The Future of Funeral Industry in the UK Part 1

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Funeral Trends : Longer Waiting Times

The changes that we’ve seen within the funeral industry, regulation is one of them. We now have regulated funerals and regulated funeral plans. We have changes in the way death is treated in terms of registration. The way in which the hospitals treat the dead. You can’t say, someone dies of old age anymore. There has to be some medical reason for death, no matter how old the person.

So, I call this medicalisation of death. It’s done in layers of bureaucracy, where we are moving towards the medical referee system. So GPs will not be able, without direction from the medical referee, to issue cremation paperwork or issue any form of medical certificate for the cause of death. This is centralising things. And I have to say, despite the messages coming down from the Ministry of Justice, that it will speed things up, I disagree, and I think it is only going to slow things down.

30 years ago, you could have a cremation within ten days. You could have a burial within a week. We are now running at 2 to 3 weeks for a cremation; though you can still have a burial in ten days. But I think cremations will be getting out to four or five weeks before too much longer. Now, is that good?

Are You Looking For a Local funeral director near you in or in the Sevenoaks area?

We are here to help you in your time of need, any time of day or night. 24/7, 7 days-a-week. We are here for you.

We have local funeral homes across west Kent and south east London.

Funeral Directors Sevenoaks

Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials
156 London Rd, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1DJ

Tel: 01732 742400

https://welhamjones.co.uk/Contact/Sevenoaks

Find us here : https://goo.gl/maps/akb9VE8YZ63yKb1z9

Our other funeral homes can be found:

Funeral Directors Swanley

Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials
31 Station Rd, Swanley BR8 8ES

Tel: 01322 619100

https://www.welhamjones.co.uk/Swanley

Find us here : https://goo.gl/maps/6cqrE4rVDUKqWJDC8

Funeral Directors Chislehurst & Bromley

Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials
4 Belmont Parade, Green Ln, Chislehurst BR7 6AN

Tel: 020 8467 2222

https://www.welhamjones.co.uk/Contact/Bromley%20And%20Chislehurst

Find us here : https://goo.gl/maps/y1a1GJWZYDc2fmrN7

Funeral Directors Borough Green

Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials
43 Western Rd, Borough Green, Sevenoaks TN15 7AN

Tel: 01732 780600

https://www.welhamjones.co.uk/Contact/Borough%20Green

Find us here : https://goo.gl/maps/87ibpNnngcHmi1uV6

Funeral Directors Tonbridge

Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials
164 High St, Tonbridge TN9 1BB

Tel: 01732 617171

https://www.welhamjones.co.uk/Contact/Tonbridge

Find us here : https://goo.gl/maps/q2hKSMfJypEper2A6

Funeral Directors Swanley

Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials
31 Station Rd, Swanley BR8 8ES

Tel: 01322 619100

https://www.welhamjones.co.uk/Swanley

Find us here : https://goo.gl/maps/6cqrE4rVDUKqWJDC8

Funeral Directors Tunbridge Wells

Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials
39 Crescent Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2JZ

Tel: 01892 300330

https://www.welhamjones.co.uk/TunbridgeWells

Find us here : https://goo.gl/maps/g3zmhPebA3BhSPGG7

Funeral Directors Orpington & Chelsfield

Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials
9 Windsor Dr, Chelsfield, Orpington BR6 6EY

Tel: 01689 452525

https://www.welhamjones.co.uk/Contact/Orpington%20And%20Chelsfield

Find us here : https://goo.gl/maps/k2akzUEdeSWJKpVF9

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04 Jun 2025

Why I love being a funeral first responder

by Simon Welham

At Welham Jones, our funeral ‘first responders’ are at the heart of our care. We’re currently recruiting a new funeral first responder to join our trusted team, helping local families across West Kent and South East London at their time of need. But what does the job involve, and why is it so meaningful? We spoke to Jason Carr, a long-standing member of our team, to find out why this flexible and rewarding role is unlike any other.

28 May 2025

What people would like to happen at their own funerals

by Rebecca Welham

How would you like your life to be commemorated? A recent survey suggests that, while some traditional funeral elements remain evergreen choices, some contemporary ideas are gaining definite ground among those thinking about their own funerals.

21 May 2025

How to budget for a funeral

by Simon Welham

With the average funeral in the UK now costing just under £5,000, it’s very common to have concerns about how you can ensure that your estate will be able to cover the costs of your funeral, or how to manage the costs if you have to arrange a funeral for a loved one. We guide you through the different options to ensure the costs of your funeral will be covered, as well as ways to create a fitting tribute to your loved one without breaking the bank.