Funeral director transforms police station into office

Walter C. Parson Funeral Directors has opened a new premises in Callington, Cornwall, which will become its 11th across the South West Peninsula.

The family-run firm purchased the former police station in December 2017 and has spent the last 16 months transforming it to the standard of its other offices across Devon and Cornwall.

John Ware, assistant managing director at Walter C. Parson, said: “This is our 11th funeral home in the South West and it fits nicely between our homes in Saltash and Tavistock – plus it is in a fantastic location.

“There is parking for six cars, which is great for our customers, and the site is large enough to allow us to have a funeral home to the standards that we want to achieve. This is the seventh generation to run the business and it is a firm that started just up the road in Stoke Climsland, so we are almost going back to our roots.”

The funeral home is situated in the centre of town in Saltash Road, with a reception and administration office, arrangement rooms, a chapel of rest, and preparation facilities. The company held a launch event on Wednesday 10 April with 35 local guests in attendance. .

Stephen Ware, managing director, said: “We had always had our eye on the Callington Police Station, especially when it was left empty for some considerable time. Way back in 2014, the first letter my son John wrote when he returned to the family business from London was to the Police Estates Department, asking about its availability.

“We eventually purchased the building on December 22, 2017, and it has taken until now (April 2019) to get the plans drawn, planning permission obtained and the building done.

Ware continued: “We have invested in people, facilities and premises. Today we have 11 offices – including The Old Police Station – and 35 vehicles in our fleet, but we couldn’t do any of this without all 73 of our staff, managers and directors buying in to the professionalism and commitment to a caring service which, I believe, is unparalleled.

“I know that resident funeral director Martyn Hall will be doing his very best to uphold the values of Walter C. Parson for the benefit of the people of Callington who are kind enough to trust us with their loved ones. We promise to deliver professional care, competitive prices and a seamless service.”