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.
Advice on Writing and Delivering a Eulogy
So, you’ve been asked to write and deliver a eulogy at the funeral of a loved one or friend. A eulogy is a short speech paying tribute to the one who has passed away.
Veteran Stories – John Soggee
John Soggee is a twice veteran. He served in the armed forces in the parachute Regiment and after joined the Metropolitan Police Service. We were able to honour both of his service careers with the Metropolitan Police coffin drape on his coffin throughout the cortege and at the church service [...]
Veteran Stories – William (Bill) Wheeler
William (Bill) Wheeler Royal Navy World War Two by his loving daughter Sandra William Wheeler, known by all as Bill, who was born in Thornton Heath, has sadly passed away at the grand age of 96. He trained before the war as an engineer tool maker so these skills were [...]
Veteran Stories – Lesley Albert Bates
Lesley Albert Bates, Royal Navy, World war Two Les was commissioned during the war in the arctic convoys and d day landings. He was on a survivor/coffin ship in the arctic picking up survivors and bodies from the sea. He received the arctic star medal and the Russian Ushakov medal [...]
What to Say to Someone Who is Grieving
https://ptbertram.wordpress.com/2010/04/11/what-to-say-to-someone-who-is-grieving/ April 11, 2010 — Pat Bertram I mentioned to a friend that, after receiving notification of my mate’s death, few people from a certain online group sent an acknowledgement, and she said perhaps it was because they did not know what to say. This is probably true. Most comments posted to me [...]
Christmas Memorial Tree 2020
Rowland Brothers and our associated branches in Selsdon, Addiscombe and Orpington have been privileged to serve you, and we are aware that the approaching season of Christmas can be difficult to cope with.We would like to help you through the season in a small way by suggesting you might like [...]
Veteran Stories – Antoinette Chambeyron
The Honorary President of the Association des Auvergnats de Grande-Bretagne as well as the Federation of French Associations in Great Britain, Antoinette Chambeyron is an emblematic figure of the French community in London. Daughter of Anne Dunne, British artist born in Liverpool, and Georges Chambeyron, member of the famous juggling [...]
Veteran Stories – Charles
Charles served in the Second World War as a blacksmith in the Royal Air Force working on aircraft repairs. He started at Pembroke in Wales working on flying boats and witnessed a very heavy bombing raid from the Germans causing mass casualties. He was then posted to RAF Kenley and [...]
Veteran Stories – Edward
At St Christopher’s church was the funeral of ex Flt Sgt Edward McRae aged 93 a veteran of 50 Squadron RAF Bomber Command he volunteered in 1944 he was the mid upper gunner in a Lancaster he completed 19 missions over Europe. Crash report from the War Office 1945: BOMBER [...]
Veteran Stories – Dave
Dave was an ex Metropolitan Police officer. He joined the Police at 19 in 1966. In 1975 he came off a roof while he was chasing a burglar and was impaled on spikes and was paralysed from the waist down. In 1975 a year later he joined police Staff as [...]
Veteran Stories – Jones
Jones was a 6-year veteran of the RCT and RLC. Vivian was a Lieutenant and is a veteran of the first Gulf War in 1991. He passed at the age of 56 with no family and no friends. The military preparation college of training carried the coffin, 3 standard bears [...]
Veteran Stories – Stanley Spackman
Stanley was Ex Royal Airforce Force 255 Squadron. He served in the Second World War over in North Africa, Tunisia, Algeria, Sicily, Italy, Malta and Egypt. His role was a fitter mechanic on the Beaufort and mosquito night fighters. Stanley received the military honours.
