In this section you’ll find thoughts and observations
For all media related enquiries, please contact us on info@albany-funerals.co.uk
For all media related enquiries, please contact us on info@albany-funerals.co.uk
We are passionate about sharing best practice insight with others. This section is our growing resource area to input into this wider conversation so that more families across the UK and world receive the best care they can.
Funeral Plans
We get asked all the time if we sell funeral plans. We do, however in most cases, buying a funeral plan is not necessary. We feel it’s much more important to let your family or friends know what you do or do not want for your funeral. This can really help guide the people who will be making the difficult decisions at the time. This doesn’t mean that you have to plan every aspect of your funeral, however some pointers will most probably be very welcome. Sometimes, just one piece of music specified in passing can make all the difference. There is no need to offer large sums of money up front for something that can be paid directly through the person’s estate at the time of need. Most funeral plans add on huge admin fees and charges, and the small print will hide the fact that there will always be more to pay at the time of need.
Our funeral wishes form can be a good starting point. You can download it below or request us to send you one.
NEW Funeral Wishes
In some cases, if an elderly relative is going into care, for example, or you just want to feel that you want to put all your affaires in order, a plan can be helpful.
We can discuss this with you and explain all the options. If you want to buy a funeral plan, we only recommend Open Prepaid Funeral Plans as we have found them to be fair and ethical. Please get in touch with us as we can help you with this.
Funeral Plans | Prepaid Funeral Plans | Open Prepaid Funeral Plans (openprepaidfunerals.co.uk)
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Albany Funerals
Albany Funerals is an award-winning, independent and affordable funeral provider, bringing the highest standards of service to families across the whole of Kent, and beyond. Recommended by the Good Funeral Guide and led by Jo Williamson.
Since Covid, livestreaming and recording funeral services has become a familiar and valued option for many of us. Most crematoria now have built‑in webcast facilities, and recordings can also be saved to revisit later. ![]()
For funerals taking place in churches or other venues, we’re fortunate to work closely with Scott at Funeral Filming, a brilliant local videographer who provides a polished, professional service at a very competitive price. ![]()
His valuable work not only ensures that those unable to attend a funeral in person can still feel included, but also gives families a lasting record of an important moment that can often pass in a blur.![]()
#funeralfilming![]()
#livestreaming![]()
#localbusiness
Presenting our new flower book in collaboration with our fabulous florist Jo from gardenroomatgoldensquare.com. Jo somehow always seems to have the knack of understanding exactly what we mean when we are ordering flowers for our funerals and they surpass our expectations time and time again. Jo now uses completely biodegradable Oasis foam in all her coffin sprays. Thank you for all the beautiful flowers you bring us Jo!![]()
#localbusiness![]()
#flowers![]()
#naturalflowers
We were recently involved in a collaboration with two local female flower growers wanting to change the narrative about funeral flowers. Look what can be achieved, with no polluting floristry foam, and all the flowers are locally grown! ![]()
Thank you to Ecoffins for providing some of their beautiful coffins to showcase these amazing flowers, and Reverend Silke Tetzlaff, Rector at All Saints Church in Staplehurst for opening her Church to support this project. The wonderful personally designed Orders of Service are by David Scates.
So true. ![]()
From our favourite flower grower Lin, at Woodchurch Cottage Flowers 🌹
We absolutely love working with Artisan Memorials. Their designs are completely bespoke and beautifully crafted. A very unique service. ![]()
#caligraphy![]()
#memorial![]()
#headstonesBehind every memorial we create is a thoughtful design process led by experience, skill and care.![]()
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Here, our Chief Stonemason, Mark Brooks, is putting the final touches to a bespoke memorial design. Every line, curve and detail is carefully considered to ensure the finished headstone truly reflects the life and legacy it represents.![]()
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At Artisan Memorials, we guide families through a clear and supportive design process, from initial ideas and sketches through to the completed memorial. Whether traditional or contemporary, simple or highly personalised, each design is created with respect, craftsmanship and attention to detail.![]()
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You can learn more about our headstone design process here:![]()
artisan-memorials.co.uk/our-headstone-design-process/
We are bowled over once again by the generosity and imagination of our clients and friends of the Albany family. Thank you so much! We had so many gifts for The young lives foundation that we had to request 2 collections. Please don’t worry, you have until Wednesday to drop gifts off. ![]()
We also raised £227.50 in cash for the charity. ![]()
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! ![]()
#TreeOfRemembrance![]()
#younglivesfoundation![]()
#givingtree![]()
#rememberinglovedones
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We have some beautiful new ashes jewellery on display made by a small family jewellers, Alba Rose. They are in silver, and white, yellow or rose gold with ashes set into Murano glass in a wide range of colours. ![]()
We love them! ![]()
Feel free to come and have a look. ![]()
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Prices are on their website below. ![]()
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albarose.com/![]()
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#ashesjewellery![]()
#muranoglass![]()
#muranoglassjewelry
Just a few of the amazing places that have hosted some of our funerals and memorial services over the last month. These were proceeded or followed by direct cremations in all cases but one. Showing that direct cremations can be a good thing, as holding the cremation separately before or after the service can open up so many more venue possibilities for these vital life events. However, these beautiful ceremonies are a far cry from the direct cremations pushed on us by expensive advertising campaigns on our TV screens, selling unattended cremations as ‘no fuss funerals’. ![]()
It’s always worth speaking to your local funeral director who will usually offer the same service but with more care, support, and advice. ![]()
#DirectCremation![]()
#meaningfulceremonies![]()
#modernfunerals![]()
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Bradbourne House![]()
Kentfield Country Estate![]()
Chilston Park Hotel
Yes! We all deserve something special when we die, and this shouldn’t have to involve spending loads of money. Funerals don’t have to be dull and sad. Find a funeral director you trust who can help you hold a ceremony that means something to you, whether it’s simple or extravagant!
Funerals in nature!![]()
Have you considered the benefits of being closer to nature at times of grief? In our experience, it makes such a difference.![]()
Please tell us about your own experiences.![]()
☘️🌿🌱Natural burial.![]()
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While vast sums of money are poured into promoting direct cremation, there’s another choice that you might not have thought of.![]()
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Around the UK there are hundreds of natural burial grounds. While locally they will be well known, there hasn’t been a strong collective movement to encourage people to think about choosing natural burial for themselves or for someone they love, so this is an option that is often overlooked.![]()
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This gorgeous photo is from one of the natural burial grounds recommended by the Good Funeral Guide, @tithegreen in Oxton. ![]()
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Have a look and see whether there’s a natural burial ground near you, and go and visit it. Once you’ve walked in one of these beautiful places we think the idea of cremation may take second place in your plans.![]()
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Prices vary throughout the country, but are usually significantly lower than traditional burial in cemeteries. ![]()
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#naturalburial
Have you or anyone you know had experience of a ‘Direct Cremation’? If so, would you be willing to take 5 mins to fill in this super valuable questionnaire devised by the The Good Funeral Guide CIC to enable them to understand how people are affected???![]()
Thank you so much! ![]()
#DirectCremation![]()
#funeralsmatter![]()
#goodfuneralguideOn today's blog:![]()
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Direct cremation. We want to find out more about why people are choosing it, and how bereaved people feel about it.![]()
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If you have experienced someone choosing a direct cremation, please tell us about it by completing our questionnaire.![]()
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Do please also share this on your platforms so we can reach as wide an audience as possible and begin to gather some insights into thoughts about this choice.![]()
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www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk/2025/05/direct-cremation-tell-us-your-thoughts/
What do you think of these venues for funerals? Have you held a funeral somewhere other than a church or a crematorium? Please share your experiences! Thank you to the The Good Funeral Guide CICfor sharing some of ours, and for showing what funerals can be!!![]()
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#goodfuneralguide![]()
#funeralservice![]()
#funeralsmatter![]()
#alternativefuneralvenues
For the last few years, we have gathered every spring to remember and acknowledge the people dear to us who have died. ![]()
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This year our amazing celebrant, Kathryn Sansom (Life and Love: Kathryn Sansom, Independent Celebrant) centered her expertly crafted remembrance service on acknowledging the grief journey that each of us is on, finding comfort in joining with others and learning to travel forward without our person. ![]()
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There is such strength and support in coming together as a community to pause, and to remember, each with our own unique memories, to hear the name of our person, and light a candle in their memory. ![]()
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Marc Lemezma (Celebrant Marc - Funeral & LIfe Celebrant), another of our cherished celebrants, regaled us with two beautiful poems he had written, one especially for this event, and another for a previous funeral (shared with permission) both very much on theme. 'Journey' and 'A Biker's Blessing'. (Both attached below). Thank you both so much for working with us to create such a beautiful service.![]()
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Reverend Nicky Harvey delivered a heartfelt blessing to conclude our proceedings and Becky Mckean, another of our wonderful celebrants expertly read all the precious names out. Thank you all.![]()
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Thank you also to all those of you who came, and donated to Heart of Kent Hospice. We raised a fantastic £341.50. ![]()
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Wonderful flowers by Jo at gardenroomatgoldensquare.com and delicious cupcakes by Sweet Sonya's Cakes. Thank you!
If you've watched daytime TV recently, you will have been bombarded with adverts selling the merits of Direct Cremation. ![]()
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Indeed, this 'non funeral' is growing in popularity in the UK, particularly since the pandemic. ![]()
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There is very little research in The Good Funeral Guide CICneral Guide CIC are trying to understand more about any impact, positive or negative, that direct cremation has on bereaved people. ![]()
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They have expertly crafted a clear and simple questionnaire (attached in blog below) for those who have experienced someone close to them having a direct cremation (i.e. where nobody attended the coffin's committal at the crematorium). ![]()
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Was it a financial choice? The lack of 'fuss'? The wish to have a ceremony somewhere without the coffin present after or before the cremation took place? or something else? ![]()
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It only takes about 5 mins and please share as wi#DirectCremation.#funeralplanningr#goodfuneralguidee#funeralserviceodfuneralguide![]()
#FuneralServiceOn today's blog:![]()
![]()
Direct cremation. We want to find out more about why people are choosing it, and how bereaved people feel about it.![]()
![]()
If you have experienced someone choosing a direct cremation, please tell us about it by completing our questionnaire.![]()
![]()
Do please also share this on your platforms so we can reach as wide an audience as possible and begin to gather some insights into thoughts about this choice.![]()
![]()
www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk/2025/05/direct-cremation-tell-us-your-thoughts/
We are looking forward to our upcoming Remembrance Service on Saturday 26th April at 2 pm, at Boughton Monchelsea Village hall. If you would like to join us, please either book directly via www.ticketsource.co.uk/albany-funerals![]()
..or get in touch with our office on 01622 746688/info@albany-funerals.co.uk and we will book you in, and take the names of the people you would like to remember.
It's with great sadness that we have had to make the decision to close our premises in Great Chart, Ashford at the end of March. The current economic climate, staffing issues and problems with the building have put a huge strain on us, and it feels the right thing to do to regroup and focus completely on our busy Maidstone branch. The office will close on Friday 28th March and we will not be accepting any more funerals after today. If you do need us in the Ashford area, we cover the whole of Kent and we will always do whatever we can to help through our Maidstone office. Thank you to all our lovely clients in the Ashford area, and our celebrants and other providers, it's been a pleasure working with you to make beautiful funerals. Please do stay in touch!
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