Funeral Director(s) O Read more [...]
Arthur C Towner Ltd (Bexhill-on-Sea)
Funeral Directors Category: South East England
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Funeral Director(s)
Oliver Towner, BA(Hons). Sixth generation of the Towner family. The business was started by his great-great-great grandfather, in 1875. Masses of heritage here, but absolutely none of the nothing-to-learn attitude which besets many such family affairs. Those vocational impulses Oliver experienced when he was a teenager all guided him away from the family business: “I used to swear this would be the last job I would ever do.” The necessity to earn a living drew him back, a decision he has never regretted for a millisecond. “It’s a real privilege to help bereaved people. We can make a difference.” He also pays tribute to his colleagues. “This is a rewarding and happy place to work. I said this would be the last job I’d ever do. Just like my Father, I’m sure it will be.”
Away from work, Oliver enjoys time with his family and walking his dog, Crumble. He’s a rugby aficionado (Harlequins, in case you wondered).
Alongside Oliver there is a great team of people, every one of them personable, friendly and kind. We met all of the funeral directors and liked them all, all the receptionists are equally nice and the welcome you receive in each branch is warm and reassuring. From the minute you step over the threshold of each of the branches you know you will be in good hands.
Towner’s have their own memorial masons, and we went to visit their workshop, as families are welcome to do. It is a wonderful place, managed by Julie Francis and Freddie Rolph who work there with Chris, Gary, Hebe and Alice. The skill and artistry of this team is responsible for some of the best memorials we have seen, and their passion for their work is both impressive and admirable. They have their own brochure to help guide clients in their decisions about the choice of stone and the style and type of inscription, and examples can be seen in the workshop. The quiet chipping of chisels as letters are painstakingly carved is mesmerising, a sound echoing from a past that is now almost forgotten. We strongly recommend you go and see for yourself if you are planning to organise a memorial.
The telephone number for Bexhill is 01424 73370, for the Battle branch call 01424 775515
Specific Gravity
Everything from immaculately traditional to as you like it. If you want something highly informal and colourful, “I would be happy to raid my extensive wardrobe of ghastly Hawaiian shirts!” One memorable funeral involved bearers dressing as the cast from the Rocky Horror Show, complete with ripped fishnet tights – requested by the family and probably never forgotten by the guests attending!
Their hearses and limousines are Mercedes and Jaguars. “We are not fixated on our vehicles like some funeral directors. Ours are smart and clean. We’re even hoping to soon purchase some Electric ceremonial vehicles to go alongside our electric van, Evan.” They will, of course, use any sort of vehicle you specify.
Being the only family owned funeral business in the locality is something that marks Oliver and his team apart from other undertakers. There is no pressure selling here, no targets to meet nor shareholders to satisfy. “You can see people visibly relax when they realise we’re not going to sell them anything they don’t want.”
What\’s Important?
There’s a strong commitment here to approachability and transparency. Some funeral directors can be forbidding. Not here. At the three Towner’s funeral homes, the environment is friendly and reassuringly normal. There are no drapes or artificial flowers. Oliver has a particular dislike for artificial flowers, and won’t have any on his premises. Instead his neighbour, Geoff who runs a florist business provides fresh flowers for both St. Leonards & Bexhill, and a local Battle florist provides them for the branch there.
The offices are light and bright, with lovely oak decor and doors. The meeting rooms where funeral arrangements are made are smart and businesslike but not intimidating at all, and the computers on the desk are used by the funeral directors to check Google street view when working out with you the best way to get to and from your house, they’re not there for inputting information while you’re talking about funeral arrangements. Recently, Towners have begun the journey of moving everything they can over to paperless. They’ve even recently started carrying out paper free funeral arrangements!
Behind the scenes everything is just as you’d expect from a business like this – orderly, organised and impressive. People who have died are taken to the local branch where they will stay until the funeral – Oliver feels strongly that this is the way things should be done.
Towner’s people are normal people, just like you and I. “We don’t stalk about dressed in black like a bunch of crows – we wear normal business suits, and only black for the funeral itself.” Pricing here is transparent. You check prices, item by item, on their excellent website. They’ve had their prices online since they first had a website, and can’t understand why other funeral directors don’t do the same. And they’re happy to provide any individual part of their service if that’s what you want. No packages here. Only buy what you want. See the full team on the website.
What\’s Different?
“Our philosophy is to treat each funeral as the only funeral we are ever going to do.” That’s some commitment. They say something else very interesting about themselves, too: “We are very keen to provide a family with the funeral they need, not the one that’s easiest for us to provide.” We wish we heard that more often! The result is, in the words of a local funeral celebrant, that “there is a really special feel to Towner’s. You’ve got to go there to experience it. It’s a wonderful place.”
Services
- Your call will be answered at St Leonards by Receptionists Gill Little or Stephen John or Shani Rogers; at Battle by Samantha Clemans; and at Bexhill by Lori Webb. That’s if one of the funeral directors doesn’t get to the phone first.
- Outside of office hours you will speak to one of the funeral directors: Angela, Anita, Joanne, Simon, Dele, or Sophie. Whichever funeral director you first meet will be there for you throughout.
- Any enquiries about Funeral Plans (Golden Charter) will be handled by Duncan Brown who is their full-time Funeral Plan Consultant.
- Their in-house graphic designer, Eleanor, can handle the design and printing of any printed orders of service you might need.
- Direct cremation from £849 exclusive of third-party costs. Details here.
- Yes to a home visit.
- Yes to you coming in and laying out and dressing the person who has died.
- Yes to same-sex person to lay out and dress the person who has died.
- Not pro-embalming unless there is a very good reason for it.
- Will gladly work with those who wish to care for their dead at home.
- Experienced in working with families from all ethnic and religious groups.
- Excellent secular celebrants on their books and, rare for a funeral director, will always liaise with the celebrant after you have met “just to make sure we all know what’s happening.” Full marks for this.
Remarks
Proud of its history, with much to be proud about, Towner’s is also forward looking and open to new ideas. You find here a rare combination of real care and high intelligence. As good as an independent family funeral director can be, so, one of the very best. Very, very nice people. A great team. The last family-owned funeral directors in your area.
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.
chris arkell
Ewan Walder and his team made what to many may have been a slightly unusual ceremony roll along without any hiccups. This went towards ensuring that Mum’s cremation service was such a happy,enjoyable celebration of her life. Ewan made sure that everything happened when it should, where it should,how it should. We had relatives travelling down from all over the South East. They all said it was the most fantastic service. Mum would have loved it. I can’t speak highly enough of Arthur Towners, Bexhill.
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Susan Wilson
We had a very basic funeral for my father last year,and I cant recommend Towners highly enough. Respectful and professional from start to finish. Susan Wilson
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Paul Johnson
My family and I would just like to thank everyone concerned regarding my mothers Cremation on the 07/09/16. I was especially impressed with the compassion of staff and professionalism conducted throughout the process. (Nothing was to much trouble). Robert put my family at ease and calmly explained the services they provided. The cremation was fitting for my mother and the staff at the funeral directors were wonderful. top class…You should be very proud of what you do.
I would thoroughly recommend the services of Arthur C Towner Ltd to everyone.
ThankYou again.
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Julie Bowles
I would like to thank Ewan and the team at Towner’s in Bexhill for making my father’s funeral so easy to arrange. The funeral was in Thanet which is at least 2 hours drive but this was not a problem. Everything ran very smoothly and the celebrant we chose was amazing. This is not something you really want to do and could have been really stressful, but Ewan was brilliant at putting us at ease.
Towner’s have been our families choice of funeral director for many years and they have consistently provided an excellent service.
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Nick Bloomfield
I would like to say from first contact by phone to the actual cremation everything that Nick Willis and his colleagues did has been fantastic – apart from the price – which was incredibly reasonable!
I rang 3 or 4 undertakers and you were the only one who published prices on their website which automatically made me feel more secure. You were also the most attentive, sensitive and competitive which made my decision very easy!
You listened carefully to our needs and recommended Louse as the celebrant which could not have gone better. All my family were thrilled with what was a rather joyful service and the whole day went without a hitch and NO criticism which, in my family, is something of a miracle! This was, in no small way, down to the excellence of service provided by Nick and his colleagues at Towners.
All in all you did a great job and I would have absolutely no problem in recommending you to anyone.
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Terry Finnegan
Just like to say a massive thank you to Arthur C Towners, in particular the Bexhill branch and Ewan, for conducting such a brilliantly respectful and sincere service for my Cousin.She was 89 and my two brothers and I were her only living relatives. My wife and four neighbours were the only other attendees at the funeral, but Ewan paid the same attention as if there was a large number of mourners. Furthermore we live over 2hours drive away and Ewan took care of everything for us. Thank you again.
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The wyndham family
Wanted to say a great big thankyou for looking after us for my mothers funeral and then my fathers you all done an excellent job everything was A1 what a lovely run business brilliant from start to finish wyndham family.
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Geoffrey Lake
I would like to thank Arthur C Towner Ltd for their arrangements of my wifes funeral in September. Nothing was too much trouble. I felt listened to and respected, safe in the knowledge that they were treating my wife with the dignity that she deserved. They made several recommendations, such as a local flower shop and memorial services-both of which provided a great service.
I would recommend Towner’s……..
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barbara arnold
Would like to say a big thank you for the way you conducted my husbands
funeral in February fred arnold to your credit a great service
thank you again mrs barbara arnold
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Georgina Cane
I would just like to say a big thank you to Towner’s and their team for helping me arrange my brother’s funeral. We were looked after by Stephen Groves and he was not only very professional but also extremely helpful at to us at this difficult time and we would have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone.
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Stuart Mellody
Colin,
I am writing to express our gratitude to you for the amazing job you have done in taking care of everything from the minute we met. Your professionalism is truly second to none.
We come into contact with professional people and businesses on a daily basis and I can honestly say that you are one of the most exceptional professionals I have ever come across, as is your company Towner’s. You made us all feel that we were completely in safe hands at such a vulnerable time, as you were always understanding, informative, helpful, honest, fair, efficient, reliable, confident and in control where necessary, but above all you are an absolute gentleman.
We would like you to thank everyone at Towner’s for their input, as every person we came into contact with, were exceptional at there job and a credit to the company, which is something you see less and less of these days. You were all outstanding and we appreciate all your hard work, it means a lot to us.
From Stuart, Liza, Alex, and Joshua we just wanted to say a massive thank you!
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David Burgess
My wife died recenlty and I chose Arthur Towners as it was a local funeral directors and not a multi-national organisation.
Both Ian Fishwick and his secretary where efficient, kind, and able to bring a lightness in what was a very sad occasion to me as well as my two sons.
I had chosen to give permission for my wife’s brain to be used for research and they both went to great lengths to make me feel it was worthwhile doing something which might help others with the same disease. When I went into the Funeral Parlour on the following day Penny stopped me and quietly said, “Your wife is safely back in our care and was treated with great respect while at Eastbourne Hospital.”
I went back later to see my wife in the chapel of rest and that occasion too was dealt with by kindness and my son and I were left in peace to just sit with her for as long as we wished.
The kind, unhurried and quiet way that the actual funeral was carried out made me feel that I was amongst caring friends throughout it all.
I would like to thank them for all they did and would recommend their services to anyone.
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Colin Fisher
As a fellow professional, I came to visit a friend who had died in Battle one Saturday morning, we visited the wrong funeral directors. I thought we had blown our chances of seeing him when they were closed but they opened esspecially for us in the afternoon. They did not know I was in the funeral industry. I just wanted to say as a ‘mystery shopper’ that they were excellent and nothing was too much trouble. Keep up the great work
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Anne Brooks
On behalf of the family, I would like to thank Edward and his wonderful team at Towners for their service following the death of my husband, Tony. We have really appreciated the personal touch, flexibility and professionalism. Nothing seemed too much trouble and I feel quite confident that we could not have improved upon any of the arrangements made for Tony or for us.
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Mrs Fiona Jenner
Colin – Thank you so much for all your very kind attention in helping me arrange my mother’s funeral. Your calmness and support made a very sad time easier for me to deal with. From the day I stepped through your door and spoke to Mr Welsh, I just knew I had made the correct decision in entrusting Towners with my mother’s funeral. I believe you and your colleagues gave me far more than a service; it was your warmth and professionalism that eased my sense of panic. Everyone’s sympathetic understanding and respect ensured that I felt able to trust you with my mother. At moments of great sadness, everyone needs a friend to guide them through the emotional maze and I really felt that you and your colleagues were offering a friendship rather than a service. Nothing seemed too much trouble and the attention to detail was so professional. I was not, for one second, made to feel that any of my requests were impossible to meet and you succeeded in ensuring everything was as perfect as it could have been.
Finally, I cannot think of a better way of thanking you than to tell you that I will be fully recommending your Company to anyone who requires a thoroughly professional service.
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John Cook
We were fortunate that Towner’s recently handled the arrangements for my mother’s funeral. The funeral was carried out in a most professional and dignified way. Edward Towner’s friendliness, empathy, kindness, experience and attention to detail were very much appreciated by all the family and he and his team certainly made things much easier for us all at such a difficult time. Thank you
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Rosalyn Freeman
Edward – I don’t think we could have asked for a more professional, flexible and forward looking firm to handle our Mum’s funeral. There was no cobbling together a CD or tape, no rushing around trying to find someone to design and then print a service sheet – you have all the most up-to-date equipment which made everything very easy – which at such a time is all that one could ask. Thank you for both your kindness and efficiency.
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Paul Morris
On behalf of my mother and myself I wish to express my thanks and appreciation for your company’s handling of my father’s Kenneth’s recent funeral.
Having never organised one before, from the moment I entered your website I felt I was entering a very professional organisation. The website was able to answer all my initial questions with ease. The moment we stepped into your office in St. Leonards we felt very well looked after. Throughout the whole sad process we were treated with utmost care, respect and professionalism. Thank you.
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sam clark
ewan and co made my family at total ease with my dads preparations for his funeral.
Thankyou so much for a smooth, worry free day …. my dad would of been so proud
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Stu Allen
I have been working for Towners for 4 years now and they are by far and away the best colleagues I could’ve hoped to work alongside when I embarked in this line of work. Working for any other firm in my opinion would be a step backwards.
We are very grateful to Arthur C Towner for organising everything that needed to be arranged for our beautiful mum’s funeral. They are local to where I live in Bexhill but happily travelled to Beckenham Crematorium so we could take our mum back to the area she loved so much. The calmness and kindness all their staff portrayed was perfect for us. We didn’t know what we were doing and they took us through the whole process step by step. We are so thankful we chose Towners and would absolutely recommend them. Thank you for making an awfully sad day so much easier for us all.