Our Story

Tamworth Co-operative Society, which celebrated its 130^th anniversary in 2016, is embedded in the history and very fabric of the town.

From starting out with its principled stance of providing affordable food to branching out into other areas of trade, Tamworth Co-op has been at the heart of the community and remains so to this day.

Our funeral service has an equally rich heritage and pedigree, with hundreds of families over many generations trusting us to arrange the laying to rest of their loved ones.

Funeral processions leaving the gates of our headquarters in Tamworth have been a familiar sight since 1917. This was the year that undertakers E J Cole and Sons moved into purpose-built premises at The Mews in Upper Gungate. We acquired the business in 1950, carrying on a tradition of excellence and maintaining deep local roots.

.“A dignified and comprehensive funeral service is offered by the Society to all residents in the Society’s area.” That was how we described ourselves in our half-yearly report two years later.

Our facilities included a private mortuary chapel. We also arranged cremations and provided memorials of all descriptions from Upper Gungate and two other premises in Tamworth.

This is still true today, but of course we have expanded our service in the intervening years. We now have funeral homes in Coseley, Great Wyrley, Heath Hayes, Pelsall, Uttoxeter and Woodville. They all come under the umbrella of the Society and benefit from its resources, with local dedicated staff.

Along with cremations, our team of highly qualified and trained funeral directors and arrangers also organise burials for all faiths (and secular services), as well as personalised funerals.

We can arrange floral tributes too and printed service sheets.

All our funeral homes are comfortable and fitted out to the highest standards, with access for the disabled. At Upper Gungate we have a main reception area, where there is a display of some of the urns and other memorials we offer. There are two private arranging rooms for families to discuss their requirements in confidence. If you prefer, we can come to you to make the arrangements. We also have a chapel of rest and a mortuary.

The Mews Catering Suite is available for funeral receptions, with a fully licensed bar and its own private entrance.