MEET THE TEAM

The Albany Team

The Albany team are friendly, professional and all motivated to use their skills and varied life experiences to help those who are grieving. At Albany Funerals you can be assured that a warm and friendly welcome awaits you, underpinned by the highest professional standards and integrity.

Jo Williamson

Jo Williamson

Jo lives with her husband Tim and her two teenage children in Cranbrook.

Jo puts her all into everything she does and works hard to ensure that each family served at Albany Funerals receives the best welcome and dedicated service of her team. Jo works from both the Ashford and Maidstone offices.

Before Jo launched Albany Funerals, she worked for four years for the United Nations in Rome and three years for PwC in London. Jo loves travelling and speaks French and Italian.

Matthew Highsted

Matthew Highsted

Matthew lives with his wife Angela In Maidstone. They have six grown up children between them. He has been a funeral director for over twenty years.

He directs most of our funerals and his care and support for the families and his attention to detail are second to none.

He is also our general manager and is loved by all.

Anisa Wren

Anisa Wren

Anisa lives with her two teenage children, their three dogs and two cats.

She loves her work and feels it is a real privilege to do such a rewarding job.  She always goes the extra mile with the families she supports and takes great pride in ensuring that the funeral is the best it can possibly be.  She is an excellent hearse driver and pallbearer when needed, and also handles our accounts.

Anisa works out of the Maidstone office and when at home she is partial to a spot of gardening and also loves good food!

Angela Highsted

Angela Highsted

Angela is Matthew’s wife and they live together in Maidstone. She has two grown up daughters.

Angela is always so kind to her family, friends and colleagues and extends the same warmth to the families she works with at Albany. She will always gives so much of herself to ensure that not only the funeral is perfect, but also that all those involved have been given as much TLC as they need.

Angela works from the Maidstone office.
She enjoys gardening and tea shops.

Keris Burt

Keris Burt

After many years away, Keris settled back in Kent and now lives near Selling with her young son. They love spending time in the woods or at the beach and Keris is also a keen runner. After a background in broadcasting, Keris went on to study ecology. This later led to a job in the Eco-friendly coffin business, which in turn led to funeral arranging. She feels it is a privilege to ensure that a funeral service encapsulates the style and mood which are true to the person who has died. Keris is based in the Ashford office in Great Chart and loves dogs, especially Border Terriers.

Lee Davies

Lee lives in Medway and is mostly based at our Maidstone office, although he also helps out at Ashford.  He was drawn to the industry after doing some work experience with a Funeral Director when he was younger, and previously worked in health and social care.  Lee takes a lot of pride in everything he does, and always shows great attention to detail.  He is the newest addition to our team but has already became an invaluable member, and even stands in for Matthew as Funeral Director when needed.

Lee enjoys the outdoors, walking, gardening and short breaks away with his partner.  He drinks a lot of coffee!

Paul Watts

Paul Watts

Paul lives with his partner Sue and a cat called Purdy. When he isn’t serving families at Albany, he loves classic cars – his pride and joy is a 1965 Austin Healey – and fishing.

Paul is a dedicated member of the team, taking pride in ensuring that our vehicles are kept in the very best condition and immaculately clean. He gains a great deal of satisfaction by doing his job properly and with his naturally cheerful demeanour he puts families at ease.

He is also partial to a crumpet or two…

Richard Bushen

Richard Bushen

Richard lives in Maidstone with his wife Jenny and is our Pallbearer and driver. He has two grown up sons and 5 grandchildren who he absolutely dotes on. He is also one of the kindest people you will meet and will do anything to help anyone.

 

Mick Crossingham

Mick Crossingham

Mick lives near Rochester with his wife Sandy. He is our Pallbearer and driver is a real family man and loves nothing more than spending time with his six grandchildren.  His other love is football and supports Chelsea.

He really enjoys working here as he feels that all the team show such dignity and compassion to all the families we serve.

Sam Loveridge

Sam Loveridge

Sam is Jo’s son. He is 22 and has just graduated with a marketing degree at Brighton University. He has been a pallbearer since he was 16 and is always very willing to lend an extra pair of hands when he is back home.  He loves this job which he does with pride and feels that it is extremely rewarding.
Sam loves travelling and going to music festivals.

Pix and Lenny

Pix and Lenny

Pix and Lenny are our happy friends who are often at our premises and bring smiles and cuddles if required.

If you would welcome Pix or Lenny to be in the meeting, please let us know and we will do everything we can to ensure that they are on hand!

Tim Williamson

Tim Williamson

Tim is Jo’s husband and he is a semi-retired police driving instructor. He therefore makes the perfect limousine driver and works with us when he is not teaching police officers to drive at speed.

Get in Touch

Please feel free to contact us at any time, whether to discuss your options, to seek our advice or to simply ask any questions you might have.

We regularly serve the whole of Kent and also more widely across the UK when requested.

Our branch in Great Chart, just outside of Ashford has also been open since January 2018. We have plenty of free parking. Please contact us on either number for information.

More Info

 Information Booklet 2024

  Funeral Wishes Form

 Greener Funerals web version

    Our Offices

    Albany Funerals Maidstone
    669 Loose Road,
    Maidstone,
    Kent ME15 9UX
    01622 746 688
    [email protected]

    Albany Funerals Ashford
    1, New Street Farm,
    Chilmington Green Road,
    Great Chart,
    Ashford, TN23 3DL
    01233 650 746
    [email protected]

     

     

    Opening Times

    Offices are open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday

    We are available to help 24/7