Tester & Jones latest blogs

When Vineet arranged his father Amrit's funeral, he wanted family and friends to gather, share memories and say goodbye without feeling rushed. Working with their independent funeral director, the family created an unhurried farewell where faith, tradition and personal wishes could come together. Watch Amrit's story and discover the art of what's possible when families understand their choices. Here at Tester & Jones Funeral Services - your local SAIF-approved funeral directo

A meaningful funeral can start with a blank canvas. New research shows that nearly three quarters of UK adults believe a funeral should reflect the person who has died. Freddie's family created a celebration shaped around the seven-year-old boy they loved. Amrit's family brought together faith, memories and time to tell the story of his life. Their experiences show families what they can ask for and what becomes possible with an independent funeral director who listens. Here

Jo Walsh from our team attended a service of consecration for the ‘Y section’ of Snatts Road Cemetery in Uckfield this afternoon. Attendees at the service - which was conducted by Will Hazlewood, Bishop of Lewes – also included the Mayor of Uckfield, Councillor Karen Bedwell; Deputy Mayor, Councillor Spike Mayhew; Rachel Newton from Uckfield Town Council who, as part of her role, co-ordinates the installation of memorials at the cemetery; and Darren Oliver, Diocesan Registr

At Tester & Jones Funeral Services, we often talk about being an independent funeral director and why that matters. But what does our independence actually mean for the families we support? For us, independence is about much more than ownership - it’s about being free to put families at the heart of every decision we make. It means providing a personal service shaped by local knowledge, long-standing relationships and a commitment to care that extends far beyond the day of

The majority of our families chose a spray or wreath of flowers for their loved one’s coffin and this can vary greatly in size, shape and theme. Sometimes that person had particular flowers they liked or it might be created using blooms in their favourite colour. Flowers have formed a part of funerals for many centuries. In fact, there is evidence of flower fragments surrounding corpses at ancient burial sites dating back to 60,000 BC. Here at Tester & Jones, if families

Glenys Jones and Mike Scarlett from Tester & Jones Funeral Services - along with members of the firm’s Bereavement Group (the BGs) enjoyed a very special afternoon at High Broom Care Home on Tuesday 8 September. They were joined by representatives from The Crowborough & District Veterans Association – including Barry Hemsley, President and Mervyn Weller, Chairman - to witness the unveiling of a new Veterans’ Bench at the home, with the commemorative plaque donated by Tester

When someone we love dies, there are many decisions to make at a time when we will likely be feeling overwhelmed and emotional. Choosing a funeral director can feel like a huge decision and families deserve to feel reassured that their loved one is being cared for with the dignity and respect they deserve. That is why Tester & Jones Funeral Services is fully behind the Government’s announcement that it intends to introduce formal regulation of the funeral profession in Engl

Having lived in Crowborough since she was ten years old, our town's Carnival is always an important date in Glenys Jones' calendar. She had a fabulous time on Saturday and was proud to see the Tester & Jones Funeral Services advert in the programme - opposite the list of all the forthcoming Bonfire Season events.

It's September and, not only are children heading back to school, but Bonfire Season is upon us! It's Uckfield Carnival this week, followed on Saturday 12 September, by Crowborough Bonfire and Carnival! The only way to discover exactly what's going on that day - from the afternoon activities on Chapel Green to the timings for the evening procession - is to buy a carnival programme. We bought our one from Fieldbuss next-door but you can find them in various outlets throughout

Our Bereavement Group (the BGs) dodged the rain showers on Sunday 30 August to enjoy a spectacular 'Last Night of the Hever Proms' at the Two Sisters' Theatre at Hever Castle. This was the 25th anniversary of this rousing event at Hever. Glenys was there with 36 BGs members and says that the orchestra and conductor were very 'entertaining' and the Mezzo Soprano was 'delightful'. She added: "It really was wonderful and I think everyone was overwhelmed with the whole event." Th

Join Tester & Jones Funeral Services and our Bereavement Group (the BGs) for our Macmillan Coffee Morning, between 10.00 and 12.00 on Friday 25 September. In addition to some delicious cakes, we're also holding a raffle for the charity. If you feel able to donate a raffle prize, and drop it in beforehand, that would be really kind. Macmillan has spent more than 100 years helping people living with cancer. The charity states: From the moment someone is diagnosed with cancer, w

Everyone is unique and, here at Tester & Jones Funeral Services, we make sure we remember that when we are creating a funeral service. This means we tailor every single funeral to represent that particular person and work with families to make the service truly special. Last week, we supported a family to incorporate their much-loved Dutch fire engine into a funeral, which was directed by our Branch Manager, Lorne Miller. (Many thanks to the family for giving us permission to

Glenys and some of our Bereavement Group members (the BGs) joined with Crowborough Rotary for a lovely sunny trip on the Bluebell Railway on Saturday 22 August. They also enjoyed a tour of the engine works and signal box. Thanks to Graham Bucksey of Rotary for organising such an interesting trip

This year's Open Day at Wealden Crematorium provided not only an opportunity to find out more about funerals, death and cremations, but also offered a variety of interesting talks, covering topics including the benefits of using an independent funeral director, such as Tester & Jones, and how metal recycling after the cremation process supports charities and protects the environment. Jo Walsh and Louise Stapple from our team went behind-the-scenes to view Wealden’s Crematoriu

Here at Tester & Jones, we’ve organised many funerals over the years, where families have given something to those attending to remember that person by. Examples have included seeds and bulbs, handkerchiefs, charms or small stones, sweets and candles. The seeds or bulbs – often a favourite flower - will hopefully offer some brightness in the months afterwards, while the sweets are typically ones that person enjoyed. After a burial recently, those present were offered a shot o

Donating your body to science isn’t for everyone, but if this is something you feel you’d like to consider, here’s some information. Body donations for anatomical examination are essential for educating future healthcare professionals, supporting medical research and improving clinical procedures. A donated body may be used to teach anatomy, support the development of surgical techniques or contribute to other scientific studies. Is donation guaranteed after death? No. Al

We are delighted that Lorne Miller joined us on Monday 15 June as Branch Manager at Tester & Jones Funeral Services. “I am really pleased to have been given this opportunity and the first few weeks have gone really well,” says Lorne. “At the moment, I am absorbing everything that’s happening here and seeing how everyone works together.” This marks a return to the team for Lorne, who spent five years with us 20 years ago. “Back in 2005, I had no experience in the funeral

As your trusted SAIF-approved, locally-owned funeral director, we feel it is important you are aware of exactly what a Direct Cremation entails. A standalone Direct Cremation, booked through a national company, has no service for family or friends at all. It is quite simply a removal of your loved one, followed by the return of the cremated remains some weeks later. It is also often the case that your loved is transported to a central cremation hub far from home. But, here

You are invited to Wealden Crematorium’s annual Open Day in Horam on Wednesday 19 August between 10.30am to 3.00pm. This year the open day will take a slightly different format. While there will still be the usual opportunity to see behind the scenes of the crematorium (including a chance to view the building’s new hybrid cremator) this time, there will also be talks throughout the day. These include ‘who takes care of your funeral if there’s no family or money?’ and ‘celebra

Here at Tester & Jones Funeral Services, the news about the sentencing of a funeral director in Hull is truly shocking and we are thinking about everyone who has been touched by these events. While, the UK funeral industry remains officially unregulated currently, families do have the option of choosing a local funeral director – such as Tester & Jones – that is a member of the industry association SAIF. As a long-time member of SAIF, we abide by its Quality Assurance Pro