Armed forces to be honoured in Nottinghamshire funeral homes

A tribute to armed force servicemen past and present is being created by a family from Nottinghamshire.

Funeral director Ian Campbell and his wife Jill are creating montages for display at two funeral homes in Mansfield and Nottingham.

Ian has, to date, created seven montages of ex-service staff that are on display at the Co-operative Funeralcare in Rosemary Street, Mansfield. They feature both living and deceased relatives of funeral home staff members and clients with a military background.

Once a corporal in the Royal Corp of Signals, Ian has also featured his own family in the tribute, which was created to raise awareness of both Armed Forces Day (30 June) and the Combat Stress charity.

“Several clients have mentioned that they or their loved ones had military backgrounds and have since brought in photos and written a few words which I’ve made into montages. Staff members have done the same and I’m doing the same for my dad and family,” Ian said.

“As time goes on Combat Stress is going to be needed more and more as servicemen and women return from war zones. They have really helped my son and many others and we’re doing this in order to raise awareness of them.”

Both of Ian and Jill’s sons and one of their daughters served in the army.

Jill is a funeral arranger at the Co-operative Funeralcare inc. Bamford & Sons on Mansfield Road, Sherwood, and is requesting people to nominate themselves or someone they know in order to create a similar tribute to her husband’s.

Image: Ian Campbell