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Douch Family Funeral Directors has officially opened AE Jolliffe and Son’s new Ceremony Room in the centre of Ferndown.
The opening follows a huge investment in the creation of a state-of-the-art facility which not only offers a place for personal and poignant funeral services, but also to serve as a venue available to community groups.
The Conservative MP for Christchurch, Sir Christopher Chope, who was at the official opening ceremony of the facility, praised Douch Family Funerals for its recent family business award.
Chope said: “This is a great investment for Ferndown. It will benefit the whole community and I know the family has its fifth generation coming up in the business. It is a great pleasure to be asked to officially open what is a great asset for the town.”
Sir Chope unveiled a plaque in the new Sheila Kendrick Ceremony Suite, which is named after the daughter of Bert Jolliffe who set up the business before the Douch family took over.
The suite has an attached catering area, making it ideal for hosting wakes following funeral services.
In addition, the 1930s house on the site has been extended to provide a reception area, offices, meeting rooms and five chapels of rest, which were blessed during the opening by representatives of local churches.
A serene garden space has been planted which provides a gentle atmosphere for reflection when people visit. Buildings for the other parts of the business have been added along with parking spaces for visitors and the business’s funeral fleet.
Nick Douch, MD of Douch Family Funerals, said: “While the new facility has been operational for some time, it has now had its official opening. Our chapels of rest were blessed by Rev Patches Chabala and Fr Anthony Achunonu, with numerous other clergymen attending.
“We had a presentation in the new ceremony room before Sir Christopher Chope unveiled the plaque. And we were pleased that Krissy Stamp, Mayoress of Ferndown, was able to attend. We had many other official guests including representatives from DMW Architects and Greendale Construction, who designed and built the premises.”
He added: “Our commitment to the community we serve is something we take seriously and we want local people to use what we have created. We have a rolling programme of updating or rebuilding all our seven branches across Dorset.”
