A Kent funeral arranger has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
35-year-old Richard Meares, who has been a funeral arranger at Co-op Funeralcare Herne Bay for two years, has been recognised by the Association of Green Funeral Directors (AGFD) for his unwavering dedication to supporting families during their most difficult times.
Nominated for ‘Funeral Arranger of the Year’, Richard was praised by colleagues for his empathy, warmth and dedication. His commitment to families was also noted, particularly his devotion to continuously going above and beyond in his support of the community, even carrying out home visits for clients without family support and running his own drop-in bereavement afternoons at the funeral home.
Richard said: “I’m so excited to be shortlisted for Funeral Arranger of the Year. It’s a great honour to be selected for such a meaningful award, and to be recognised for my work is deeply humbling.
“I have met some of the kindest and most empathetic hearts during my time as a funeral arranger, and it’s a great privilege to help those through their loss and grief. Often funerals are some of the hardest times of our lives and it gives me a lot of satisfaction to help people give their loved ones the funeral they deserve.
“There are so many people who have helped me to get to where I am today, and I’m so unbelievably thankful to all my colleagues, friends and family who have helped and supported me. I can’t wait until the ceremony next month!”
The AGFD is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to bring natural eco-friendly funerals into the mainstream. Its annual awards ceremony, the AGFD Good Funeral Awards, brings together professionals from across the country driving change towards more sustainable practices. The ceremony, taking place on Sunday 14th September, promises to be a memorable evening of recognition and celebration, set against the stunning backdrop of The Eden Project.
