News

60% of over 50s have made no financial arrangements for the cost of their own funeral service. A survey commissioned by funeral plan provider, Ecclesiastical Planning Services, has revealed that 60% of over 50s have not made any form of financial provision for the cost of their own funeral service.…...

Every year, people around the country use Dying Matters Awareness Week as a moment to encourage communities to get talking about death, dying and bereavement in whatever way, shape or form works for them. Starting conversations about dying is often not as hard as you might think. For Dying Matters…...

New research reveals how people aged 50 and above would choose to spend their time if they were given just 24 hours to live. Spending time with family and friends or a romantic partner and in the pub were all popular responses. The survey was conducted by OnePoll on behalf…...

A survey has revealed that the most memorable cinema death in the minds of over 50s is that of Bambi’s mother in the 1942 animated feature film. The research, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Ecclesiastical Planning Services, a national funeral plan provider, asked 1,000 people aged 50 and above,…...

Research carried out by OnePoll asked 1,000 people aged 50 and over if they were aware of negative news stories relating to funeral plans. In recent years there have been reports of different issues with pre-paid funeral plans sold by some providers, including cases of fraud, poor sales and marketing…...

23% of over 50s said Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral made them consider their own funeral arrangements   Research carried out by OnePoll asked 1,000 people aged 50 and above whether the Royal Funeral made them consider their own arrangements.  The survey commissioned by pre-paid funeral plan provider, Ecclesiastical Planning…...

Religious and humanist representatives gathered at our Clare Road, Braintree branch last Friday to hold an online Christmas memorial service, to remember the loved ones we lost in 2022 and continuing to honour those lost in years prior. Introduced by our Vice-President, Tony Prince, the compact service was compered by…...

With Christmas fast approaching, we’re keenly aware of the absence of loved ones in our lives. This is why, for well over a decade, we’ve been holding an annual Christmas Memorial event. This year, with many of our clients nervous of a coronavirus resurgence, we’ve made the decision to hold…...

We are all greatly saddened by the recent passing of our dear Queen Elizabeth II and our thoughts and prayers are with the Royal family as they move through this period of very public mourning, whilst remembering their own very personal experiences of a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her Majesty…...

A new Co-op Funeral Directors branch has opened in Whitmore Way, Basildon. The ninth branch owned by your local independent co-operative society, Chelmsford Star, opened its doors on Friday 6th May, ready to support and assist the Basildon community. The ribbon was formally cut by Society President Judy Saunders, during…...

Co-op Funeral Directors‘ free bereavement support celebrated 21 years of helping the people of Essex this week. The local business, owned by Chelmsford Star Co-operative, operates 4 Bereavement & Aftercare Support groups and 2 coffee drop-ins across the region, each meeting regularly according to the community’s requirements. Winnie, a regular…...

Legislation is due to take effect from the 29 July 2022 that requires any pre-paid funeral plan provider to be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Co-op Funeral Directors will not be seeking direct authorisation or regulation by the FCA but intend to work in partnership with a provider…...

Co-op Funeral Directors have been recognised as the ‘Best Funeral Provider – Essex’ at the 9th annual Business Excellence Awards held earlier this month. Co-op Funeral Directors, a part of the Chelmsford Star Co-operative with branches across Essex, were highlighted for demonstrating grace and compassion under fire as they “battled,…...

Co-op Funeral Directors have been recognised as the ‘Best Funeral Provider – Essex’ at the 9th annual Business Excellence Awards held earlier this month. Co-op Funeral Directors, part of the Chelmsford Star Co-operative which has independent funeral branches across Essex, were highlighted for demonstrating grace and compassion under fire as…...

We are pleased to announce the return of our weekend bereavement support group. We’ve provided support groups for those who have recently experienced bereavement for over two decades now, with multiple meetings taking place every month across Essex. Not just restricted to our own clients, but rather available for anyone…...

Our popular annual memorial Christmas service took to the internet for the second year running recently, as the team live-streamed the event from their Baddow Road funeral home in Chelmsford. The event was introduced by our Society President, Judy Saunders, with Reverend Rod Reid and Ken Lodge supplying readings and…...

Our team are proud and excited to learn that they’ve been selected as Finalists within the Excellent Customer Focus category of the Countywide Business Awards 2021. The award is for companies or organisations who demonstrate the highest standards of customer care, with this year’s batch of nominees having the added…...

Our annual Christmas Memorial event, which we’ve held for well over a decade, is the highlight of our team’s working year, so we’re sad to announce that a physical gathering will once again be impossible in 2021. Last year, due to government restrictions surrounding the coronavirus, we adapted to create…...

Following the Prime Minister’s press conference last Saturday, the rules regarding the wearing of face-masks in public places have been updated. The latest precautionary measures mean that, from first thing Tuesday 30th November 2021, face coverings have once again become mandatory for all colleagues and clients unless medically exempt. Those using…...

We’re proud to have launched a new ‘Funeral Builder’ service. Aimed at assisting those recently bereaved, it allows the user to receive a quote for a funeral that is “as accurate as possible to their individual wishes” without them having to pick up the phone. Funeral Operations Manager, Craig Jackson,…...

Most of us have at least one social media account. Many of us have more than one. But have you ever given any thought into what happens to these after you pass away? After someone dies, their loved ones may find it impossible to access their accounts due to the…...

A series of new rules, stemming from an investigation into the country’s funeral services by the government’s Competition & Markets Authority (CMA), take effect for all funeral homes across the nation next week. These new regulations, which are fully supported by Co-op Funeral Directors, have been put in place to…...

Once again Co-op Funeral Directors, Chelmsford Star’s Essex-based independent co-operative funeral service, has been awarded with Good Funeral Guide accreditation. The accreditation was presented by representatives of the GFG following a series of COVID-safe online interviews and Zoom calls, which included branch tours and indepth questioning about our procedures during…...

Clients are now able to order flowers and floral arrangements 24/7, with our new online floral service. The handy new service is the next step on our digital journey, which will see a number of additional developments to our website over the next few months, each designed to help take…...

Coop Funeral Directors in Essex, part of the independent Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society, is one of the UK’s best funeral directors, according to the Good Funeral Guide, an independent funeral consumer advocacy organisation. In its review of the business – which you can read here – the Good Funeral Guide describes…...

Our Funeral team in Danbury provided ‘poppy’ motif locally-sourced muffins alongside teas and coffees to keep people warm during the services at the war memorial on the green in Danbury on Sunday. Crowds gathered to take part and mark their respects for Remembrance Sunday including the Royal British Legion and…...

Once again, the experts at The Good Funeral Guide have recommended Co-op Funeral Directors, part of Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society, within their 2019 publications. The Good Funeral Guide is the trusted, independent, not-for-profit, information resource available for clients, customers, supporters and allies of the funeral industry. A representative said, “A test…...

Our clients all know we’re open and transparent when it comes to our pricing, and we’re not afraid to shout that from the rooftops either. Which is why all Co-op Funeral Directors across Essex signed the Fair Funeral Pledge almost as soon as it existed. The Fair Funerals campaign was…...

There is currently much discussion in the media about the cost of funerals and whether funeral directors are charging too much for their services. At Co-op Funeral Directors, part of Chelmsford Star Co-operative, we take great effort in keeping our costs down, recognising the difficulties that many families are facing when…...

Families of the recently deceased were given comfort last week when we arranged two Christmas Remembrance Services across Essex, at the same time. Co-op Funeral Directors, owned by local co-operative, Chelmsford Star, always strives to offer a personal service, so this year we held one service catered to Chelmsford audiences…...

Christmas and the New Year can be a difficult time for many, particularly if they’ve recently lost a loved one. If you feel you will struggle over the coming few weeks, know that you are not alone. We hold support groups across Essex specifically for people like you, going through…...

Chelmsford Star Co-operative Funeral Services have a brand new look. Falling under the umbrella of Co-op Funeral Directors, each of our branches has now been specifically named after the community it serves to really highlight our local roots. Part of the Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society family, Co-op Funeral Directors will…...

Chelmsford Star Co-operative, Essex’s local and independent co-op, is 150 years old this year, which it has celebrated with museum exhibitions and the publication of a book highlighting its work in our community since 1867. As we look to remember those lost in all conflicts on Remembrance Sunday, Chelmsford Star…...

Our funeral division offers a free counselling service from our Danbury branch. The Danbury branch has held regular bereavement and aftercare support groups for over 15 years, and recognises that some clients have a need for more specific and in-depth counselling. Award winning colleague Jill Rushbrook, Family Liaison Officer based at our…...

Since 2006, we have supported a different local charity each year to be the focus for our fund raising. Over this time through a variety of initiatives and events, we have raised over £283,000 which has benefited the Essex Air Ambulance, Helen Rollason Heal Cancer, Little Havens Children’s Hospice, Macmillan…...

There will be celebrations next year, as Chelmsford Star as a Society hits its 150th anniversary, but our funeral department reached our very own landmark year this year, as we reached our 80th anniversary. Our first branch opened on April 10th 1936, and offered a service using motor vehicles rather…...

In the last six months five co-operatives around the UK have signed the Fair Funeral pledge. East of England, Lincolnshire, Scotmid, Tamworth and Heart of England co-ops – a total of nearly 100 branches – have all joined with us in campaigning against funeral poverty. Today we’re pleased to announce…...

Chelmsford Star Co-operative Funeral Services are holding their annual Remembrance Service this year in the Trinity Methodist Church Hall, in Rainsford Road, Chelmsford on Friday 11th December from 6.30pm to 8pm. The event ran for a number of years initially from the funeral home at Baddow Road, but it became…...