Family firm Sims and Jones Funeral Director Ltd has launched a brand new premises in Dulais Valley, marking the occasion with a special open evening for members of the local community.
Over 40 people attended the event at the former post office in Onllwyn which has been completely refurbished to feature a welcoming reception area and visiting room for families. The firm is currently the only business in the village and the team is planning on becoming heavily involved in community activities.
Matthew Sims, manager of Sims and Jones Funeral Director Ltd who hosted the event, is already well known in the village as the conductor of the Onllwyn Male Voice choir and has performed in local concerts for many years. Matthew has worked in the funeral industry for ten years and started his first funeral business two years ago in Swansea.
Commenting on the opening, Matthew Sims, from Sims and Jones Funeral Director Ltd, said: “I have walked past the empty premises in Dulais Valley for several years and I am delighted that we have now been able to open this new firm to offer a friendly and personal funeral service here in the local community. It was lovely that so many people came along to the open evening.”
Sims and Jones Funeral Director Ltd is a member of the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), which represents over 870 independent funeral directors across the UK. The firm was one of the first firms to sign up to the Fair Funerals pledge, a joint campaign run by SAIF and the charity Quaker Social Action which promotes the availability of simple, low cost funerals.
Terry Tennens, Chief Executive of SAIF, commented: “I am very pleased to see Matthew Sims open a new branch of his business to serve the people of Dulais Valley. Before being accepted as a member of SAIF, a funeral director is inspected to check they meet SAIF’s high standards for the management of funerals and service to the public. All SAIF members must commit to offer a choice of costs, including a simple, low cost funeral to support families on a low income. Sims and Jones Funeral Director Ltd is a valued member of SAIF and has played a key part in campaigning to raise awareness of funeral poverty in recent months.”