Southgate & Roberts Independent Funeral Directors

Liam Roberts (Dip FD, Dip CFSMA & MBIFD) and Matthew Southgate, both hugely experienced and thoroughly nice people, pooled all the knowledge they had acquired over decades learning their trade, opening the high-quality Southgate & Roberts premises in central Ipswich in February 2015.

Liam came into funerals in 1985 and immediately knew that he had found his vocation in life. Trained by the best; he worked for a highly renowned London funeral business, which, at that time, held the Royal Appointment. Impeccable attention to detail was the standard for every client, not just the royal family, and Liam absorbed this as he learned every aspect of how to be a funeral director, working from the bottom up. Over the years, he has acquired the highest of recognised professional qualifications and rose to become an operations manager for the UK’s largest service provider. He has also worked for the Home Office assisting with disaster recovery, and is an active consultant and funeral industry expert.

Sadly, Matt had to take his leave of the business in October 2023, following a long history of poor health.

In 2020 Darren Lucas (Cert FP, MIFDC)  moved into a full-time role as a trainee funeral director after working with Southgate and Roberts for several months as a part time staff member. In 2022 he was awarded the Most Promising Trainee Funeral Director of the year Award at the AGFD Good Funeral Awards. In December 2023, following an intensive two years of study with the renowned IFD College, he qualified as a Certified Funeral Practitioner (Cert FP), attaining the highest possible score of credits. He is also an accredited member of the Independent funeral College (MIFD).

Easy to find on a main route in Ipswich, on the outside of the building is proudly proclaimed ‘Funeral Suite and Advice Centre’ – a perfect description of what Southgate and Roberts offer. The large windows mean that passers-by can glance in and see a space that is warm and welcoming, completely unlike the old-fashioned funeral parlours still found in many towns.

Inside, the immediate feeling is of entering a quality hotel reception.Comfortable leather chairs and a low coffee table await any visitors, and many former clients pop in to have a chat and a coffee as they pass. (The coffee is exceptionally good here, by the way.) An attractive oak clad curved wall displaying the signature S&R faces you as you enter, behind which is a comfortable room with sofas, where funeral arrangements can be made in privacy.

The recently redecorated and elegantly appointed on-site chapel, equipped with audio visual equipment, air conditioning and filtration, provides a flexible and affordable alternative setting for families to hold intimate funeral services.

The behind-the-scenes preparation area is impeccably kept and fully equipped with everything needed to care for the people whose families have chosen Southgate & Roberts to look after them. The experience and attention to detail that Liam and Darren have brought to this business is evident here. Every person brought into their care is fully showered and has their hair washed and styled as they would normally wear it (a recent photograph is always requested to use for reference). Quality fridges offer space for larger people, every person has a pillow, and a flower is always placed with them. And people are referred to as Mr. or Mrs, never by their surname alone. They are cared for as if their family is standing beside the staff, all of the time.Such is their pride in this aspect of their work, that they are now revered as the go to Ipswich based funeral director and tutor for Nursing and Home Care Staff, wishing to attend a `Care After Death` training workshop.

Preparation of the people in their care is of paramount importance to everyone at Southgate and Roberts, and they treat each person with reverence and respect. They are particularly skilled in restoring appearance with make up, and, alongside Julie Smith, the award winning embalmer, they work to ensure that everybody entrusted into their care looks peaceful and completely recognisable for their families.

Specific Gravity

Exceptional quality of service at very good value. The years of experience that the team have brought to their business have been distilled into creating the ideal funeral director service. Everything has been thought of, down to the smallest detail, and their personal attentive approach enables clients to take creative control of their funerals with the complete support of a highly professional team. They are absolute in their conviction that they provide the very best service possible in care, professionalism and value for money, which is supported by their many impressive and record number of client reviews.

What’s Important?

Caring and understanding what matters to each person is part of the essence of this business. Liam and Darren are passionate about helping you get what you want and need from a funeral and will ensure that the experience you have is the best it can possibly be. They love the freedom they have to be completely responsive to each family’s requirements and are wholly dedicated to doing their absolute utmost to serve the people who choose them to care for a loved one.

What’s Different?

The little touches. For every funeral there is something special and personal that reflects the person who has died. When we first visited, a funeral was taking place for a lady who loved yellow roses, they had been part of her wedding bouquet, and she was known for her love of them. Her coffin was decorated with a beautiful display of yellow roses created by Sheila Nunn, the Southgate & Roberts florist, and all the bearers were wearing a yellow rose as a buttonhole, although Matt returned without his – he had given his one to a young family member who had admired it. Additional thoughtful touches that enhance each family’s experience.

We were also impressed by the level of dedication of the team, the personal connection they have with each family and the determination to keep getting better at what they do. They hosted sign language classes on their premises prior to the pandemic, and along with members of the public, the staff attended each week and learned to sign. This enables them to communicate with deaf people at funerals and in daily life, something that has provoked very emotional reactions when deaf people have realised they can make themselves understood. As an added bonus, the ability to sign has provided Liam and the team with a discrete way of communicating with each other at funerals.

Another example of the innovation and creativity that is an important element of this business is the commissioning of unique bird tables and benches, created by a local charity from recycled plastic bags with the appearance of wood in various hues. These are designed to store ashes, an inspired idea which provides families with a low cost and completely portable place to keep the ashes of someone who has been cremated.

We particularly liked the idea of sending each person who contacts them about arranging a funeral an advisory note immediately by e-mail, followed up with a hard copy, outlining the things that you will need to think about before meeting them. This helps the subsequent meeting to be a conversation rather than a question and answer session, and provides clients with a fully detailed outline of the subjects that will be discussed to create the funeral the way that they want.

Services

•  Your first call will be answered Liam or Darren, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• Home visits – yes, you will always be given the choice of whether to come to their premises by appointment or have them come to you if you prefer, to use video calls that allow family members from far afield to also participate.
• Family participation – yes absolutely. The preparation area has been designed for this very purpose.
• Same sex person to wash and dress? Yes, no problem. Liam or Darren will always be involved with caring for each person they are asked to look after, but Julie Smith will wash and dress women if this is preferred.
• Embalming With Julie’s expertise Southgate and Roberts believe that embalming will always improve the appearance of deceased people, but they don’t believe it is always necessary and will let clients make  an informed, no pressure choice.
• Ethnic specialism – The team find it amazing that some funeral directors choose to even mention that they serve all communities and faiths – in their ethos it is an absolute given that everyone receives the service they need. Translation services are available if required. Currently Southgate & Roberts are the trusted service provider for the local Hindu, Cantonese and Muslim communities.
• Home arranged funerals – 100% supportive, and have helped families care for their dead themselves on many occasions. ‘Advice is free!’
• Local celebrants – they have a ‘vetted’ selection of local celebrants to recommend for the growing number. of non-religious services.
• Website – very nice website, fresh and modern and easy to navigate, with prices clearly displayed in great detail.
• Client support – superb. From the moment of first contact through to the funeral and beyond. Many clients pop in to see them as they are passing, and both Liam and Darren will drop in to see former clients at home if invited to.
• Money matters – really good value for money. You will get a first class service for a tremendously reasonable cost. They provide only what you need, and you will know exactly what you are committing to.
• Parking – There is a small car park above the premises. Other car parks are nearby.

Remarks

Liam and Darren are exceptional funeral directors and Southgate and Roberts is an exceptional business. Down to earth, personable, capable and caring, they will stand alongside you and support you every step of the way. Together they offer the people of Ipswich superb, personal service when it is most needed.

The team’s combined 135+ years of personal experience, their attention to detail and their thorough, thoughtful approach ensures that the service you will receive will be second to none. They see themselves as event planners, not just typical funeral directors, but they bring with them all the quality of years learning how to do funerals perfectly.

Their standards are among the highest we have seen, and it would be hard to find nicer people to help you and your family to achieve the funeral that you want.

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.