The government published the Armed Forces Covenant in 2011 setting out the relationship between the nation, the armed forces and the government the same year Croydon became the first London borough to sign a Community Covenant. It was signed as a pledge of commitment to the local Armed Forces population – those in service, Reservists, veterans and their families and on 20th June 2016 Rowland Brothers are proud to announce that, we are the first funeral directors in the Country to sign an Armed Forces Covenant, thus pledging our ongoing support and showing our commitment to the service families of those who serve our Country past, present and future.
We have organized many funerals for fallen servicemen, contacting personnel from their regiment to attend with Regiment colours and a standard from the Royal British Legion. We also provide a bugler to play the last post and often have the British Legion motorbike outriders escorting the cortege. We have organised for three volleys and for Lord Mountbattens gun carriage to carry the servicemen to their final rest place.
If an individual was brave enough to join the services and put their life on the line then we should at the very least be able to go that extra mile to make sure they have a Funeral service that provides the dignity and honour they deserve and one that their family or friends deem to be a fitting tribute to their life.
Rowland Brothers have a strong family connection to the Armed Forces with many past family and employee members serving their country and we are equally proud of them and their achievements, serving in the Grenadier Guards, the Royal Green Jackets, the Royal Corps of Transport, the Royal Military Police, the Royal Army Ordnance corps, the Royal Engineers and the RAF Regiment.
They have seen service in the Suez crisis, the Falklands, Kuwait, Iraq, Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Hong Kong.
Military and dignities in attendance:
- Colonel Mathews – SO Reserve Forces London
- Lt Colonel Mike Taylor – SO Reserve Forces Croydon
- Staff Sergeant Phil Mason – Royal Yeomanry
- Warrant Officer 1st Class Regimental Sergeant Major Mick Riley – Royal Logistic Corps
- Grenadier Guards and member of independent Guards Parachute Company (pathfinder) Company Sergeant Major David Coote – Chelsea pensioner.
- Grenadier Guards – Platoon Sergeant John Rule.
- The RAF Regiment – Queens Colour Squadron – SAC Neil Athron
- Councillor Tony Newman – Leader of Croydon Council
- Councillor John Wentworth – Borough Military Champion
- Councillor Tim Pollard – Opposition leader
- Councillor Sara Bashford – Deputy leader of the Opposition
- Councillor Simon Brew – Conservative
- Deputy Mayor Councillor Toni Letts
- Councillor Stuart Collins – Deputy leader of the council
- Tony Pearson – Standard bearer Royal British Legion
- Councillor Yvetter Hopley – Conservative
