Tamworth Co-operative Funeral Service Team
Glen Speak, M.B.I.E. General Manager of Tamworth Co-operative Funeral Service, is a former chairman of the British Institute of Embalmers’ Midlands division and has a wealth of experience.
Glen came into the funeral profession after leaving school. Looking for a job, he was told there was a position for someone who wanted to dress in a smart suit all day and drive around in a posh car. He wasn’t put off when he discovered the opening was for an undertaker.
Over the next 18 years he learned the tools of his trade, including training to be an embalmer, before moving into management. He joined Tamworth Co-operative Funeral Service in 2015, having previously been in charge of 15 Co-operative Group funeral branches in the Nottingham area. In his spare time he looks after rescue parrots for a charity.
“People have this perception that the funeral industry is populated by old men sitting around until someone passes away and then they spring into action,” he says. “It’s not like that at all. We’re here 365 days a year for people before, during and after the funeral. We help them with everything from choosing the memorial masonry to putting them in touch with bereavement support groups and arranging the funding for the funeral. We also deal with all the complex paperwork.”
Funeral arranger Janice Chetwynd was appointed in 2007, beating more than 100 applicants to the job.
Janice has a diploma in funeral arranging and administration. She guides families through all the detailed procedures required when arranging a funeral, taking their instructions on what kind of service they would like for their relative and giving advice on the options available.
She also looks after the family before and after the funeral, dealing with viewings and requests for services such as the internment of ashes.
“I became interested in the work after meeting an embalmer and love it. Sometimes people don’t know what they want when they walk through the door. When they come in afterwards and say thank you, you took the pressure off us, that’s so satisfying.”
Married with three children and four grandchildren, Janice comes from Polesworth and attended Perry Crofts School in Tamworth. She keeps fit by swimming on her day off.
OTHER TEAM MEMBERS
Our caring funeral staff have many years of experience and will help you in any way they can with funeral arrangements.
Trevor Palmer
Trevor Palmer moved to Tamworth from our sister branch, the Halliwell funeral division, where he used his management experience to ensure our branches in Coseley, Great Wyrley, Heath Hayes and Pelsall maintain their high standards. Trevor was known as the face of Halliwell, conducting virtually every funeral in the area.
He was previously a director of an engineering company before deciding to sell up the business and switch careers.
“It was my wife Susan, who works in head office for the firm, who suggested I go into this because I also do a lot of driving and it seemed a good fit. In the manufacturing business I always dealt with members of the public. So I knew I could adapt, and I wanted to be able to give something back to families at their lowest point. I love the role.”
Kevan Angel
Kevan Angel joined in 2004 and is Tamworth Co-operative Funeral Service’s workshop co-ordinator. Kevan conducts funerals, acts as a pallbearer and can also be seen walking in front of cortèges in his traditional funeral outfit. His is the first face many families often see when a relative dies at home. He deals with the delicate task of removing the deceased and goes through the official procedures they need to follow, such as registering the death.
“It’s all about offering families reassurance and making sure you do the job as efficiently as possible. There is a sense you’re doing a very valuable and important job. If you don’t produce the coffin on time the funeral won’t happen. It’s that crucial and you have to be there for families when someone dies, whatever the hour or place.
Tony Rabin
Funeral conductor Tony Rabin worked for West Midlands Police for more than 12 years as a constable and later as a training officer. He then decided to switch careers and has not looked back since.
After being employed as a funeral operative for several years, Tony became a funeral conductor. He describes his job as ‘highly rewarding.’
“I’ve been at Tamworth Co-op Funeral Service since January 2018. It’s such a worthwhile role because of the comfort and support you can offer to families. If you can help somebody on what is one of the worst days of their life, that’s hugely satisfying.”
In his spare time Tony enjoys enjoys drawing, playing sport and looking after his three young children with his wife at their home in Austrey.
Mandy Holroyd
Funeral arranger Mandy Holroyd works alongside Leah Sandford, head of the Bereavement Advice Centre.
Mandy, who lives a walk away from the centre, previously worked as a receptionist in a GP surgery before a friend suggested she apply for a position in the Society’s funeral division.
She says: “It is a privilege to be able to help someone at the worst time of their life and to show them respect and compassion. It is very rewarding and we get all manner of unusual requests. We arranged a Land Rover for one family to take their loved one on their final journey.”
Married to Philip with three grown-up children between them, Mandy was brought up in Fazeley and is a former pupil of Wilnecote High School. In her leisure time, she enjoys gardening, spending holidays in North Wales and walking her lurchers Sidney and Ozzie.
Kerry Atkinson
Funeral service operative Kerry Atkinson has the important task of dressing the deceased for the chapel of rest where families can visit their loved ones to say their final farewells.
Kerry joined Tamworth Co-operative Funeral Service in 2020, fulfilling a long-held ambition to be employed in the sector.
“It was something I wanted to do from the age of 15, to help make someone who has died look beautiful for the family’s last viewing.”
Having experienced the premature loss of her husband and father from cancer, gave her the added incentive of wanting to be part of a team providing comfort to the bereaved. Kerry, who is a former pupil of Belgrave High School in Tamworth, finally found her vocation after being a barber in the town for 18 years.
Tommy Angel
Tamworth born and bred, Tommy Angel has followed his father Kevan into the funeral industry and they now work together at Upper Gungate.
Tommy, a former QEMS pupil, first worked for the funeral division immediately after leaving school. He left after four years to experience different types of work, but was delighted to return when a vacancy became available.
“It was the job satisfaction which drew me back,” he said. “It really motivates me because it’s all about giving a person the send-off they deserve and doing your very best for their family on the day.”
Tommy is a funeral operative, but is already moving into conducting funerals and loves the ceremonial side of this role.
Mandie Lynes
Pre-paid funeral and masonry consultant Mandie Lynes is on hand to guide families through the options available to them to give their loved ones a fitting send-off.
She provides information to help customers make an informed choice on set or bespoke funeral plans. In addition, she also assists with the memorial side of the service.
In between working as a funeral arranger and joining Tamworth Co-operative Society, Mandie was a security officer at Birmingham Airport. She found herself talking so much about her old job that she decided to go back to it.
“I like the caring side of it, helping people and being proud of what you do as a job.”
In her spare time Mandie enjoys, cooking, gardening, keeping fit and walking her two dogs.
Leah Sandford,
Leah Sandford heads up the Bereavement Advice Centre where she helps families arrange funerals for their relatives. She also offers advice to people struggling to come to terms with the loss of someone close to them.
Leah has a diploma in grief and bereavement counselling. She is also a licensed lay reader who is available on request to conduct funeral services for the Church of England. She is a member of St Francis’ Church in Leyfields, Tamworth and is married with three children and three grandchildren.
She says: “I love my job. Every day is different. It’s so rewarding to support families at a time when they need you most.”
Out of work she likes to relax by travelling, swimming and walking.
Heidi Petricca
Funeral arranger Heidi Petricca joined Tamworth Co-operative Funeral Service in January 2010. Born and bred in Tamworth, she is a former pupil of Belgrave High School.
“I always wanted to work in the funeral profession. It was something that interested me and it has turned out to be the right decision for me.
"It’s nice being able to look after families when they’re going through a difficult time and guide them through the choices available for giving their loved one a fitting send-off.”
Heidi devotes her leisure time to her son and partner, as well as taking her dog Lola on walks.
Cath Scott
Housekeeper Cath Scott is responsible for The Mews catering suite where many of the families, who come to us, choose to hold the reception after the funeral. Cath prepares all the food for the menus, lays out the china plates and cutlery and looks after the guests. She also makes sure the suite is kept spotless and will add special touches on request.
“One man said his wife loved daffodils, so I brought some in. You want to make it as welcoming and homely as you can for people.”
Married with three children and four grandchildren, she attended Kingsbury High School. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and painting.
Abigail Scattergood
Receptionist/administrator Abigail Scattergood is the first person our customers see when they walk through the doors of the Upper Gungate funeral home. Abigail also takes incoming calls, makes appointments, deals with enquiries and shows families into the chapel of rest for viewings.
She says: “It is nice to be part of people’s final journey and to be with families, giving them some comfort when they need it. They are very appreciative and that makes my job all the more satisfying.”
Abigail is a former pupil of Landau Forte Academy in Tamworth, where she gained four A-levels. She finds relaxation in running in her leisure time and has set herself a goal of completing the ten-mile Cathedral to Castle Run from Lichfield to Tamworth. She also enjoys sewing, knitting and painting.
Dawn Armstrong
Funeral arranger Dawn Armstrong has lived in Tamworth for 40 years, after being brought up in Essex.
Dawn worked as a manager, supervising the tills at Morrisons supermarket before making the short hop across the road to be part of the Upper Gungate team.
“I thought it was the best customer service you could give somebody,” she says. “I like being able to give families that compassion. It’s the least I can do for them.”
The mother-of-two worked at the Bereavement Advice Centre for two years before moving to Tamworth Co-operative Funeral Service’s headquarters in December 2021. Her spare time is taken up with her four grandchildren who she looks after with her daughter.
