Page 10 - Issue 68 Online

MUM, DAD, I WANT TO BE

AN UNDERTAKER!

t the age of 14, I told my parents I wanted vacancy was in March town, I accepted the role.
to be an undertaker. I did not know I had four years as the mobile embalmer and
Aanything about the world of funerals then applied for a position as Funeral Director,
but I knew that’s what I wanted to do. For my still with the Co-op. I was successful with my
work experience I was given a placement at the application and have worked since 2014 as the
local crematorium and whilst there I was told Funeral Director for George James & Son and
about embalming. I contacted an embalming Co-Operative Funeral Care in Chatteris. I have
tutor who asked me if I had ever watched an had the privilege of looking after many bereaved
embalming to which I told him I had never even families in the local area and find it a great
seen a dead body! honour when families request for me to look
after them.

Many thanks to all
those involved and for
the support
I have received.

At the end of September 2020 I noticed the
premises where Johnson’s Ironmongers used to
trade was empty. My dad knew the family who
owned the premises, so a viewing was arranged.
At 16 years old I watched my first embalming However, the shop needed a huge amount of
process take place and I was hooked. I was work to make it into the funeral home I wanted.
fortunate enough to have a family who paid
for my embalming course, so I signed up as a
student. In 2000 I was offered a position as a
trainee embalmer. I accepted this position and
worked with Dignity UK for 9 years. During this
period, in 2003, I obtained my qualification to
become a fully trained embalmer. This was a
huge achievement for me.
At the beginning of 2010 I was approached
again but this time by the Co-op. A position for
a mobile embalmer was available and as the

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