As we approach the end of 2023, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate an historic moment for Dillamore Funeral Service – reaching our 100 year anniversary! We feel proud of all that we have achieved during this time, and look forward to our continuing role in providing funeral services for the local community.
A moment to look back
Dillamore was founded in 1923 by Samuel Dillamore. When the business first launched it was a combined funeral director, home removals and home furnishing company. It was located at the same premises on Old Road that the business still operates out of today.
Over the decades, Dillamore built up a reputation for quality care, service and workmanship, and became a trusted name in the local community. Eventually, as each section of the business flourished, it was decided to separate the funeral directors from the home removals and furnishings.
Dillamore Funeral Service has remained on the same premises at Old Road, whilst Dillamore’s Furnishers relocated to a new base on Leighton Buzzard High Street. Both businesses are still owned and operated by different lineages of the Dillamore family, and are known for their quality and trust.
An interesting history
Over the past 100 years, Dillamore has served the community in many different ways. One of the most interesting and, arguably, most important roles the business has had was during the war effort of WWII. For any soldiers killed in battle and returned to the RAF Airfield in Wing, Dillamore provided funeral support. The company holds all the original ledgers from this time period, and an Anderson bomb shelter is still located in the cellar of the premises!
Dillamore today
Today Dillamore is still a thriving family funeral business, and the same values that it was founded upon – of trust, affordability, quality, family-centered care – hold true today. Whilst many independent funeral directors eventually join larger conglomerates, Dillamore has always remained truly independent. The current Managing Director is Richard Dillamore, who is the grandson of the original founder. Richard has dedicated his life to providing quality care to the deceased and their families. He is now supported by his children, Stuart White and Hannah White, who help him in running the business.
Stuart says: We are so proud to be part of Dillamore and to celebrate such a historic moment. Our team always goes the extra mile, which we believe is the secret to our longevity. We understand our role is to support families during their time of need, and providing a flexible and personalised approach is at the heart of what we do.”
The team
It’s not just family members who make up Dillamore. We have a small and dedicated team of local people, who are incredibly passionate about the work they do. They are the heart of Dillamore, and their experience, knowledge and commitment to supporting bereaved families is unrivalled.
Two members of the team – Michael Elding and Martin Serevena – have both worked for Dillamore for 35+ years and, along with Richard, are the backbone of the business.
Senior Funeral Manager, Sally Lewis, who has been with Dillamore for almost 12 years, says: “Working for Dillamore Funeral Service fills me with a sense of pride. As we commemorate our 100-year anniversary, I am reminded of the dedication and compassion given by the team, past and present.
“Being a part of Dillamore allows me to provide support and comfort to families during their most difficult moments. Dillamore stands out as the funeral director of choice in Leighton Buzzard, thanks to our commitment to providing personalised, empathetic, and professional services. It is an honour to be associated with such a long-established company that consistently goes above and beyond, with care and respect.”
Looking ahead
As we reach our centenary year, we are now looking forward to the future and what lies ahead for Dillamore. We’ve seen many industry changes over the years, such as the shift from burials to cremations, along with a move towards the digital age.
As the cost of funerals continues to rise, we are committed to providing affordable and competitive funerals for our customers. We’ve noticed a sharp increase in demand for direct cremations, and families wanting simple, low-cost funerals. Many families are also seeking a more personal touch to a loved one’s funeral, creating a ‘celebration of life’ service to honour the life lived. In addition to this, we’ve also seen a rise in popularity for green funerals and taking a more environmentally conscious approach.
Whilst industry trends and customer needs may change over time, we believe that our traditional family values are the key to our success, and are committed to providing families with the comforting, affordable and professional service that we are best known for.
Want to find out more?
Our team is here to support you and your family in your time of need. There are many ways to work with us, and our flexible approach means we will adapt our service to suit your needs. We have a team on standby 24/7 to provide you with out-of-hours support should you need it, and a Chapel of Rest should you want to visit your loved one during their time with us.
If you are recently bereaved, you can call us on 01525 372 210 use our contact form to email us. You can also arrange a time to visit us in person using our online appointment booking tool.
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