Local News

An independent Funeral Directors in Redcar have been busy making preparations for Armed Forces Day.

The commemorations begin this weekend with artefacts from the war already on show in their shop window on Coatham Rd (pictured), including the shell of a wartime bomb and an ATS uniform. Michelle Balam who owns Roseberry Funeral Service, which opened in December 2014, has also been looking into the areas  rich history of its involvement with the Armed Forces over the years and recognising the sacrifices people from Redcar and Cleveland made.

With support from the Royal British Legion Cleveland and Moors District, Michelle has devised a special Armed Forces Funeral package that not only saves a significant amount on normal funeral costs, but also takes away the anxiety of dealing with preparations for the passing of a loved one.

The Armed Forces Funeral Package includes:

• All Funeral Director charges

• Embalming

• Standard Coffin

• Hearse, staff plus one Limousine

• Choice of 50 Orders of Service

• Main Obituary notice

• Floral coffin spray

The cost has been set at £2,000 excluding third party costs. Considering the average standard Funeral now can cost anywhere between £3,500-5,000, is a great deal less. But with third party costs (known as disbursements) and the option to add further extras, even that will keep costs well below the average standard of the area.

Michelle Balam commented; “I have created something where everything is included and can be taken out as a Funeral plan or at time of need. With the cost of funerals rising each year, this something that will surely help many people within our community and I am passionate to recognise the commitments local people made to the country’s war effort, be it from the 1940’s right up to recent years.”

Eric Howden, the Chairman of the Cleveland and Moors District for The Royal British Legion said; “This is something that would really be a benefit to all people that have served within the Armed Forces. I am pleased that it also includes those who have only served a few years, it’s good to know that they will be honoured in this way.”

Michelle told Zetland FM the reason why she wanted to mark Armed Forces Day and also the more unusual ways people have said goodbye to a loved one: 

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For more information about the Armed Forces Funeral Package, contact Michelle on 01642 756324 or call into the Redcar office on Coatham Road. Their website is www.roseberryfuneralservice.co.uk