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 and upon arrival at the [...]
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 able to be transferred when [...]
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 from the Russian government to [...]
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 on the various threads began [...]
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 to place a small memorial [...]
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 troupe "The Mongadors", Antoinette could [...]
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 Biggin Hill to work on [...]
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 COMMAND Ferry flight in connection [...]
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 a Finance and Resource Manager [...]
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 were in attendance, Royal British [...]
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.
Raymond kinder was 3 months short of reaching 101 years old when he passed away. Raymond “Razor” Kinder was in the army before the outbreak of World War 2 and he was in India in the Wiltshire Regiment. Upon the outbreak of war he was sent to Belgium and was part of the British Expeditionary [...]
Ronald, a world war two Royal Marine veteran. He was sent into action in Norway at the start of the war and returned with many of his comrades dead or injured. He was then sent to Scotland to become one of the first commandos.
Randolf was a pilot in the Royal Air Force. He was part of the anti-submarine patrols during the cold war he flew mainly Shackleton’s.
Herbert was a Normandy veteran. Herbert joined the Territorial Army before the war and was conscripted in 1939. He was initially sent to Scotland and then was waiting for the big day, 6th June 1944. Herbert’s landing ship had mechanical problems so he was delayed with his troop and set foot on French sand two [...]
Len's war years - As told by his daughter 23.09.1940 to 26.08.1941 During the London Blitz Len served with the 52nd (London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. 313 AA Battery stationed at Hyde Park Corner together with gunners on the Ack Ack guns shooting down enemy aircraft. He told me “how he gave the order to fire [...]
Dean’s funeral was huge. Dean once lived in Croydon when he left the Army but resided in Bow east London till his death. Dean was called up to do National service when he was 18 and went off to Suez for 18 months as part of the Royal Signals Regiment. When he was demobbed he [...]
We conducted a funeral for Clive Knowles a veteran of The Royal Fusiliers. This was a social services funeral and at the funeral only 6 people were in attendance. There were three Standard Bearers from the Royal British Legion. In their own words when I thanked them “It’s no more than they deserve mate you [...]
Colin, a veteran of the Royal Artillery 20th Field regiment and was also a veteran of the Korean War. Colin was in his National Service when he went to Korea so he was one of the unlucky ones who went to war many of the others spent their two or three years in the UK [...]
Walter was as an ex-serviceman who was a member of the Royal Artillery. We were told it was a social services funeral. AND he only had two friends. With the help of Veterans we sent him off on his final march in honor. There were two standard bearers from the Royal British Legion and 7 [...]
Stephen served in the Royal Engineers from 04/07/1951 as career soldier and he served in the Korean War and Japan. Stephen was demobbed 01/01/1957. After he left the regular Army he was a reservist and was called up to serve again during the Suez Crisis in 1959. He finally left the reserves in 03/07/67 and [...]
Tony was captured in Singapore along with many thousands of his comrades. He was marched through the Far East working on both the Burma Railway and the Bridge in the Kwai. He ended up being taken to prisoner of war camps in Japan where he was brutally treated. He was deafened in one ear from [...]
Fred who I had the pleasure of meeting a few weeks prior to his passing had lots of Help 4 Heroes merchandise displayed in his home he told me he was in the army as a National Service Soldier. He had been assigned to the Royal Engineers and for his national service where many were [...]
At the outbreak of WW2 Des lied about his age and joined the Home Guard at 13 years old. He became a Sergeant by 15 and was mentioned in dispatches for rescuing people from a bombed building. When he was old enough he joined the Reconnaissance Regiment who were tasked to go to the front [...]
We conducted the funeral of Ron. He was a veteran of the Royal Navy having been posted to two mine sweepers in the English channel, a frigate and the most notable posting was on HMS Belfast. Not many veterans can say they have served on the Belfast. He was on board when the first salvo [...]
We have the honour of conducting the service of a true war hero George Parsons. Formally The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers then 2 Commando, a Minister and a Chelsea pensioner. Here is his war story I joined up in 1937, before the war. When I first got called up, I was bored, then things [...]
My counselling through COVID-19 has changed and in this blog I am going to explain how and the types of clients I have been working with. Grief Grief is not only the loss of a loved one, grief is the human reaction we all have to an unwelcome event. Recently, we have all been feeling [...]
At Rowland Brothers, we recognise that amid this pandemic, we all have fears and concerns for the safety of our families and loved ones. Unfortunately, death and grief do not pause during a crisis. For over 145 years, Rowland Brothers has been taking care of members of this community and we stand ready to help [...]
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 to place a small [...]
The cold weather can have an impact on our mood. Less sunshine and more dark evenings can make us change our normal social activities and we could end up feeling isolated. A lack of vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, can affect our immunity which often makes us poorly. Layer on a bereavement and this time [...]
Lying in Westminster Abbey since 1920, the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior is not just a lone soldier from the war. It is a National Act of Remembrance, representative of all those we lost in the Great War. A Reverend on the front lines, Reverend David Railton, was the first to establish the idea. He [...]
Article from Counselling Directory Anger is a common, normal response to bereavement. We get angry when we cannot control what is happening to us. It can be one of the most confusing feelings during bereavement, and is at the root of many problems in the grieving process. If anger is not expressed in a safe way it [...]
Article from Grief In Common When I first started facilitating bereavement groups, I sort of assumed that people would be coming for help for “just” one loss. Of course one loss is more than enough…it’s already too much. Yet so many grievers I met were experiencing multiple losses. And while in most of my writings the word “loss” [...]
The Rowland Brothers Foundation is pleased to present their new initiative 'Never Alone' run in conjunction with Renew 23 Wellbeing Café, an informal place for people who are coming to terms with loss. Never Alone A new drop-in facility for people coming to terms with bereavement run by Rowland Brothers, your local independent funeral directors. [...]
By Aviva Keren Barnett Existential Psychotherapist, Counsellor and Lecturer. “Grief is something all of us have or will anticipate. It is a painful process that forces us to clarify ourselves, our values, and our relationships. It forces us to confront the fragility of life.” Carol Becker (1992). Here I see Becker’s statement about the fragility [...]
Venue: Jurys Inn Hotel, Wellesley Road, Croydon CR0 9XY Date: : Wednesday 15 May 2019 Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm Cost: FREE Lunch and refreshments will be provided Sheila Elliott, of the highly respected Winston’s Wish charity, and Mary Clair Kelly, a skilled integrated Pyschotherapeutic Counsellor, come to help us understand the particular nature of grief [...]
Venue: Jurys Inn Hotel, Wellesley Road, Croydon CR0 9XY Date: Tuesday 14 May 2019 Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm Cost: FREE Lunch and refreshments will be provided Presented by the renowned Dr Bill Webster in association with the Rowland Brothers Foundation Dr Bill Webster, a well-known grief counsellor, author of many books which have become standard [...]
Representatives of four local charities received cheques totalling £3,695 from the Rowland Brothers Foundation as a result of Rowland Brothers’ 2018 Christmas Tree Appeal carried out at its branches in West Croydon, Purley, Old Coulsdon, Warlingham and New Addington. The appeal itself raised £1,847.50 in donations from individuals and families for whom Rowland Brothers [...]
This year’s New Year’s Honours list, announced today, includes a name well known in the world of funerals, and to many residents of Croydon and the surrounding districts. Tony Rowland, who lives in South Croydon, is director of Rowland Brothers Limited, based in Whitehorse Road, West Croydon, and with branches throughout the area, and is [...]
A funeral director who has supported bereaved families through their grief for 65 years has been made an MBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours. Tony Rowland, of South Croydon, is director of Rowland Brothers Limited, of Whitehorse Road, West Croydon, and with branches throughout the area, and has done voluntary work for many local [...]
With a lifelong marriage comes the inevitability of one spouse outliving the other. More than 13-million Americans suffer through this heart-wrenching loss each year. The majority of widowed men and women are seniors, who may have never envisioned a life without their partner. But despite grief, life goes on and the surviving spouse must take [...]
Mother’s Day to many is a day of celebration, the truth is though, for many, Mother’s Day can be a painful and difficult day.
Every year we take part in an event to challenge ourselves and to give us a target to get fit throughout the year. This year our challenge is Race the Sun Isle of Wight. Race The Sun Challenge: It is a difficult team challenge set in the stunning countryside of the Isle of Wight. Our team [...]
Over the last few months, the UK has experienced several very public disasters in London and Manchester. 3 of these have been terrorist attacks and the horrific 'Grenfell' tower block fire. All of our emergency services have shown us worldwide how professional, dedicated, determined and fearless they are in the face of such danger. [...]
Father’s day is a difficult time for grieving sons and daughters and coping on such a day is especially hard. None of us know how we are going to react to grief, it’s unpredictable until we experience it and every time it’s different. Don’t be surprised to how you react on the day. Be kind [...]
This article was originally featured on http://www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk/ Six months after the tram tragedy in Croydon, South London, which killed seven people, a full-day seminar was run, free of charge, by the town’s independent family-run funeral directors Rowland Brothers. The seminars, which took place on 9 May, were for the benefit of bereavement professionals and volunteers affected [...]
What inspires and motivates your team? RBI International Ops Manager Fiona Greenwood knows that despite the tragic situations her very good team encounters every day, there is still huge satisfaction in helping families at their lowest ebb. ‘When I turned from global emergency assistance to global funeral repatriation six years ago, every day brought just [...]
This week, after 71 years together Wilf and Vera Russell passed away within minutes of each other, while three miles apart. Their granddaughter Stephanie said that she believed that Vera was waiting for Wilf to pass. Losses like these can strengthen the idea that it is possible to die from a broken heart, and so [...]
‘A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dates all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.’ – Agatha Christie Nothing can compare to the loss of a mother. Grief can affect us all in different ways, but the [...]
Over recent years we have seen floral tributes sharing a memorial with a charity donation, one that is close to the deceased and family, feeling that this will carry on assisting with medical research or even support for the family. Funeral Flower Etiquette Floral baskets can be sent to the funeral parlour, church or home [...]
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Rowland Brothers Limited is registered in England and Wales with company number 06883205. VAT number GB181921013. 299-303 Whitehorse rd, Croydon, CR0 2HR
Rowland Brothers Limited is an appointed representative of Golden Leaves Limited, authorised and registered by the Financial Conduct Authority. Firm reference number 960923. You can check this on the Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk. Please note that this authorisation and regulation is for funeral plans only and does not extend to other activities that we carry out such as at-need funerals.
