Meet the team: Teatime chat with Graham Hemming

Get to know funeral director, Graham Hemming!

How did you become a Funeral Director?

I started out as funeral service operative, 33 years ago and learned on the job, working up to become a Funeral Director. I joined R. Locke & Son in 2018 as I wanted to return to working with an independent family firm after previously working for a large funeral group.

Are funerals different now to when you first started on the job?

There has been a massive increase in more ‘simple’ funerals with no ‘frills’, particularly in direct cremations. We are also seeing more and more families interested in natural burials. We are doing less of the traditional newspaper death notices as more and more people are using our online donations and announcements service as well as social media to share information with family and friends.

Do you think as a society we talk about death and funerals enough?

No, but this is changing over time. It seems that each new generation is becoming slightly more open than the last.

Do you think funerals are for the living or the dead?

For the living. We help families through the initial stages of grief by giving practical guidance to help arrange the funeral using our professional experience with compassion and empathy.

Just for fun…

Cake or biscuits? Both!

Cats or dogs?

I’m a dog person!

Favourite Food?

Indian Jalfrezi curry with a nice cold beer!

Favourite place to visit?

Cape Verde, an island on the coast of western Africa.