A & J Morriss & Sons

‘We listen to our clients and provide the services they require, we always have and always will’ – the words of Steve Rowland, whose leadership is continuing the proud family heritage that has served tens of thousands of families in the area for over 140 years.

The Rowland family involvement in their business cannot be over emphasised – possibly uniquely, there are four generations of the family still very much involved. As well as Steve, his nephew Ben now works in the business as the family funeral director out looking after families as their funerals are carried out, while his father Tony still continues to play a vital role despite reaching his late seventies. Most extraordinarily, Muriel Rowland, Steve’s grandmother, spends three days a week at Whitehorse Road at the grand age of 99. ‘When the VAT man comes, we put her in with him,’ says Steve, “you can hear her saying ‘I’ve been working in this business since before VAT was invented young man’ and you know he’s losing the will to live!”

A deep sense of responsibility and service runs through the parent company, and Rowland Brothers has rightly acquired an enviable reputation for excellence in the traditions of quality funeral directing, funeral services and reliability.

Every person we met impressed us with their pleasant manner and clear abilities in their roles, and it is evident that this is not only a superb company to choose to act as your undertaker, it is also a first-class employer that supports and empowers its staff.

There is an ongoing investment programme ensuring that the branches are up to date and modern, and there is also investment in their people, both practically and literally.

Rowland Brothers is also one of only a few funeral businesses that are signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant. Members of the Rowland family as well as a number of their staff have served in the Armed Forces and the company is immensely proud to be able to honour veterans. Rowland Brothers specialise in military funerals, and have a dedicated staff member who co-ordinates these.

The ongoing support of bereaved people from the community is another immensely important thing to the company, and Rowland Brothers have two fully trained bereavement counsellors offering bereavement aftercare to anyone who needs it, whether the funeral was carried out by the company or not. This support can be either one to one or in group sessions, is completely free of charge, and is provided through the Rowland Brothers Foundation, the charity recently set up for this purpose.

As well as everything outlined above, Rowland Brothers offers a comprehensive array of other services, including end of life planning, funeral plans, free wills and other legal services, memorial construction, installation and maintenance programmes, the repatriation and exhumations services and cryogenic suspension.

They are specialists in bespoke funerals for different cultures and religions and while generally traditional in their approach and attire, are more than willing to adapt this at clients’ requests. For military funerals, staff wear their medals and regiment colours, for children’s funerals staff have been known to wear superhero outfits (at parents’ request).

• Your first call will be answered by Anji, Sue or Judi at Addiscombe, or Brian at Beddington. After hours it will be David Collins you speak to.
• Home visits – yes, just ask.
• Same sex person to wash and dress? Yes, again, just ask. People brought into A & J Morriss’ care are routinely bathed and have their hair washed before they are placed into their coffins. If you want to be involved or to do this yourself, let your funeral arranger know.
• Embalming? Not conducted as a matter of course, but recommended if you want to spend time with the person who has died in the Chapel of Rest or at home. The procedure will be explained to you and you will be asked to sign a document giving permission to carry out this invasive procedure.
• Ethnic specialism? A & J Morriss through Rowland Brothers have vast experience of assisting families from different countries and cultures. Hindu, Sikh, Greek Orthodox, Christian (all sects), Ghanaian, Nigerian, Goan, Romanian, Polish, Chinese, Lithuanian, Serbian, Afghan, Iraqi, Iranian, Afro-Caribbean, Tamil, Sri-Lankan, Nepalese and many more.
• Home arranged funerals – absolutely, they are happy to support families who want to care for their dead relative at home, and to provide as much or as little advice and assistance as is needed.
• Local celebrants – Anji and her staff know their local celebrants well, and will suggest the person they feel most suitable to help you. They have a list of all local celebrants, but have some favourites who they can recommend with certainty that you will receive an excellent service.
• Vehicles – A & J Morriss use the Rowland Brothers fleet of three hearses and five limousines. These are currently Fords, but these are likely to be changed to different models soon. They also have seven private ambulances.
• Website – Comprehensive information on the website.
• Client support – Superb and ongoing as long as you need it through the Rowland Brothers Bereavement Aftercare.
• Money matters – Exceptionally good value for money, a high-class service for several thousand pounds less than nearby corporate funeral directors. Prices are currently not displayed online but will be shortly – a recent price reduction delayed the introduction of online pricing.
• Parking – Outside the branches for a limited time, or on nearby residential roads.

Now that A & J Morriss is part of the Rowland Brothers Group it enjoys the same, well deserved superb reputation. It has the gravitas of a long-established business that knows exactly how to serve families in the best way, but the forward-looking flexibility of a small family run undertaking.

We particularly appreciated the down to earth, likeable Steve Rowland taking a day out of an unbelievably busy diary to drive us round all his branches and meet his staff – the easy friendship he has with each of them shows exactly why this company is so successful. It is exceptionally well run, with lovely premises, lovely people and a large support staff dealing with the back-office work that ensures everything goes smoothly for every family they care for.

A & J Morriss is an example of the best kind of funeral directors, and gives excellent value for money. You won’t find a better undertaker in this part of the world.

Any decisions you take on engaging the services of a funeral director should be based on your views and research. You should not rely solely upon the views and opinions offered by us.