Rowland Brothers Blogs
Rowland Brothers Family Funeral Directors Croydon have been funeral experts for over 150 years. Using our professional knowledge, we write regular updates on our experiences, stories about the funeral industry and an industry view on current events. Read some of our news posts, here.
6 Ways to Navigate Grief During the Holiday Season
The holiday season is often associated with joy, laughter, and togetherness. However, for those dealing with the heavy burden of grief, the festive period can become a time of deep sorrow and emotional challenges. Coping with the loss of a loved one during Christmas can be particularly challenging, as traditions [...]
Navigating the Journey: Supporting Someone with Alzheimer’s
This month is Alzheimer's Awareness month, where people come together to raise awareness and challenge the stigma that persists around this dreadful disease. Alzheimer's disease is a complex and challenging condition that not only affects the individual diagnosed but also has a profound impact on their loved ones. As someone [...]
Triumph Through Tragedy: How to Handle Grief
In the world of sports, moments of triumph and glory are often accompanied by tales of sacrifice, determination, and overcoming adversity. The recent World Cup Final witnessed an incredible example of this narrative as footballer Olga Carmona led her team to victory while, unknown to her, her father had sadly [...]
Coping with Grief on Father’s Day: Honouring and Remembering Our Dads
Father's Day is a special occasion that celebrates the love of fathers in our lives. However, for those whose fathers are no longer with them, this day can be filled with a mix of emotions, ranging from sadness to nostalgia. Coping with grief on Father's Day can be challenging, but [...]
What is Direct Cremation?
Direct cremation can be a good option for some people, depending on their personal preferences and circumstances. Direct cremation is where the deceased is collected form the place of death and then cremated at a time to suit the funeral director and/or crematorium, without a funeral service or viewing [...]
How to Talk About Death At Work
Death is a topic that is often considered taboo, but unfortunately, we will all encounter it at some point in our lives. Whether it’s the death of a colleague, or a loved one, discussing death at work can be a difficult and many people may wish to avoid it [...]
What Is a Funeral Plan and Why Is It Important?
Funeral planning is an essential part of preparing for the end of life. While it can be a difficult subject to approach but it is crucial to plan ahead so that your loved ones are not left with the burden of making arrangements during an incredibly emotional and stressful time. [...]
Veteran Stories – Ruaraidh O’Stiubhart
Ruaraidh (Rory) O'Stiubhart was in the Royal Army Medical Corps service number 22812296. We completed his pre-paid funeral plan in 2016, and our funeral directors remember him well. Rory was blind when we met him with his carer at his flat in Thornton Heath. As a veteran of the Armed [...]
Veteran Stories – Robert Gandy
Robert Gandy joined the military to serve his National Service. He joined the elite Parachute Regiment (3 Para). Most people in the National Service never did much, however Robert gained his Jump wings which are hard fought for. During his basic training he won best recruit “The Browning Award” and [...]
Veteran Stories – John Wilson
John (Jack) (Tug) Wilson was in the Guards Parachute regiment. Tug served in the Irish Guards and then in the 1st (Guards) Independent Company, The Parachute Regiment. He served at the same time as his son in the same regiment. They can both be seen in the two pictures of [...]
Veteran Stories – James Tabor
We conducted the funeral of James Tabor, a friend of Tony Rowland who also was the conductor. James served his country in The Royal Navy for his National Service and went on to be civilian staff as a controller for the City of London Police for 25 years. We honoured [...]
Veteran Stories – James Smith
HMS Fearless James Smith was a veteran of The Royal Navy. With approximate dates, this is his navy service on board ships: Completed training at HMS Ganges – 1961 (Naval training base) HMS Vincent (Naval Training) HMS Agincourt (Battle class destroyer) HMS Grenville – 1968 (Type 15 frigate) HMS Sheraton [...]
