Neville Funerals Woburn Sands

Neville Funerals may have been serving the people of Luton and Bedfordshire for over 145 years, but they are not standing still nor taking anything for granted.

Still family run, Neville Trust, led by the fifth generation, has overall control of the both the funeral business and their construction company. They see themselves as a fundamental part of their community and, although they are a well-run business, everything they do is informed by a sense of responsibility too. Serving people is what matters most.

Their passion for developing the team to be the very best they can be being evident in how they support the families they care for. They understand very well the trust placed in them by the bereaved and never take that for granted. Neville Funerals believe that good staff are their best asset and the staff we met were happy to discuss the approachability of their management and the support they get from them.

The senior management team has grown with the arrival of Lee Pedley who joined as General Manager in August 2021 also bringing with him a wealth of experience from a large funeral chain. Most recently, Matt Mew has joined the senior team as Branch Manager based at Luton, having been with the company for a number of years and worked at the Bedford, Hitchin and Shefford offices before moving to Luton.

You will feel the benefit of their long experience

This company truly looks after their employees, offering opportunities to develop and support its staff – and this shows in the quality of the service they offer. The people we talked to were confident, happy and very proud of what they do and who they work for. It was also very clear that they felt they could ask questions and make suggestions to management knowing that they would be listened to.

The Neville family and its management team care for their staff, with lots of personal touches at special times, effecting change by consultation rather than instruction.

A sharp eye for current and future trends

Likewise, there is no doubt in our minds that whatever request a client may place at Neville Funerals, there is nothing that could faze them, nor any circumstance which could not be dealt with, calmly, smoothly and without fuss. There was no scenario that we could come up with which would even raise an eyebrow. That gives enormous confidence to a client.

We came away certain that clients will feel the benefit of Neville Funerals’ long experience, in the warmth and friendliness you will meet; in the confidence you can place in their advice and the support you will receive. There is plenty of heart in this company.

There are no huge displays of coffins, urns or memorial stones at Neville’s. All public rooms are bright and clutter-free with no oppressive sales or funereal products to distract – or dismay – you. You get the sense that it is about you and what you need rather than what they can sell you. There are no sales targets for staff here and there is a clear message to the staff to arrange funerals for families which meet both their emotional and financial needs. It seems that Neville Funerals have retained all the best elements of the traditional undertakers, whilst keeping a sharp eye on the current and future trends. And it strikes us, they will take it all in their stride without even blinking. This shows a strong leadership and a strong sense of purpose and direction. Neville Funerals have, it seems, no intention of resting on their laurels.

 Branches

There are advantages to having a construction company in the family. Although Neville Funerals have nine branches, both modern and older buildings, they are all beautifully maintained and presented, offering the same high standard of facilities.

There is a shared philosophy too. In every branch you will meet a warm and friendly member of staff and a welcome that makes you feel warm and safe… that you are in good hands.

You will find all the buildings generally light and airy and, when you sit down to talk it will be in a pleasant room, with a cuppa, around a table together.

Luton, the largest branch, has a room with easy chairs and a settee, for those who need time to sit and talk and just come to terms with what is happening, but in every branch you will be encouraged to take the time you need.

Each branch has at least one chapel of rest where you can sit and be with your loved one. Visiting is by appointment, but the chapels are open for long hours.

Although people who have died are cared for and prepared at the main branches of Luton and Bedford, every branch has a chapel of rest so that visits prior to the funeral can be made locally.

Luton is large, modern and is easy to find. It has many rooms for differing purposes, including a small chapel area, holding up to 20 people, for those who prefer a friendlier and personal place to hold the funeral ceremony.  There is also a reception room which can cater for up to 45 people and can be used for the get-together after the ceremony. This unique facility is available to all their clients from across their region.

Ampthill is based in a converted church. The front of the branch is pleasant and modern, but the features of the old church have been retained in the chapel of rest – creating a quiet, lovely space. Recently refurbished, the development of the first floor as offices has enabled the provision of an extra arrangement room and additional toilet facilities as well as better parking access for clients.

Bedford is like the Tardis – it goes back and back from the old semi-detached house that faces the road. There is a small courtyard with a pond and, as well as the chapels of rest, a small space for ceremonies too.

Dunstable is the newest branch, opened in 2021 in a former police station on the main road through the town. Previously converted into offices in the 1980’s by Neville Funerals’ sister company, the connection with the building has now come full circle with its conversion into a funeral directors. Three arrangement rooms and two large chapels of rest are on the ground floor, with a folding acoustic door separating the chapels that can be opened up to make one large chapel for services if required. Upstairs there is a large meeting room and offices, while outside there is parking for around 10 cars in a secure car park.

Hemel Hempstead is a large, converted semi-detached property in a prominent position, with ample parking at the rear and two arrangement rooms. There is a pleasant, recently refurbished chapel of rest where you can spend time with your loved one. A warm welcome greets you as you enter the light and airy premises, and the same air of confidence pervades.

Shefford branch has the same warm welcome from staff and also has the same high quality interior as all the other branches, with a chapel of rest. Outside, things couldn’t be more different. At the rear, there is the company’s stone mason facility, Neville Memorials, headed up by Mel and a team of qualified stonemasons and trainees. There, with their traditional and ancient skills, craftsmen are employed to carve beautiful memorials and headstones to order. They operate an apprenticeship scheme to secure the future of this fast-disappearing skill.

Hitchin branch is a coach house style. Again, the interior is warm, light and airy as is the welcome. And all in keeping with the Neville Funerals brand. This doesn’t happen by accident.  It’s about good leadership, a clear direction and placing a high value on the staff.

Woburn Sands has the same light and airy, uncluttered feel as the other Neville Funerals branches. The high quality, modern surroundings and spacious premises are impeccably looked after by the staff who job share here. They clearly love their work and talk proudly about the support and camaraderie they feel as employees of a company which evidently invests in their staff as well as their properties. There is a large chapel of rest, an immaculate mortuary and plenty of space within the premises for this relatively new branch of the business to develop as they become established in the community. There is also plenty of space for parking, something clients very much appreciate.

Stopsley is a compact branch and staff are local people who know the community well and are pleased that Stopsley families can now use Neville Funerals services without having to travel across town. Amongst the newer of the Neville Funerals branches, Stopsley has been refurbished in the company style with a fresh modern decor. It’s sparkling clean, tidy and very welcoming, with the warmth and friendliness of the staff immediately making you feel at ease and comfortable and confident that this is a good company to be trusting with a funeral.

Neville Flowers, Neville Funerals in-house florists are based at the Luton branch. Led by Sue Evans who has many years of experience there are three other qualified florists, one being their newly qualified apprentice, Clara, and their fabulous flower van driver who ensures that all of the tributes are delivered daily to their branches. There is a wonderfully simple, but ingenious system which operates at all branches regarding flowers. At each branch there is a shelving system (made by their own carpenters) which has an allocated space for each funeral being held that day. This makes for efficiency and, again, a lack of fuss. The flower situation at a busy undertaker’s can be tricky at best. Not so at Neville Funerals. The right flowers will be in place for the right funeral.

Specific Gravity

You can’t be around for nearly one hundred and fifty years without being good at traditional funerals. What has kept Neville Funerals so fresh and unstuffy though is their willingness to listen to what people are asking for and to try new things.

Open and unstuffy

They are always on the lookout for ideas – like the complimentary bag of cleaning materials they now give to everyone who purchases a headstone from them or the Cremated Remains Library at Luton, where ashes can be kept and visited.  The headstone cleaning offering is a delight and was the suggestion of their long-standing member of staff, Melanie Jeffs, who is now their Memorial Service Manager. This really useful and practical addition is now passed on to their clients as a matter of course.

This openness to the new and many changes in the funeral world means that Neville Funerals can serve and support all of the diverse communities across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, responding willingly and capably to every requirement.

What’s Important?

Care and respect for people who have died, and their families are at the heart of everything Neville Funerals do.

Everyone entrusted to them receives the same respect and care. Every coffin is lined and dressed properly whether the person who has died is going to be visited or not. There is an employee at Luton whose sole job is to take care of and prepare coffins and he clearly loves, and is proud, of his work.

At the Bedford office we were told that every funeral is paged* out into the road whether anyone is there to see it or not. It’s the Neville Funerals way.

(* Paging is when the hearse, moving at processional pace, is preceded by the funeral director on foot and in full ceremonial attire.)

What’s Different?

Although there is an outward appearance of slickness – even corporate – style to Neville Funerals, this is a company which is made up of really good people. They are great talent spotters, ensuring their staff are developed and encouraged to reach their full potential. There is a clear willingness to learn and consult, alongside their strong sense of tradition. Lifelong learning is encouraged at every level with their own NAFD in house tutor, Julia, employed to ensure that training starts from Day 1.

And there is plenty of heart in this company. Their worst fault – if it is a fault at all – is that they don’t shout their own praises from the rooftops.  But, like all that they do, they go about their business quietly and in a dignified manner.

Services

• Repatriation is a speciality. The large Irish population locally means they have close ties with Ireland but are expert in repatriations all around the world.
• Your call will be answered by: the staff at the particular branch you are calling. Out of hours, you will be directed to a single number which will be answered by the duty staff member. There is an out of hours’ team across the business, who are all trained funeral arrangers, so the person taking your call will arrange for the appropriate team to respond to your call.
• Home visits: Neville Funerals are happy to meet people wherever they are most comfortable – at a branch or in their homes.
• Embalming: Neville Funerals value embalming. They believe that it gives great comfort to families to see their loved ones looking their best. Because they believe in it, they do it properly. All the embalmers are members of the company’s own staff and the embalming facilities at Luton and Bedford are modern and maintained to the highest standards. Every family arranging a funeral is offered the service, but you will not be pressed if it’s not something you wish.
• Continuity of care: Neville Funerals’ reception rooms, when not in use by their clients, are made available for use to local charities and community groups such as Luton Dementia Action Alliance and Herts, Hospice at Home & Beds Bereavement Alliance.
• Family participation:   Families are encouraged to take part in any element of the process if they so wish.
• Same sex person to wash and dress: Yes, just mention it when making arrangements.
• Ethnic specialism: There is no specialism, but Neville Funerals are very experienced in serving all of the diverse communities in which they operate.
• Local celebrants: Neville Funerals work with a wide range of celebrants – all of whom are vetted before they are engaged. They are discerning, realising that celebrants and any other officiants reflect their company.
• Home arranged funerals: Neville Funerals will support you in arranging the funeral you want. If you’d like to care for someone at home or buy or make your own coffin, they are happy to support you.
• Website: The website is a good place to start to get to know Neville Funerals – it’s clear, informative and well presented. www.nevillefuneralservice.com
• Client support: Support for their families is ongoing with our free in-house support group, Talking Elephants, running in all our locations with two evening sessions now operating in Luton
• Prices: There is an awareness that clients now shop around, based on prices. The Neville Funerals’ website makes prices clearer and more accessible, a move of which we highly approve.
• Parking: There is dedicated parking at Luton, Ampthill, Dunstable, Hitchin, Hemel Hempstead, Woburn Sands, Stopsley and Shefford but we felt it was limited at Bedford.

Remarks

A traditional funeral director justly proud of its heritage but living very much in the present. They’ll get everything exactly right for you and they’ll do it with great open-mindedness and kindness. Superb service values here are driven by big-hearted human values. They’re absolutely lovely.

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.