General

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. 

The work of a funeral director is always busy and varied. 2025 has been no exception. We’ve had awards success, taken on new staff and run charity appeals – as well as having to find strategic solutions to the increased costs that have faced all businesses this year. All this alongside continuing to provide empathetic, honest and professional support to families across Kent and South London who have sadly lost a loved one.   

Earlier today, we were told that we are the winners of the Community and Sustainability Award in the Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine Awards. Not only this, but we were also shortlisted for the Employer of the Year award. We are absolutely over the moon with the news and couldn’t wait to share it with you, alongside a bit of background as to how we got to this point.

Registering a death is one of the first legal steps that must be taken after someone passes away — but it can be difficult to know when, how, and where to do it. As experienced funeral directors serving West Kent and Southeast London, Welham Jones Funeral Directors are here to help guide you through what can feel like an overwhelming process at a very emotional time. 

In 2025, we are – arguably – the most fluid we have ever been as a society; with hybrid working, self-employment, and digital nomads all seemingly inescapable buzzwords, it feels as though no-one is stuck to any single place. The world really is our oyster, but it is one that can easily become a bit slippery when faced with the task of planning a funeral. Here are our top tips on how to involve friends and family in your loved one’s funeral – no matter where they are.  

When registering a death, you may be asked who your funeral director is by the registrar. This is a question that often leaves many grieving families a bit stumped, particularly if the death has come as a shock. So, what should you reply? And what does your answer change about the funeral planning process? 

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been shortlisted for two titles in the Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine Awards 2025. We’re finalists in both the Employer of the Year and Sustainability & Community categories, with the winners due to be announced in December. 

At Welham Jones Funeral Directors, supporting our local communities in West Kent and Southeast London is at the heart of everything we do. This Christmas, we’re once again spreading festive cheer through our annual chocolate appeal: collecting sweet treats for local children who might otherwise go without. If you’d like to get involved, here’s how you can support our branches across West Kent and Southeast London. 

Back in February, we welcomed Ricci Webster, our newest Tunbridge Wells funeral arranger, to Welham Jones. And, we have to say, if there is anyone who has a natural knack for building rapport and always knowing the right words to say – or not say – it’s Ricci, who brings experience as both a hairdresser and working in a private baby scanning clinic. Thus, it is our pleasure to introduce you formally to Ricci.

We’re delighted to announce that we are finalists in the Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2025. We’ve made it to the shortlist of the Best Large Business Category – and we’ll find out if we’ve won at the black-tie event next month.