Simplicita cremations – direct cremation company
Funeral Directors Category: North West England
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Simplicity Cremations was founded by the pioneer of direct cremation in the UK, Nick Gandon. Nick is a funerals man through and through; he’s been working in this business, on and off, all his life, and when he came to contemplate retirement and a better work / life balance, he was very, very careful about the person he chose to pass on his legacy at Simplicity to. He turned down various approaches from other funeral companies that he felt didn’t share his ethos, but he found the exact person he was happy with in Jon Holt-Weaver.
Jon and his wife Angela are the new custodians of Simplicita, and we spent some time listening to why they have stepped into the world of direct cremation. Nick sat alongside Jon as we talked, and the friendship and respect between the two men was obvious. Jon has spent years working for the Lancashire Coroner, transferring people who have died for digital post mortems, and he is well versed in the logistics required by a company offering direct cremations. He also shares Nick’s careful and kind approach to dealing with bereaved people who are thinking about a direct cremation, and spent his first year working closely with Nick to ensure a seamless handover.
The Simplicity HQ is a converted 1940s public mortuary, at the entrance to the Park cemetery and crematorium at Lytham St Anne’s. It’s the most beautiful, tranquil location. On the website, it is described as “Beautifully sited in leafy parkland adjacent to the crematorium, with woodpeckers, foxes, and abundant wildlife quite literally on the doorstep, this is a most fitting last resting place prior to cremation.” Sounds a bit fanciful? Actually, this turns out to be a factually accurate description. It’s a lovely spot.
Nick’s clients never get to see where their relatives are looked after, so you wouldn’t be surprised if, inside, it wasn’t anything special. Well, we look behind the scenes to make sure that outward appearances are reflected behind the scenes. We were amazed to find that Nick had converted it beautifully – it’s as good as the best funeral homes, fully equipped to the highest standard. It’s one of the reasons why we are happy to recommend this company.
Find out more about direct cremation here: What is direct cremation?
Specific Gravity
Direct cremation means no public, ceremonial funeral – so this section doesn’t apply. People who have died are transported in a specially converted black Ford Galaxy.
What’s Important?
Following in Nick’s footsteps, Jon likes to do things as they ought to be done – he’s a stickler for that, right down to the smallest details. This means that he’s a very safe pair of hands – he’ll do what you ask and he’ll do it well. Even more important, he treats people who have died with the greatest respect. There’s absolutely nothing ‘second class’ about this service.
What’s Different?
Nick was the first to spot the emerging trend for direct cremation and established this specialist business, Simplicita, in 1992. During the early years, direct cremation was a choice for a very small percentage of bereaved people, but over the three decades since, and particularly with the restrictions on funerals brought in during the pandemic, direct cremation has become an accepted alternative to a ceremonial funeral.
What makes this company different is the personal, hands on involvement of the person who runs it. For years this was Nick, working or on call day and night every single day for year after year. When we spoke to him in 2021, after handing over to Jon, Nick admitted to not having taken a holiday for 11 years. Jon has the same dedicated approach, and is completely immersed in every aspect of the business, but with a young family he is aware of the importance of having a balanced life and is putting in place support to ensure he does not become completely consumed by his work.
Services
- Direct cremation is not a simplified version of a funeral, it is a no-funeral funeral. You need to be clear about this, and Jon will be careful to ensure that you are getting the type of funeral that you need. If it turns out that direct cremation is not right for you, he will make sure that he recommends you choose another funeral company. Direct cremation means that Jon comes to collect the body of the person who has died, takes it back to Lytham and looks after it. At the cremation, no one else is there. This is set out very clearly on the website.If you like, you can carry out your entire transaction with Simplicita over the phone.
- Website – Excellent advice, clearly written and easy to navigate. Everything you need to know.
- Money matters – You will need to pay for everything before the cremation. If you are eligible for a social fund funeral payment, Jon can help you with your application, but you’ll need to tell him as soon as you can. Simplicity is not actually the cheapest direct cremation provider out there — but there’s hardly anything in it. With Simplicity you can be sure that you will not be treated as second class, nor will the person who has died. Remember: there are some people operating in this field who do not adhere to anything like the high standards that Nick set, and that Jon upholds.If you want to plan ahead, Simplicita offers a bespoke “‘no-funeral funeral plan”. You can pay all at once or in instalments, and your money is placed in trust, where it grows fast enough to keep up with the rising cost of funerals. We endorse Simplicita’s fundholder, Ecclesiastical. The beauty of the Simplicita plan is — and you won’t see this offered by any other plan out there — that if the value of your plan, when you die, is greater than the cost of the funeral, you will be refunded the difference. Yes, this is the only funeral plan out there that gives change.
Remarks
A very high-class, low-cost service created by a very decent and honest person who looks after people who have died with great care and has given faultless service all the years we have known him, which is now in the care of a similarly genuine, nice person in Jon Holt-Weaver. We would have no hesitation entrusting the care of a person who wanted a direct cremation to Jon and Angela, in fact, this is the only direct cremation company that we are happy to recommend.
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.
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Joan Tomkinson
In reply to .
I live in Cumbria but have close relatives in Blackpool Area can you cover the distance? Also I would need your details for my will
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Joan Tomkinson
I live in Cumbria but have close relatives in Blackpool /St Ann’s area can you cover the distance. I will also need details to put into my will
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Jim
Hello. Could you please advise me if you operate in Northern Ireland.? If no; do you know of any funeral directors here who offer no funeral disposals?
Thanks
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Nick Gandon
In reply to .
We don’t offer our service in Scotland, and have no immediate plans to do so.
Sorry.
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Jessie McNair
Do you operate in Scotland or have any intention to do so in the future?
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Fran Hall
If you have a question about Simplicita please contact Nick directly – as he says in his comment below, he’s not able to monitor this post regularly enough to answer all queries posted here. (I’m copying his contact details here to save you looking for it).
‘To avoid missing a message, could I please ask that any questions are sent directly to either (where the enquiry involves a pre-paid plan), or (where our “at need” service is involved).’
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D Jones
Do you cover the Stretford area in Trafford Greater Manchester and what sort of total costs apply. I would not want to attend the cremation and I would not want the ashes. I would be arranging a funeral for a relative that I have no emotional attachment to and she has only made a small provision for themselves so I will need to stick to the budget. I’m not bothered what the coffin is made of just so long as it’s cheap. We are not religious and simply see this as a disposal process. Sorry if this sounds bad to anyone but I’m being honest whilst still trying to do what I can.
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Sue Harknett
I live in Hertfordshire , would you cover this area
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Dorothy Pinhorn
Very interested so would you recommend this service suburbs South London please?
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stephen crosby
I am in Scunthorpe…Am I in your collection area..Don’t plan pooping off just yet though..
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Nick Gandon
In reply to .
Thanks for your questions. Yes, we do cover Walsall, and our pre-paid plan can either be paid for in one payment, or over a period of up to 5 years.
You can find details of the plan at .
If our services are needed without a pre-paid plan, then the payment does have to be made in full, prior to the cremation taking place.
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mrs yarnall
Hi really interested in direct cremation for the future. My question is can it be paid in installment or does it have to be a one off payment and do you cover Walsall?
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Nick Gandon
In reply to .
Thank you for the question Jane. Yes, our service is available in both pre-arranged and “at need” format. Payment can be made when the service is required.
– Nick
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jane jenkis
i, myself and husband both want direct funeral we live in the west midlands (Walsall) can we pay when the time comes .
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Nick Gandon
In reply to .
Hello Carole,
A direct cremation can cost anywhere between £1000 and around £1600 depending where the death takes place (in hospital or in a residential environment), whether the Coroner is involved or not, and whether the ashes are needed to be returned following the cremation. A pre-paid plan will always initially cost more, because of necessary administration costs.
If you would like to discuss this further, please contact me via either email at or by phone on 0800 689 0343.
Nick
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Nick Gandon
In reply to .
Hello Beth,
Yes, we are able to provide our service in London. If you would like further details, please email me on or telephone me on 0800 689 0343.
Nick
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Beth Fardell
Hello
Please can you tell me if you cover London.Have heard good things about your service.If not can you recommend anyone in the southwest London area.
Thank-you
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carole shuker
how much does direct disposal cost please’just a rough estimate will be ok. thankyou.
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Nick Gandon
In reply to .
Hello Ann,
Thank you for your enquiry. Yes, we certainly can provide a direct cremation service following a death in Anglesey.
My sincere apologies to any other post that has not been answered here. Whilst I am an avid supporter of the GFG blog, I have not been paying sufficient attention to the “Comments” section. Sorry!
To avoid missing a message, could I please ask that any questions are sent directly to either (where the enquiry involves a pre-paid plan), or (where our “at need” service is involved).
Thank You,
Nick
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Ann Hesson
Hi Nick,
I have only just learnt about this facility and would like to know if you cover Anglesey, North Wales.
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Lyn flexman
Hi nick,
I live in Cambridgeshire, do you cover this area.
Many thanks,
Lyn,
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paul byrne
Hi I am arranging my will today and will be stipulating this option. I live in Northamptonshire do you work as far south as this?
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yvonne mustapha
I live in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and would like to be cremated as simply and cheaply as possible, in a cardboard box or anything similar. If possible with my dogs ashes, however I have been told they couldn’t be put in with me so we can both be scattered together afterwards
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yvonne mustapha
I live in High Wycombe Bucks, and would like to be cremated as cheaply as possible preferably in a cardboard box or anything similar . Also can my much loved Dogs ashes be put into the box with me, if not than we can both be scattered at the end together
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susan hammerton
hello i would like to arrange my furture by DIRCECT DISPOSAL..and would like to buy coffin as well….infact i am very poor ,,no freinds only 2 peoples left is my son and his father they can drive down to fellow black ford galaxy…WE all are deaf dont need music/postery..no hearses ects… straight down to buried me there…..how much for every thing cheap coffin plus director disposal ects…would be happy to pay by insultment ..would u be able dot his in london ??
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Charles Cowling
In reply to .
Yes, Gina. Give Nick a call.
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Gina Foley
This is just what I am looking for. I live In Accrington Lancashire is this available to me?
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Derek Wickens
Noticed you cover Edinburgh , do you cover Dundee or are there anyone in my area does it?
regards
Derek
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gordon grandison
Been reading good things about your direct service. Noted you cover all of mainland England. Is it possible to cover Edinburgh?
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Nick Gandon
Yes, that’s not a problem – Nick
Jon was very helpful and empathetic when dealing with myself and family over the passing of our dear brother Nick. He kept us up to date and informed at all times. He made everything easy and seamless – thank you Jon.