New appointments for Tamworth Co-Op

Tamworth Co-operative Society’s funeral division has made two new appointments. These are aimed at reinforcing its community work with bereaved families. Angela Bowyer has taken up the position of bereavement and community co-ordinator, and will also have some involvement in organising funerals. However, her main focus will be on helping people come to terms with loss.“I’m very excited by this role as it will mean going well beyond the normal duties of a funeral director to offer free support and aftercare to the bereaved,” she said. Lorraine Walker’s work will be largely concentrated on the funeral arranging and directing side, although she will also play a part in bereavement support. Both women will be based at the Tamworth Co-op’s Woodville funeral home, with a wider brief to look at how the bereaved can be best served in the areas covered by the Society. Angela knows only too well the devastation that death can cause, having lost a daughter who was just 28 days old. That experience changed her life and led her to become involved in funeral and bereavement care. It also resulted in her setting up a local support group for Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity. “My aim is to help the areas we operate in to lead the way and become a shining example of how a funeral firm can support people suffering from any type of loss. I’m working on a new community-driven initiative which I should be able to announce soon,” she added. Working for 20 years in the profession, Angela became a funeral director in 1999. She has run five funeral homes, including two in Burton-on-Trent and one in Ashby. She has a Diploma in Funeral Directing and has gained formal qualifications in counselling. Married to Alan, with four sons and two granddaughters, her hobbies include ‘touring around the country’ in their motorhome. Lorraine became a funeral administrator in 2002 and has a Foundation Certificate in Funeral Directing. She is married to John, with two sons. In her leisure time she is a prolific global traveller. Her favourite countries include Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. “I am committed to providing excellent service to local people and am proud to be part of a team working not just for the benefit of families but the community in general,” she said. The two women are well known in local funeral and bereavement support circles, having previously worked together for A E Grice Funeral Service in Ashby. The appointments follow the retirement of Lin Bradford and Rita Whetton. Glen Speak, Tamworth Co-op’s deputy funeral manager, said: “We’re very excited to have Angela and Lorraine on board and they will bring many new ideas to help serve local people.”