As the festive season approaches, you may be wondering how your local funeral director will be available should you need support. At what can already be an emotional time of year, knowing when you can reach a trusted team offers invaluable reassurance.
Christmas has a way of rearranging the rhythm of daily life, yet the need for care and continuity never fully pauses. At Welham Jones, we publish our Christmas and New Year opening hours each year to help families across West Kent and South East London feel prepared, supported and informed.
Our 2025 seasonal hours are shown in the image above and summarised below: 
While our branches in Borough Green, Orpington and Chelsfield, Chislehurst and Bromley, Sevenoaks, Swanley, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells follow the above hours, our telephone lines remain open around the clock. Whatever the date on the calendar, someone from our team will always be here to guide you.
When a death occurs at Christmas or New Year, the mixture of emotion and practicality can feel especially overwhelming. Yet the steps you need to take remain the same, and help is always available.
If someone dies at home, contact their GP or call 999 immediately so a doctor can verify the death. If the person dies in a hospital or care home, the staff will guide you on the next steps. You can then contact a funeral director immediately, even during bank holidays, and our funeral arranging service will begin as soon as you need it.
If you want to understand the next steps, including registering a death, arranging funeral packages or choosing from our range of coffins and caskets, our team can talk everything through gently and clearly.
For over 30 years, families across West Kent and South East London have relied on us for guidance, compassion and local knowledge. Whether you need immediate assistance or wish to discuss funeral planning, our on-call team is available 24/7 throughout Christmas and New Year.
As an independent, family-run funeral director, we understand the value of continuity and trust. You can reach any of our local branches, and we will respond promptly. If you’re thinking about planning ahead, our pre-paid funeral plans offer clarity, reassurance and protection from rising costs.
You can also learn more about our team, who provide the personal care that families value so much.
Whatever the season, Welham Jones is here to guide you with steady, compassionate support.
As an independent, family run funeral directors helping grieving families pay their final farewells to their loved ones, the actions of Hull funeral director Robert Bush, jailed for 20 years for failing to bury the deceased in his care, does more than fill us with horror. It reignites our belief that our industry needs to be regulated, so that families can have confidence in the funeral directors in whom they place their faith.
When planning a send-off for their loved one, many families like to stick to tradition and opt for a horse-drawn hearse at the funeral. However, in comparison to modern motorised hearses, pricing structures are often less transparent. Here are the answers to the most common questions we receive regarding the pricing structure of booking a horse-drawn cortege.
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.
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