PHILIP MADDISON Owner of East Durham Funeral Servic
“The first branch of East Durham Funeral Service was opened in 1971 in Horden’ County Durham by Barrie Lee’ my father-in-law. Mr. Lee was one of the first independent funeral directors in the area and quickly built up a wide-spreading reputation which saw families from throughout the region selecting our company’ when faced with the loss of a loved one’ to take care of their funerals. In 1982′ I joined the company and following Mr Lee’s retirement’ I went on to expand the reach of the business across East Durham by opening a further four branches. Peterlee’ Easington’ Trimdon and Wingate’ with Peterlee later becoming our head office.
“In more recent years’ I was delighted in 2005 to be joined by our son Tom and then in 2013′ our daughter Ellen completed the family business.” Now’ as third generation funeral directors’ the family have spent the last 50 years building the local knowledge and unparalleled expertise necessary to guide their clients through the decisions ahead.
The ethos underpinning the company is that every life is unique and therefore each funeral should reflect the character of the individual. This is achieved by developing close relationships with the families in the care of the company in order to capture the uniqueness of the person.
What are your career ambitions?
“I’ve been with East Durham Funeral Service now for 40 years’ so feel very much part of the furniture! I joined at the tender age of just 19′ which’ at that age’ was certainly a different career path to a lot of my friends at the time! “I started as assistant funeral director’ but as the business grew’ my father-in-law asked me if I’d like to join as a partner’ instead of employee. I jumped at the chance and then’ in 2003 when he retired’ I took over completely. We then opened four further branches’ and’ as they say’ the rest is history.”
Current role within East Durham Funeral Services?
“I am the current owner and a funeral director within the business and my role within the company is paramount to making sure that our clients’ loved ones final goodbye is unique to them and a personal tribute to the person they have lost.”
Your proudest achievement?
“I am going to mention two here’ as I am proud of both. Our Children’ Tom and Ellen have always excelled themselves and to say I am a proud father would be an understatement. Tom successfully played amateur golf at Castle Eden Golf Club for the county and for England. He actually broke the course record at Castle Eden aged just 14. He was one of the best players in Europe at the time and later attended Oklahoma State University’ the number one golf college in America’ before returning home to play professionally. Ellen graduated from Teesside University with a first in psychology and counselling’ also winning an award for her research. She worked extremely hard to achieve this and it’s always a proud moment when you see your children succeed and put so much effort in to following their dreams. I am now so proud that both of them work in the family business’ but not before they had more than proved themselves capable of achieving their personal goals.
How has the industry changed?
“I suppose the thing we have noticed most over the years’ is the increase in the amount of nonreligious ceremonies that now take place. Obviously’ this is a personal choice’ so as forward-thinking funeral directors’ we are always on hand to make suggestions to help our clients come to the right decision about their loved ones’ religious or not. The other side of the changes in the industry is the increase in social media announcements. At one time’ you took out an obituary out in the local press to announce the funeral and passing of a loved one’ however now’ it is completely acceptable to put this on social media channels. Fewer people use the press for their announcements now. Also’ not everyone wants a traditional funeral service anymore’ so we are always happy to offer the alternatives to our clients.”
What’s happening in EDFS that our readers would be interested in? “Well’ we’re all very proud to be celebrating 50 years in business’ but it really is a joint effort.”
