aspect of arranging funerals and memorials for our clients. Whether it is a traditional funeral, a modern, eco-friendly funeral, or the most simple of services that our client is seeking, we can provide this with our unique personal guarantee.

Our client testimonials can be seen here. The continual message we receive is that clients appreciate the relaxed, non-commercial, non-pushy and open approach we have.

S and L of St Neots said "You couldn't wish for a better person to deal with such a painful situation. We felt at ease with Andrew's professional, respectful and approachable manner. He let us plan the funeral ... and guided us where needed. A true gentleman, very considerate, thoroughly recommended."

SS of Sawtry said "There was absolutely no pressure to go for expensive options. In fact [Andrew] recommended some of the least expensive. Andrew so obviously cares about what he does and the people he does it for. Thoroughly recommended."

M D'C said "Your attention to detail made sure everything was perfect for us. It takes a very special kind of person to go that extra mile, and you did much more than that for our family. You are a truly dedicated professional offering a first class personal service. We have no hesitation in highly recommending you, and wish you and your business every success."

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.

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.