Keeping it in the family

A FAMILY firm in every sense of the word is celebrating 50 years of business.

Hedley Jackson Funeral Directors has been trading in Shaw since 1958 when the man who gave the company its name set up as an independent.

Trained as a joiner, Hedley, now 76, and in his own words ‘semi-retired’ started making coffins before starting in the funerals business with his wife Joyce.

Today, the business is owned and run by one of his four daughters, Debbie, also from Shaw, and her husband Ken Garside.

A sister, Kay Woods, also works for the firm in Rochdale Road, Shaw.

Debbie and Ken, who met while the working at Wildbore’s in Oldham, took over 20 years ago after a family gathering when the idea of retirement for Hedley and Joyce was first mooted.

“We were talking about the future, and whether the business should be sold or someone brought in as manager, and I just said ‘I’ll do it’ — and that was it, really,” recalled Debbie.

That was 25 years ago. Five years later, Debbie and Ken agreed to live above the business for two years “to give it a go”.

Eighteen years on, and they are still there although they readily admit that, without the support of their children Sally and Sam, and a staff they describe as “really dedicated and loyal and without whom we wouldn’t be so well respected,” their business lives would be much more challenging.

“We are part of the community and we are proud of that.

“We have traditions we have built on but we are also looking ahead all the time and investing in the business, it’s the only way,” says Ken.

As the firm celebrates its golden jubilee, Ken and Debbie are firmly in charge, still operating from the premises at Rochdale Road built by Hedley in the 1960s, when he demolished three old cottages.

“We needed to move on, create a Chapel of Rest, preparation rooms and places where people could conduct what is essentially private business in at the right surroundings,” Hedley said. He also recalls building his first garage for the fleet of limousines and hearses and looks back with pride on ‘literally thousands’ of funerals for people across Oldham and Greater Manchester.

The future is firmly in the hands of Debbie and Ken, who invested in the business 13 years ago, have taken the same route as Hedley in achieving membership of the Association of Funeral Directors, although they weren’t trained by Tom Broome, a legend in funeral directing circles in Manchester, and who is now enjoying life well into his 90s.

Today, the business is thoroughly, constantly investing in vehicles — the Ford Fairlanes are made in Australia and cost around £70,000 — a far cry from the days when Hedley had to be persuaded into investing in a photocopier.

Says Debbie: “Those were very different days, but enjoyable days and people still ask for Hedley.

“If they want him to direct funerals then he will, although he is now retired.

“There have been many highlights — building our premises, then our own garage, acquiring our first vehicles after years of hiring a hearse and limousines.

“But the highlight for us all was winning the Pride of Oldham business award — we were nominated by clients and to win was a fantastic experience that none of us will ever forget.”