Funeral Plans

A funeral plan is an easy way to arrange the funeral you want in advance. A plan allows you to specify your wishes and pay for the funeral director’s services included in your plan. As customers often tell us, that can bring peace of mind to you and your family. A plan from Golden Charter also includes an allowance towards third party costs. These are essential, non-funeral director services such as the cremation or burial fees, plus the minister or officiant’s fee to perform the service.

At R.Locke & Son we work in partnership with Golden Charter to provide you with a simple way to plan ahead. As one of the UK’s largest funeral plan providers (1), Golden Charter has helped nearly one million people to plan ahead (2), so we’re completely confident in offering their plans to you. Everyone has different needs when it comes to funeral planning, so we make sure the plans we offer are as flexible as possible. When you get in touch, we’ll be happy to discuss your funeral requirements and tailor a plan to suit you. Rest assured a plan from Golden Charter is available to all UK residents regardless of age or state of health.

A plan to suit your needs

As an independently owned funeral director, we’ll take the time to understand your wishes and tailor a plan to suit you. We can discuss these at our premises or in your home, at a time that is convenient for you. If you’d prefer to discuss this over the phone or via email, we can assist with this too. You can tell us about any preferences you have in mind – the type of funeral you would like to have, hymns, music or any other personal touches – and we’ll make sure your plan takes these into account.

What’s included in a pre-paid funeral plan?

Our funeral director’s services will be covered in your funeral plan, which means our fees will be fixed at today’s prices and protected against rising costs. These services typically include:

Professional services and making arrangements for the funeral
Transportation of the deceased from the place of death to our premises, chapel of rest or other suitable location
Care of the deceased and preparations for family viewing if requested
Advice on the certification and registration of death and related documentation
Provision of funeral vehicles
Advice on bereavement counselling
Coffin or casket requested

Although a pre-paid funeral plan can cover all of the services above, there are some additional third party costs to consider. These are the costs for essential, non-funeral director services required to carry out a cremation or burial which need to be paid at the time of the funeral. These costs are outside our control. Depending on the plan type chosen, a Golden Charter funeral plan can include a contribution towards some third party costs. They may include:

Crematorium fee
Minister or officiant’s fee
Cemetery fee: the opening of a new or existing grave for burial or interment of cremated remains

Other third party costs that may be associated with a funeral include:

Purchase of grave or lair
Hire of church or other venue
Fees for organist or soloist
Memorial, such as a headstone, entry in a book of remembrance, or the planting of a tree
Catering, floral tributes and newspaper announcements

There will only be more to pay at the time of the funeral if the third party costs exceed the allowance when you buy your plan, or if the costs increase by more than the growth of your plan.

However, even if prices rise in the future, you’ll have the reassurance of knowing there’ll be nothing more to pay for our funeral director’s services included in the plan once your plan is fully paid for – guaranteed.

Payment options to suit you

With a Golden Charter funeral plan, you can pay for your plan in several ways. Spread the cost or make a one-off payment – simply choose the one that’s right for you. We will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision.

The retail price of your funeral plan is representative of the equivalent cost of a funeral today plus an arrangement fee of £325 which is retained by Golden Charter to help cover the costs of setting up your plan.

Your payments are held within the Golden Charter Trust. With almost £1.2 billion under management (3), the Trust is operated by a Board of Trustees, completely independent of Golden Charter. Their role is to hold your payments and ensure that the funeral director services in your plan can be paid for at the time they are required – however far into the future that may be. For more information on how your payments are protected, please visit goldencharter.co.uk/faqs

Looking after you as a customer

As a Golden Charter plan holder, you’ll receive personalised plan documents, which include a summary of your plan, our details, your plan holder certificate and a personal membership card for you to carry in your purse or wallet. You can add a nominated representative to your plan if you wish to do so. Your nominated representative will receive a letter which will provide details of your plan and our details, as your chosen funeral director. They will have no authority to make changes to your plan.

You’ll also receive a statement from Golden Charter every three years which will be sent via post.

As your funeral director, we’ll hold full details of your funeral plan. When the time comes, one phone call is all it takes to activate your plan and get the arrangements underway.

Ready to take the next step? Get in touch today

Would you like to know more information about how a Golden Charter funeral plan could work for you? Golden Charter can provide you with all of the information you need to make an informed decision for you and your family, so get in touch today!

Call Golden Charter on 0800 090 2495 and quote R. Locke & Son.

As well as the comfort of having a plan in place, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with being able to help save your family from worry and expense in the future. So why not take the next step?

(1) Based on a Golden Charter analysis and independent research of the funeral plan market size as at May 2024. (2) Correct at August 2024. (3) Confirmed by Golden Charter Trust's audited accounts at 31 March 2024.
R.Locke & Son is an appointed representative of Golden Charter Limited trading as Golden Charter Funeral Plans which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN:965279).

“ I would like to comment on the wonderful service that over the years my family has received from R. Locke & Son , Grandparents buried in 1976. Dad in 1999, Mother in 2004, Aunt in 2022, as you can tell there has been a gap in the span of the years but the level of service has never altered, Locke's have always given excellent customer care, nothing is too much trouble, I thoroughly recommend them. ”
Doreen McCarroll, Facebook Comment
“ Our lovely Dad Derek died on January 19th after a short battle with dementia and his funeral was on February 17th, so I have had plenty of time to reflect on how we gave him his final send off and celebrated his wonderful life! And we would not have changed a single thing. Colin looked after us throughout, from collecting Dad when he died, to helping us organise a wonderful naval based funeral with a guard of honour and liaising regularly with ourselves and with our lovely friend, Arthur who took the funeral. It was all perfectly fitting and deserving for Dad and could not have gone any smoother than it did. Colin and any of his team we met along the way, treated us with nothing but courtesy and respect and we Thank them very much for that and would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending them to anyone at all! Their office and chapel in Brailes and the setting is absolutely beautiful and the thought that Dad was looked after there until his funeral was very comforting indeed. Thank you all so very much for your professionalism and kindness. ”
S Cartlidge
“ I would like to thank Duncan and his team for the organisation of my fathers funeral. As a family, we have used their services many times. The day went perfectly, apart from the weather, and we were well looked after by everyone concerned in a very dignified fashion. I can highly recommend Locke's to take care of every fine detail for your funeral needs when the day comes. ”
N Morris
“ I would have no hesitation in recommending the services of R. Locke and Son. I cannot thank all of the team enough for their professionalism, compassion and gentle direction following the death of my partner. Knowing that he would be respectfully cared for, and that I would be guided throughout the whole process of planning a fitting funeral service made the situation just so much easier. No request, question or concern was ever too much – always answered promptly and skilfully by any member of the team. The service itself was beautifully conducted with attention to detail and empathetic respect. You are amazing people. Thank you. ”
G Hawtin
“ The professionalism and respect this company has towards its clients going through such terrible grief is exemplary. I cannot thank George and Bruce enough for the handling of my sister's funeral. The service was so beautiful and moving and my sister was treated with the utmost respect. I can't recommend this family run company highly enough. Many, many thanks. ”
K Price
“ R Locke & Son were extremely sensitive, helpful and professional making the whole process of arranging a funeral a relatively easy process even during lockdown. Everything was explained and Colin was available at any time if there were any questions or changes needed. Wonderful service. ”
D Holland
“ Family run funeral directors run by George Locke. They provided an excellent, sympathetic and very professional service for two loved ones who departed just a week apart. Highly recommended at a time of huge grief and difficulty. ”
Chris H
“ Compassion and excellence throughout. From the very first phone call, I knew immediately that we were in safe hands. The respect and courtesy shown was exemplary and really helped to ease our own grief and heartbreak. I had limited knowledge of what I needed to do and when but I need not have worried at all, as both George and Bruce, and the rest of the team, were exemplary. We received all the advice and information we needed to prepare for the best funeral service possible. I would wholeheartedly recommend this exceptional company and can now see why my husband (who was a Vicar himself) chose R. Locke and Son to be his own undertakers for caring for him at the time of his death and beyond. ”
S Coles
“ Every little detail was handled with such care and professionalism for my father's funeral. We were guided carefully by Colin, which when you are grieving is incredibly helpful as it can be overwhelming. The things like getting the chosen music, service sheet and timings we did not have to worry about at all. I have no hesitation to recommend R. Locke&Son as you are in safe, compassion hands. Thank you ”
J Cox
“ Having recently lost my mother, R Locke & Son made a difficult time a little easier with their professionalism and compassion. I felt like mum was in very good hands with them and the whole process was respectful and dignified. George was always on hand to answer any questions I had and the day of the funeral went so smoothly. I would recommend R Locke & Son to anyone looking for a local, professional, compassionate funeral directors. ”
R Jarrett
“ R Locke & Son has overseen the funerals of both my parents in 2020 and 2023. The service they provide is outstanding and exceptionally professional. Both George and Belou were incredibly caring when we were going through very difficult times. Thoroughly recommended. ”
N Organ