Each month we blog about a member of Peers, giving them an opportunity to expand on their business and give some personal insight. This month’s 1-2-1 session features Paul Stibbards of S. Stibbards & Sons.

Stibbards is a long-established, family run Funeral Directors, operating throughout Southend and beyond. Five generations of the Stibbards family have run the company since 1867, taking pride in providing respectful and personal assistance to their clients and their loved ones.

Paul has worked in the family firm for 30 years, working his way up from making coffins to being responsible for the upkeep of the firm’s seven offices, health & safety for the firm’s 32 employees and all this on top of assisting with the day-to-day duties of the company.

“Our founder, Samuel,” says Paul, “was a wheelwright but often undertook the funeral arrangements in the community: it was common practice at the time. By the 1920s, Samuel decided to focus purely on undertaking. He retired in 1925 and his sons took over, overseeing an expansion of the company.”

Stibbards & Sons make a promise to provide the very best in care and support to those in need, during what can be a difficult time and confusing time for those recently bereaved.

“Planning a funeral is a daunting task, since many have never had to go through the process,” says Paul. “At one of your most difficult times, you have to make decisions when you may feel unable to manage. We guide families through every step: we’re available 24 hours a day, all year round.”

As well as offering support at the time of bereavement, Stibbards also offer pre-paid funeral plans (which allow people to plan and pay for their funeral in advance, allowing them to leave instructions for their loved ones), memorials and one-to-one adult bereavement counselling.

The company have always taken a keen interest in their local community, raising funds for local charities and good causes.  They recently supported Havens Hospices with their ‘Hares about Town’ festival which raised over £400,000 for this precious local charity.  Additionally, just last month Paul, and a team from Stibbards, took part in the London to Southend bike ride, a 52-mile ride from the East End of London to Southend in aid of Trustlinks, a local mental health charity.

“It was hard work, but the weather was on our side and the team raised over £1, 000 for the charity, says Paul. The recent lockdowns have seen a real increase in people seeking support for mental health issues and this charity provide this much needed service.”

This month, Paul is set to takes on the presidency of the British Institute of Funeral Directors (BFID), a national trade association, centred on providing education for the funeral profession. It is dedicated to providing continued professional development and support to its members.

“The Institute ensures professionalism amongst Funeral Directors. It helps ensure those seeking the services of a Funeral Director are able to choose wisely – you should always look for the BFID Licence or membership to a kindred organisation such as SAIF (Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors) or the NAFD (National Association of Funeral Directors) when selecting a Funeral Director,” explains Paul. “They provide training, best practice and have a code of practice that all their members must adhere to. Being a member of each of these organisations, combined with over 150 years of experience, means that a family can trust S. Stibbards & Sons to look after them and their loved ones in their time of need.”

So, how does he feel about being the Institute’s president?

“It’s an honour and a privilege, of course,” he says. “But I’m sure it will be a challenge to help move the BIFD forward and continue to support our fellow professionals in the industry. It’s quite an undertaking!”

As Paul says, arranging a funeral is a daunting task but having a bespoke and personal service provided by a long-established family run company, with 24-hour service, can help ease this burden. If there is any aspect of the process you want advice over, or to discuss a pre-paid funeral plan, then you can contact the company here.