Robson Funeral Services (Minehead)

Funeral Director/s

Mark Robson DipFD is the owner of this funeral business in Bridgwater, and it will be either Mark Robson, Orlando Levy or Nick Rayfield who will greet you when you step in through the door of their lovely premises. Mark has been involved with funerals since he was a teenager, his godfather was an undertaker and Mark helped out washing cars for him during the school holidays., carrying his first coffin at the age of just 15. The business fascinated him, and when he left school he took up a job with a large company, where he remained for 30 years ‘and one week’, gaining a wealth of experience as his responsibilities increased.
Over the years, Mark arranged and conducted thousands of funerals, of every conceivable kind, he gained a BTEC in Funeral Directing with Edexcel, and had responsibility for many staff in the Somerset area before the surprise (and some might think short-sighted!) decision to restructure the company he worked for meant that he – and many other similarly well qualified senior staff -found themselves facing redundancy.
Undaunted, Mark made the decision to start his own company, where he would be able to put all his skills to use serving bereaved families, without a huge corporate structure restricting him.

Orlando Levy DipFD F.A CAA. From the age of 15, Orlando experienced the heartbreaking loss of his father to cancer. During this difficult time, Robson Funeral Service supported his family with care, compassion and dignity. It was through this experience that Orlando realised his calling to become a Funeral Director and provide the same care and empathy to others facing the loss of a loved one. Orlando is known for his genuine empathy, deep understanding, and unwavering support for the families he works with. His personal journey has shaped him into someone who truly knows how to walk beside others during their most difficult moments in their life. At the age of 19, Orlando achieved a Diploma in Funeral Arranging, recognised by being awarded Apprentice Of The Year in the funeral sector for 2023. Now, at just 20 years old, he has proudly earned his Funeral Director Diploma — a testament to his dedication, passion, and commitment to helping others.

Nick Rayfield FD, began his career in the funeral industry 25 years ago, initially working with horse-drawn funerals. This unique and traditional service gave Nick a deep appreciation for the respect and dignity needing to be shown. After gaining valuable experience, Nick transitioned to working for a funeral company as a Funeral Operative. Through dedication and hard work, Nick progressed to the role of a Funeral Director, managing and overseeing funeral arrangements to provide compassionate support to grieving families. In addition to his formal roles, Nick spent several years freelancing as a bearer, funeral director, and carriage driver. This versatile experience also opened doors for him in the film and television industry, where Nick had the opportunity to work with horses on notable productions such as Bridgerton, The Crown, Gentleman Jack, Eastenders (specifically Dot Cotton’s funeral), and Victoria. These projects allowed Nick to combine his professional skills with his passion for horses and period drama. Now at Robson Funeral Services Nick continue to provide compassionate and professional funeral services to family in the Minehead and surrounding area.

The premises in  Minehead are in a large, former shoe shop in Park Street at the top end of The Parade. It had once been a funeral director business in the past, but it has now been transformed into a light, airy and modern space with huge windows offering anyone passing by the opportunity to see what a contemporary undertaker looks like.

The building is in two parts, to the left is the large space with a small desk and chairs, and comfortable seating where funeral arrangements can be made, while the right side of the building is a similar seized space that has been designed for use as a service room for families wanting to hold a ceremony in Minehead before the coffin is taken on to the crematorium.

The glass door from the street opens into a small lobby with glass doors leading you either to the arranging area or the service room – everything is open and visible, there’s no feeling of uncertainty as to what is behind the door as you go in. A band of frosting on the windows ensures some privacy for anyone sitting inside but there is still a feeling of being connected to the world outside as people walk past and glance in.

The service room is also available for local community groups to use, and the flexible seating means that it can be adapted for many different types of gatherings. An urn can be provided for refreshments, and there is a fully accessible toilet at the back. Shutters across the window will give privacy when needed, and a lectern and facilities for playing music and screening video footage are also provided.

Large attractive wooden double doors at the back of the service room open into a small space where the coffin can be situated for ceremonies and if visitors have mobility issues, this is the route they would take to spend time with the person who has died in the beautiful chapel of rest. Access from the arranging area involves a small step before turning right into the corridor that links the two parts of the building.

The chapel of rest deserves a different name, it is the most beautiful space, with a stunning image on the rear wall that evokes a feeling of peace and acceptance. The picture is of a single tree with the sun setting in the background, the vibrant colours glowing with the light that comes in through the glass window behind it. As darkness falls outside, the colours in the picture also fade away, making this room a very special place to spend time in contemplation.

Behind the arranging area there is a small kitchen and loo, and a door leading to the mortuary area where people are cared for by Mark and Gary and their colleague, Melissa Keen carrying out ‘first offices’ of bathing and hair washing if required. This is also where any embalming takes place – Mark is a supporter of embalming and the company employ a very skilled embalmer to carry this out where required.

The funeral home in Bridgwater, at  60,ClareStreet, has been carefully transformed from a former fireplace shop into a warm, welcoming, and purpose-designed space where families can feel at ease. While the building has a history within the town, we have completely reimagined the premises to reflect the values of Robson Funeral Services — comfort, dignity, and compassion at every stage.

From the moment you step through the doors, you are welcomed into a light and calming atmosphere. The interior has been thoughtfully designed to balance tradition with a fresh, modern approach, creating a space where families can feel comfortable and reassured. Retaining the character of the original building while enhancing it with modern features, the funeral home has been designed to feel approachable, open, and supportive for anyone visiting. It has easy access, seating areas, refreshments, and thoughtful touches ensure that every family feels cared for when spending time here.

The arranging rooms are private and comfortable spaces where you can sit with one of the funeral directors to discuss your wishes.  The Chapel of Rest is a peaceful, beautifully presented room where families can spend time with their loved one in quiet reflection. Designed to offer privacy and tranquillity, it provides a calm environment for final goodbyes.

Just like the premises in Minehead, the Bridgwater funeral home is more than just a place of work — it is a space for the community. The team aim to make it a resource for families in Bridgwater and the wider Somerset area, whether that’s through bereavement support, small gatherings, or simply offering a safe place to sit and talk.

Specific Gravity?

There has been a lot of thought and discussion as the business took shape. Details are really important, the look and feel of how they present themselves as a company, their highly personal approach to each funeral, their willingness to be flexible and respond to whatever a family wants all combine to make this small company have a very personal feeling about it.

They have adopted the Tree of Life as the Robson Funeral Services symbol, and given it their own personal touch, with Mark’s initials incorporated into the design and a few of the leaves shaped into dark pink hearts by their talented graphic designer. And next to the sofa in the arranging area is a device where you can ask Alexa to play any music you might be thinking of to check it’s what you want for a ceremony. Chocolate biscuits were on offer when we visited too and the kettle is always on for anyone popping in.

What’s Important?


Really personal involvement with each family. This is what Mark longed for while he worked for the large corporate company. In Mark’s employment (and out of 120,000 employees) Mark won a national award for looking after families and training staff – these skills are now being focused on ensuring that every family that uses Robson Funeral Services benefits from all his experience over the years.

What’s Different?


The fresh, modern approach, the thoughtful attention to every detail and the transparent openness, both practical and professional, is what sets this company apart from other, less forward thinking businesses.
 Mark, Orlando & Nick are hugely enthusiastic about being able to offer people of Bridgwater and the surrounding areas an ethical, fairly priced service that gives excellent value. They are immensely likeable, natural, compassionate and capable people with strong community values, making them ideal to serve families in whichever way needed.

Services

• Your first call will be taken by Mark, Orlando or Nick. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• Home visits – Absolutely, this will always be offered. They are happy to come and meet you at home or wherever suits you.
• Same sex person to wash and dress?And if family members wish to do this then they will be encouraged to do so.
• Embalming? Mark considers embalming to be advantageous in many cases, particularly given the skills of the embalmer they use, but this will always be the family’s choice.
• Ethnic specialism?  While Minehead and Bridgwater is not particularly diverse communities, Mark’s long experience with his former employer means he has carried out funerals for all ethnic groups and different communities.
• Home arranged funerals – Happy to support any families wishing to look after their family member themselves, with as much or as little advice and help as required.
• Local celebrants – Mark has a large number of celebrants that he can call on as he is well known in the local area. He always attends the funeral ceremony so is well placed to recommend particularly skilled ones.
• Client support – Excellent from start to finish and beyond. Mark, Nick  and Orlando will be fully involved throughout your contact with them, and they will make contact after the funeral to ensure you are ok. The service room will also be used for bereavement support groups in due course.
• Parking– In Minehead, use local car parks, Clanville, Summerland or Alexandra Road, all around six minutes’ walk from the premises. North Road car park is a few minutes further away.

Remarks


Robson Funerals is a great example of what can be achieved by forward thinking people who are determined to improve the way we do funerals in the UK.
Mark, Orlando & Nick have brought together their individual experiences and skills to create a company that will provide bespoke, personal service for every family at a reasonable price. They are friendly, natural and normal, a far cry from the stereotypical caricature of an undertaker, and their premises are lovely, designed to make you feel at ease.

A testimonial received from a former client that Mark cared for states ‘You made us feel safe at a very scary time in our lives as we didn’t know what to do. You supported us and guided us, you gave 110% of your time to help us make the worst day of our lives beautiful’.
That pretty much sums up the quality of service you will receive here.