Six of the region's oldest family firms are funeral directors. But with the profession much-changed from its carpentry roots, there are questions over succession. SABAH MEDDINGS reports.
As a teenager, helping his father build coffins was all part of Jerry March's job as a young carpenter and joiner.
Born into a family of funeral directors stretching back to 1840 meant going on his first 'collection' of a deceased person was inconsequential.
And on leaving school there was no question of his choosing not to follow his father into the family trade.
His is a familiar story, for several of Norfolk and Suffolk's family-owned funeral business have roots stretching back five or even six generations.
Each originally ran alongside the family carpentry or wheelwright business, and gradually evolved into professional funeral services which exist in the heart of their communities today.
But like many independent firms, battling market pressures and finding fresh talent is a challenge, particularly in a trade which does not often feature in school careers evenings.
Directing funerals is often a profession people are born into, with the ceremonies not a topic of conversation many are willing to consider before they have to.
However, while 74-year-old Mr March and his wife Linda, 71, are confident their business will survive into the next generation – with son Adam and daughter Lisa ready to step into their shoes – other firms are not so secure.
Like many other sectors, larger companies have snapped up smaller independent firms across the country, creating major national chains.
And the younger generation often want to choose their own path rather than follow in their parents' footsteps.
This is true of RH Bond Funeral Directors in King's Lynn, which is likely to end with the fifth generation, according to current owner 52-year-old Colin Bond.
He said it was 'heart-wrenching', but added his two daughters were pursuing their own careers. 'It doesn't look good for the next generation,' he said.
'I will probably just retire and close the business. I don't like to see it close on my watch but it's a job that doesn't suit everyone.'
Like every profession, modernisation has affected funeral directors, with mass manufacturing of coffins separating carpentry from the trade.
Paul Allcock, president of the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors, said: 'There is an issue of succession. There are still a number of family businesses around which have been around for many years but a lot have been bought by big groups.'
Paul Andrews, founder of Family Business United, whose recent report revealed six out of 25 of the oldest family firms in Norfolk and Suffolk are funeral directors, said: 'If you ask most people who go to university what they want to do, they are not going to put being a funeral director on the list.
'Growing up in an environment where it is normal probably leads to a higher propensity to go into it.'
But for North Walsham-based Murrell Cork Funerals, passing the business on to the next generation is not an option.
Chris Cork, 62, whose family founded the company in 1840, said: 'I have no children so I'm the end of the line. I don't know what will happen after me.'
Mr Cork added he had no current plans to retire.
Future hope
While some family firms have question marks over their future due to the absence of a clear successor, there is new talent joining the industry.
Laura Martin, 24, has been a funeral director for eight years since leaving school after a two-week spell of work experience convinced her to join the profession.
Now she works for south Norfolk-based Rosedale Funeral Home, and although she just recently qualified, she has been conducting funerals since before she was 18.
'It's a hard industry to get into,' she said. 'You often find once people go into it they stay.'
But she received mixed reactions from friends. 'I think people are wary,' she said. 'It's the fear of the unknown.'
Farthing, Singleton & Hastings
Luke Farthing's funeral business traces its roots back to 1840, although his own family only became involved in the last
century when his father, Donald, bought two businesses.
Mr Farthing, 52, studied law but was always drawn towards the family business, which has branches in Ipswich, Felixstowe and Debenham.
'I always felt that I wished to move into this career. It was very much a sense of vocation to me. I think the feeling from both my parents and myself was it was important to gain some other life experience beforehand so I went off to do that but persuaded them to let me join very shortly afterwards.' His wife, Liz, is involved in the business, and the couple have four children, two at school and two at university, so it is unclear yet whether the next generation will become involved.
'Our children are comparatively young, so you never know what the future will bring,' he said.
Have you got a family business story? Email sabah.meddings@archant.co.uk
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