Fowles Funeral Services boss honoured for 63 years' service

Geoff Fowles joined proud family firm, Fowles Funeral Services, 63 years ago next January.

After several rounds of shortlisting, the 77-year-old won the Association of Green Funeral Directors lifetime achievement award at a grand ceremony at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham on Sunday, September 24.

The six-generation family business was set up by his great-great-grandfather in the 18th century, and Geoff , who was just 15 when he joined in 1960, is still working hard. 

The whole team from Fowles were honour to be runners-up in two national categories (Image: Dave Fowles)

The business itself was also named runner-up in two categories at the ceremony: green funeral director of the year; and national funeral director of the year.

Geoff said it was ‘a great honour’ to be recognised by colleagues across the country, adding: “But this job is a great privilege in itself, as it’s about helping people though their most sad times.

“It’s all about meeting people; that’s the point. Every funeral is different, and every individual reacts to it differently. It’s our job to understand that.   

Asked whether he recommends staying in the same job for 63 years, Geoff added: “That’s up to the person. If you’re interested in what you do, keep doing it. If you’re not, then you won’t.

“The Mr Fowles who’d just retired before I started in 1960 did the job until he was 94.”

(L to R): Geoff Fowles; Carole Fowles; Martin Kettle, Jason Whelan, Dave Fowles (Image: Dave Fowles)

The Birches Remembrance Park and Cremetorium in Lach Dennis, and local 'smiley' funeral celebrant Katie Moran, who work closely with the team at Fowles, were also named runners-up in their own categories. 

Geoff’s son, David Fowles, a former radio DJ, is the sixth generation to take up a directorship at the firm.

He said: “We’re incredibly proud of dad’s achievement, and for the firm to be up for three awards in total is just fantastic.

“It would have been nice to win all three, but dad got the one we were all really hoping for.

“Our ethos as a firm is to treat clients as we’d want to be treated ourselves. It’s that simple, but it’s what makes us stand out from the crowd.

“Our business was started by James Fowles in the 18th century, and back then, we were both builders and funeral directors.

“We build the Brunner Guildhall. We’ve got the original plans on our wall.”