Saying goodbye to a loved one is one of the hardest things for those left behind especially if it’s a family member or close relative or child. Grief and loss can be unbearable especially in the days after the death of a loved one. Over the 200 years Lodge Brothers funeral directors Englefieldgreen have been serving the community they have assisted thousands of families and understand the importance of their role in the process of saying farewell.

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Lodge Brothers have an empathetic team of staff who take care of those that entrust their feelings to them in the most difficult times. They will help choose a fitting memorial that will help you celebrate the life of those precious to you. Lodge Brothers will take care of the finer details and offer a service that is exceptional from hearses, coffins, urns, bespoke memorials and floral tributes.

Over the years Lodge Brothers have established themselves in the community either raising funds or being part of a community initiative. One will often see Lodge Brothers decorating their windows with season festivities or remembrance days.

Special Memorials

One of the ways to remember your loved one is to have a beautiful bespoke memorial designed that is completely unique for the person for example a children’s favourite character or an angel or car, train and hundreds more.

Lodge Brothers funeral directors Ashford have traditionally provided funeral services in Cobham, Chertsey, Esher and Ashford and all the surrounding villages within a radius of 30 miles of the town. They are however, more than capable of travelling further to assist any family that may need their services.

Brentford Says Final Farewell to Flight Lieutenant Owen Burns – Battle of Britain Veteran

 

Lodge Bothers funeral directors Surbiton and Funeral Directors Twickenham have had the privilege of conducting hundreds of funerals and memorials for some of Britain’s most loved people. They recently conducted a private funeral service for Flight Lieutenant Owen Burns.

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Local resident Flight Lieutenant Owen Valentine Burns, who was an air gunner on Bristol Blenheims during the Battle of Britain – making him one of Churchill’s ‘The Few’ – has died at the age of 99.

Owen was born in Birkenhead on 20th November 1915 but moved to Brentford in 1983 where he joined Deborah, also from Birkenhead, who subsequently became his wife.

Owen, who was just a few months short of his 100th birthday, when he died on 30 June 2015, had volunteered for the RAF on 3 October 1939, joining up as a wireless operator/air gunner.
Owen joined 235 Squadron, a Coastal Command Squadron assigned to Fighter Command to replace losses incurred during the Battle for France and flew with them throughout the Battle of Britain.

On 11th September 1940 he was one of 6 Blenheims escorting 6 Albacores of the Fleet Air Arm to Calais to torpedo the German fleet. On arrival they were greeted by anti-aircraft fire and then attacked by 25+ ME 109s. Fortunately the attack only lasted a few minutes, it is presumed because the Messerschmitts were low on fuel returning from an attack in SE England but only 3 Albacores and 4 Blenheims made it back. (This is an official entry in Lord Dowding’s Diary).

On 14 February 1941 Burns’ Blenheim was caught in an enemy raid while returning from a night patrol over the North Sea. The aircraft crashed on landing as the flare path lighting the airfield had been extinguished. The observer was killed and the pilot spent a year in hospital, but Owen escaped with a broken collar bone – could the date Valetine’s Day be significant?

In January 1945 he was appointed Gunnery Officer for 19 Group, Plymouth and a month later he became PA to Air Officer Commanding Air Vice Marshal CBS Spackman. Owen left the RAF in March 1948.

After the war Owen worked in the North West of England for a whisky company before coming to London after his retirement. He became involved in Battle of Britain activities and as recently as 10 June 2015, Owen and Deborah attended a tea for members of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association hosted by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

He was also recently presented to Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh at the opening of the new visitor centre ‘The Wing’ at the National Memorial to ‘The Few’ in Capel le Ferne, Kent in March.

Owen died peacefully on 30th June 2015 in hospital after a short illness and is survived by his wife Deborah, his 6 daughters and his son.

Click here Funeral Directors Cobham for more information on how Lodge Brothers can assist you.

Lodge Brothers family owned business for over 200 years have the widest selection of floral tributes, memorials, Headstones and coffins. Memorials are a wonderful way to remember your loved one with a fitting tribute. Lodge Brothers memorials Hillingdon specialise in bespoke memorials ensuring your loved one is remembered in a special way for years to come.

Whether your loved one had a special unique hobby such as fishing or trains or a love of sport Lodge Brothers memorials Addlestone will assist you.

Have a look at this fitting memorials Paddington recently held.

Motorcycle Send-off for Triumph Enthusiast Allan James ‘Wag’

Allan James ‘Wag’ of Cobham travelled on his final journey from his home in a Triumph Thunderbird Motorcycle Hearse to Randalls Park Crematorium for the funeral service.

‘Wag’ moved from Liverpool with his family as a young boy and lived in Downside, before moving into Cobham about 47 years ago. He trained and worked as a carpenter until his retirement. He was a very well know member of the local community, and was involved with a number of local clubs. A very keen gardener, and was still helping his friends and neighbours with theirs until recent times.

His family decided on the more unusual type of transport to the crematorium, as he owned lots of motorbikes including Nortons and Triumphs and enjoyed re-building them. He had a motorcycle and sidecar which Carol his eldest daughter believes was a Triumph. Carol has fond memories in the 1960’s of trips down to Littlehampton from Downside with Mum and herself sitting in the sidecar. She remembers it had a roof, with a little door, so they were kept dry, whilst Dad braved the elements!

Special Memorials

Lodge Brothers Funeral Directors Uxbridge and other branches of Lodge Brothers have been exceptionally busy these past few weeks within the community; with Easter Services, St Georges Day and creating community awareness with Shooting Star Chase a leading children’s hospice, Lodge Brothers really care for their fellow members and friends alike. Read what they have been doing recently.

A life remembered

On Friday 24th April the village of Bisley bid a traditional ‘farewell’ to one of its oldest residents, Mr Peter Fuller. Mr Fuller had lived for many years next to St John’s Church, Bisley. He died in Woking Hospice on 4th April aged 90 years. His beloved wife, Mollie, predeceased him in 2011.

Mr Fuller’s Funeral Service took place in St John’s Church, Bisley which was full to capacity with standing room only. A Royal British Legion Standard Bearer was also in attendance. The service was followed by a private cremation.

His coffin was borne from Lodge Brother Funeral Directors in Goldsworth Road, Woking to Bisley Church in a Horse Drawn Hearse following a route planned by Mr Fuller’s son, Richard.

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Shooting Star Chase is a leading children’s hospice charity based in Hampton, caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families.

Whether lives are measured in days, weeks, months or years, Shooting Star are there to make every moment count.

Support Shooting Star Chase today by sending your recycled stamps to GS Keates. Caroline Edgington has been collecting used stamps for a while and was only too pleased to hear that the collection of stamps she has been storing could be put to good use for Shooting Star.

Caroline now offers the challenge to the residents of Hampton Hill to bring in their used stamps and support this great local charity.

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ST GEORGES DAY CELEBRATIONS

      

St George, England’s Patron Saint, has not been forgotten in pictures, flags, information and red roses (a symbol of England) have been put together as a window display to commemorate St George’s Day (Thursday 23rd April).
The eye catching display in Funeral Directors Chertsey and Funeral Directors Hounslow window was eye catching ensuring that brave St George is not forgotten by the good people of our Nation.

Click here Funeral Directors Ruislip for more information