James Hawes and Goodchild Funeral Directors

Absolutely — this version gives Denise proper credit for the ties and flag, and adds more detail without losing your voice. From all of our family, we honestly cannot thank Denise, Samantha and the whole team enough for everything they did for us and for Dad. From the very beginning, Denise was amazing. She dealt with each and every relative calling her non-stop, asking questions, changing things and trying to make sense of everything at such an emotional and difficult time. She handled all of us with so much patience, understanding and kindness, and never once made anyone feel like they were being a nuisance or asking too much. She was thorough in every single part of the arrangements and helped us think about so many of the smaller details that we may otherwise have missed. She used her experience to guide us, but she also listened to what mattered to us as a family and made sure the funeral felt personal to Dad. She was supportive, accommodating and completely transparent about all prices and costs throughout, so there were no surprises or added stress. One of the biggest things for us was making sure Dad looked like himself, and Denise made sure that he did. That meant more to our family than I can put into words. She understood how important that was to us and made sure he was treated with dignity, care and respect throughout. Denise also organised the green ties for the staff to represent Dad’s Irish background, as well as the Irish flag on his coffin. Those personal touches meant so much to us and made everything feel that bit more special and more like him. Nothing felt generic or like just another funeral. It felt as though they had really listened and understood who Dad was. On the day, Samantha, our funeral conductor, was absolutely ace. Top hats off to her. She was calm, confident, professional and so well organised from start to finish. She, the drivers and every member of staff involved genuinely got behind giving Dad the best send-off possible. They embraced all of the details that made the day personal, including the motorbike leading the procession, the cars, Dad’s Mercedes, the Irish touches and everything else that made the journey feel like his. They did not just turn up and do a job. They became part of the day and helped make it something really special. The drivers and all the staff were respectful, smart, professional and incredibly well organised. Everything ran so smoothly, and every decision we had to make was helped by their calm and experienced voices. They took care of everything behind the scenes, which meant that on the day we could focus on Dad, on each other and on giving him the goodbye he deserved. The communication between the funeral directors, the celebrant and everyone involved was excellent. Everyone knew what was happening, everything flowed as it should, and there was never a point where we felt lost or unsure. That level of organisation made such a difference to us as a grieving family. Dad’s send-off was honestly better than I could ever have imagined, and that is thanks to Denise, Samantha and the entire team. They managed to make one of the hardest days of our lives beautiful, personal, memorable and full of love. For a man who always said he never wanted a funeral… what a day he had. From all of us, and I mean all of us, thank you for taking such good care of Dad and for taking care of our whole family too. We will never forget the kindness, respect and effort that went into giving him the send-off he deserved.

Denise and her team were amazing at supporting me and my friends through a difficult time. She gave a great service that I won’t forget and helped us give a proper send off to someone we lost. She would constantly check up on us and was much more than a funeral director but also a kind and supportive person throughout the process. Thank you to everyone 🙏

A big Thank you to Denise and Her team!! They really Helped to organise and support us through the hard times Of a close loved ones funeral plans. They cared Deeply and made sure to reach out and check on us to see if we we're doing alright whilst also providing an amazing Service for them. Much appreciated 🙏

I had a very upsetting experience outside James Hawes & Goodchild Funeral Directors. 30/3/2026 at around 13:25 I pulled over to park and, because of the curved curb, didn’t realise I was partially blocking the entrance. When a funeral vehicle pulled up, I waved him to pass, but he shouted aggressively, “You’re blocking my car park, MOVE,” and later called me a “moron.” For parking on the double yellow lines. I would have moved immediately if approached politely. Being shouted at and insulted over a simple mistake was completely unnecessary and unprofessional. Businesses dealing with the public should always speak with basic courtesy, especially in sensitive situations. Absolutely Disgusting behaviour!

I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Denise for the care, professionalism and compassion you showed while arranging my aunts funeral. Throughout the entire process, your communication was clear, thoughtful and reassuring. You were always available to answer questions and guide me through each step, which made a very difficult time much easier for our family. We are truly grateful for the respect and attention to detail you gave. Everything was handled beautifully and we are very happy with the support you provided. Your kindness and dedication meant a great deal to me and my family and we will always appreciate the way you helped us honour my aunts memory. So much appreciated.