We are thrilled to announce that Simon Welham, Managing Director and co-founder of Welham Jones Funeral Directors, has been named Businessperson of the Year 2026 at the Tonbridge Business Awards. It’s just recognition of his hard work over more than 30 years building Welham Jones into a seven-branch business helping families arrange funerals across West Kent and Southeast London – and we couldn’t be prouder!
Simon has led Welham Jones, a family run funeral directors serving the communities of West Kent with compassion, dignity and understanding, for more than 30 years. He had previously been a foreign exchange trader in the City, but he left that career in 2003 to become Managing Director of Welham Jones, which he had helped his late father-in-law, Mac Jones, set up in 1992.
Since taking over at the helm, Simon has overseen the expansion of Welham Jones to seven branches serving communities across West Kent and Southeast London supported by a state-of-the-art private mortuary, as well as a garage and workshop to ensure our fleet of hearses and limousines are in peak condition at all times.
His combination of professionalism, strategic thinking and leadership skills honed during his City career, together with empathy, a respect for tradition and a passion for embracing new opportunities and adapting to a changing sector, have helped build Welham Jones into the business it is – in an industry in which most ‘family’ firms have in fact sold out to the corporates.
He has led the business through significant industry challenges including COVID, changing funeral trends, staffing shortages and rising operational pressures.
Key to this has been his belief in true family values, and his ability to build a culture in which this permeates through everything we do and is understood, appreciated and exemplified by every member of staff – who say, “Welham Jones feels like family”.
Now 71 years old, he is still actively leading, developing and modernising the business — with a genuine belief that “80 is the new 60”. As Simon puts it: “I believe that experience, resilience and judgement remain valuable commercial assets in modern business leadership.”.
Finalists in the Businessperson of the Year category were assessed on their leadership and vision, what they have learnt through overcoming challenges, the strategies that have fuelled their business’s success, innovation and growth, and how they lead and support their teams.
Key factors that contributed to Simon’s success include:
We’d like to say a big thank you to Gemma Farina of GF HR Consulting for sponsoring this prestigious category – it was an honour to receive the award from her.
In addition to Simon being named Businessperson of the Year 2026, Welham Jones was also shortlisted in the Small Business of the Year Award. This highly competitive category is specifically designed for independent local businesses employing between 3 and 19 people that are able to demonstrate exceptional business performance, operational excellence, and a stellar contribution to their local area.
The Tonbridge Business Awards are an annual celebration dedicated to honouring and championing the finest independent businesses, local charities, and community champions Tonbridge , and the wider Southeast region has to offer. Organised to spotlight local operational excellence, these awards recognise organisations that go above and beyond to support their regional economies and neighbourhoods.
The winners were announced at a glittering, black-tie gala ceremony on Thursday 25th June 2026 at the EM Forster Theatre, located within the historic grounds of Tonbridge School.
Congratulations to all the mazing businesses who made it to the finals of the Tonbridge Business Awards 2026 – it was fantastic to be able to celebrate the hard work and successes of the town’s determined, innovative, resilient business community together.
Dating back to the early 1700’s, the tradition of a horse-drawn hearse is a symbol of a simpler time and, as they were historically a method of transportation often reserved for the rich, a demonstration of great respect to your loved one. However, many people do not know that horse-drawn hearses are still around today and available to give your loved one the send-off they deserve.
In our 30 years’ experience in this industry, we’ve seen families across south London and Kent agonise over the fine details in a funeral, desperately trying to give their loved on the perfect send off. Without instruction, this can lead to delays, conflict and anguish. So, how can you tell your loved ones what you want? And where can they find this information?
It’s a problem no grieving family member wants to be faced with, however, with the cost of living increasing, it is one that may become painfully common in the future. As funeral directors with over thirty years’ experience in this industry, we want to say that if you are struggling with covering the costs of a funeral in the UK, you are not alone, and help is available. Here’s how you can seek it…
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