Thetford funeral directors goes from strength-to-strength

Lydia Turner director of Thetford and District Funeral Services. Picture: Rebecca Murphy (Image: Archant)

Founded in 1965 by David Turner, the 73-year-old is still working as a funeral director and still takes part in every funeral.

But he has handed over the baton on to his daughter Lydia Turner - to make sure the business remains in the family - who is a director of the company and will this year also be taking part as a director of the funerals.

There has been recently changes to the firm on Old Market Street.

Under Miss Turner's leadership, the funeral directors has been extended after they decided to stop renting out the next door premises and use it to create the space needed for the expanding business.

There have been some rearranging of rooms and it now boasts a new arrangement room, waiting room and display area. With changes made to the chapels and outside buildings.

Miss Turner, who has been involved in the family business for 20 years, said: 'Thetford has grown. When my dad first started he was doing 40 to 50 funeralsa year now it is between 150 to 200. We are doing so many funerals that we needed to make it bigger.

'I just thought the only bit about it I wanted to change was to make it so when people walked through the door it was not scary.'

The 37-year-old's partner Mal Offen is also involved in the business and Miss Turner said she hopes when she has children they can then take on the family business.

'I swore blind I would never go into the funeral business with my dad but I wouldn't change it for the world,' she said. 'I came in and answered the phones for him and that was 20 years ago.

'It is nice to have it as a family thing. I am hopeful my children will get involved in the future. It is nice to work with dad because I think only family can run it in a certain way.

'It is not a job it is a lifestyle. You cannot just go home and shut the door and forget about it. It is 24 hours. But I love it. It is brilliant.'

Miss Turner said in the future she will look to develop the business further by redeveloping the yard outside to perhaps include a courtyard and remodel the warehouses for services.