Murray'S Independent Funeral Directors

Looking after your loved one’s last wishes is as important to us as it is to you. We take care of the entire arrangements giving family and friends the peace of mind needed at such a sensitive time. Home visits available. Or visit one of our four branches.

Barton Under Needwood Family Festival and open gardens! Every year, the lovely village of Barton prepares its teddies for another fun-filled weekend at the family fair. Once the teddy bears have passed through the passport office and cleared their health check, they can look forward to plenty of teddy rides and of course tea and cake for their owners. This year, Barton welcomes back the beloved scarecrows you may spot throughout the village and the open gardens to explore. Danny, from the Murray's team, has been asked back to look after the x-ray machine to make sure no contraband is taken on the rides for the teddies' safety. Please bring you family, young ones AND your teddies over this weekend. For more information about the event click on http://www.bartonfamilyfestival.org/index .html.

Pvt Bear and Murray's Funeral Directors would like to mark the 75th anniversary since the D-Day landings on 6th June 1944. Over 400,000 people died or went missing during the campaign to liberate North West Europe. This was the largest invasion in history.
We would like to remember all those who made great sacrifices, if they are remembered they are not truly gone.

Wolf Run for Alzheimer's Society
On Sunday, 2nd June, Sue and Danny took on the gruelling challenge of completing the Summer Wolf Run to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society. For over three hours, they battled dozens of obstacles, pools of mud, treacherous rivers and a 10km run, all whilst being pummelled by rain! Somehow they managed to cross the finish line with a smile on their face, no doubt thanks to the generous donations they received from supporters.
It is not too... late to show your support for Sue and Danny and the Alzheimer’s Society. Any amount would be greatly appreciated - simply follow this link to the Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/murraysfunerals
Well done, Sue and Danny!
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Tomorrow is nearly here - after a few weeks of preparation and training, Sue and Danny are travelling to Leicester to run a 10k obstacle course called the Wolf Run, all for an amazing charity: Alzheimer’s Society! It’s still not too late to donate. Even £5 would help this charity continue its brilliant work! Wish us luck.🤞🏻🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏼‍ ♂️ www.justgiving.com/murraysfunerals

Yesterday Megan and Danny from Murray’s were invited along with a few other Funeral Directors by Lorraine Debnam and Ian Leech from St Giles’ Hospice to hear more about the great work they do every day. It wouldn’t be possible without the help of generous donations and volunteers. St Giles also offer training around various topics, please get in touch for more information on how to volunteer or make a donation towards this much needed service. More info can be found at St Giles Hospice.

Run, Murray’s, Run!
In June, Murray’s will release their inner howl as some dedicated members of our team take part in the Wolf Run in Leicestershire. This is a fund-raising event involving a 10km run spanning across woods, obstacles, lakes and fields. Runners will face muddy ditches, towering walls and soaking slides, all in the name of their chosen charity.
The Murray’s wolf pack will include Sue and Danny - who have been training for the last few months - and they will be ...joined by a group of nurses from the Royal Derby Hospital. The Murray’s team is raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society, the UK’s leading dementia charity. The Alzheimer’s Society works tirelessly to provide information and support, fund research and create a dementia-friendly society. With someone developing dementia every three minutes, this is a worthy cause which can change lives.
The Wolf Run will take place on Sunday 2nd June and Murray’s is hoping to raise as much money as possible before then. To offer your support and donate to the Alzheimer’s Society, visit our just giving page www.justgiving.com/murraysfunerals.
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This week we had a heavy heart as we said goodbye to the wonderful Reverend Ian Whitehead, who is moving to another parish.
Murray’s has had the great pleasure of working with Ian for nearly twenty years as he began working in the parish (covering Rolleston, Anslow and Tutbury) in 1999, the very same year that Murray’s first opened its doors.
On Sunday 17th March, a few members of the Murray’s staff attended a party to celebrate Ian and to bid him farewell. The large crowd t...hat gathered at the Rolleston Club was testament to Ian and the impact he has had on the community.
Everyone at Murray’s will miss Ian greatly but we wish him well on his next adventure.
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Wishing everyone a happy St Patrick’s Day from four generations of Murray’s ☘️

It was a pleasure working with Motorcycle Funerals Limited today and having the opportunity to ride their beautiful Harley Davidson. We look forward to riding their Triumph and Suzuki bikes again in the future.

Say hello to Swadlincote
The team at Murray's is delighted to announce that we have opened our new branch in Swadlincote at 1 Boardman Road. This branch joins our premises in Burton, Findern and Barton-under-Needwood.
We have been supporting families in Swadlincote and the surrounding area for many years and are delighted to be officially joining the community. Now, we can continue to offer our services but with even more convenience and accessibility.
... We look forward to welcoming families into our spacious new home, which boasts modern, comfortable rooms to make arrangements, meet with our team and visit loved ones. We also have ample on site parking for your convienience.
The new branch will be open from 9am until 4pm on weekdays but you may wish to book an appointment to ensure we can dedicate the time and attention you require. However, we are always here to answer your questions and have a 24-hour telephone service on 01283 819933.
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Murray's at Christmas
Each year, volunteers at All Saints Church on Branston Road provide a Christmas meal for 80 homeless, vulnerable and lonely people who have no where to go on Christmas Day. The event is run by a number of selfless volunteers who choose to dedicate some of their day to be part of this festive tradition. Among these are Joy Jackson and her husband Keith, who have helped to run the event for a number of years.
This week Sue and Dave visited the church to de...liver some Christmas crackers, something they do each year to add some joy to the festivities. They were joined by Nigel Clough and Liam Boyce who were delivering the food on behalf of Burton Albion’s Community Trust.
To contact the organisers or book a place on Christmas Day for someone in need, call 0779 276 5642. Lunch is due to be served at 12.00-12.30pm. Guests may turn up on the day but it is preferred that the organisers know who will be attending in advance.
We'd like to use this opportunity to thank everyone in the community for the support over the years and we hope all the families we have cared for have a peaceful and quiet Christmas from us all at Murray's.
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Success for Murray's!
Last year we were delighted to announce that three members of our team had completed a Diploma in Funeral Arranging and Administration, maintaining our high standards of knowledge and care. Over the past 18 months, Danny Barke has been working towards a further qualification: the Diploma in Funeral Directing. He was keen to pursue this avenue of the business and he has now become an excellent funeral director, representing Murray’s over the past year on ...countless funerals.
To earn the diploma, Danny was required to complete a number of essays, which prepared him for an exam in September 2018. We are proud to reveal that he not only passed the exam, but was awarded a distinction, demonstrating his dedication to his work. To add to the pressure, Danny was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his first child, who was due just days after the exam! Fortunately little Emily held on and Danny was able to attend the exam after a good night’s sleep. In December, Danny was joined by Sue, Dave, his wife and his daughter at an awards ceremony at Birmingham University, where he collected his certificate of qualification. This was a fantastic event and gave Danny the opportunity to celebrate his achievements with fellow students and funeral directors.
At Murray’s we believe staff should be trained to the highest standards and Danny’s success further ensures that we always provide the highest levels of care for our families. Everyone at Murray’s is extremely proud of this fantastic achievement – well done, Danny!
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Sagamatha Explorer Scouts
At Murray’s we are always eager to share what we do so we often visit groups and organisations to talk about our work. This can be for a variety of reasons, from educating members of the medical profession to informing young people about what the profession entails.
At the end of November, Danny Barke visited an Explorer Scouts group in Derbyshire to do just that. He was invited to talk to the members about his job and what the funeral industry is li...ke as a career. As a former Scout himself, Danny was keen to share with the group how some of the skills he learned there have contributed to his profession. Danny showed the group some items, such as the hearse, which was a particular point of interest. He was delighted to see how interested the Scouts were and how many questions they asked – although some of the leaders showed more enthusiasm than the teenagers at times! The evening turned from a more formal presentation to a casual chat as Danny shared his experiences and the Scouts quizzed him about certain aspects of the role.
This was a great opportunity for Murray’s to raise awareness of the profession and the funeral process; we always value opportunities to be involved in the community and talk about the job we love.
If you would like Murray's to visit your group or organisation or know someone who would, let the Murray's team know!
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In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
... That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. - John McRae
At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them. Lest we forget.
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This week the Murray’s team made their way to Derby Theatre to support our very own Barbara Ashmore in a fantastic production of the famous Guys and Dolls.
Having being part of the Good Companions Stage Society for a number of years, both on and off stage, Barbara returns this season as General Cartwright, a firm but fair leader of the Salvation Army. Previous shows have included 9 to 5 and the Follies, both of which were thoroughly enjoyed by all Murray’s staff.
Guys and Dolls will be showing at Derby Theatre until Saturday 10th November and there are still tickets available from just £17 so don’t miss your chance to see a great show and support our wonderful Barbara!

Murray’s Day Out
Here at Murray’s we pride ourselves on being more like a family than a business, largely thanks to the care and commitment demonstrated by every member of the team. Due to this, we enjoy many annual events together, the most recent of which being the Bowls Tournament at the Burton Constitutional Club on 11th August.
Every other year, members of the Murray’s team bring along family and friends to take part in a knuckle-clenching, nail-biting, adrenaline-filled... day of crown green bowling and this year was no different. The day started with some relaxed games to get the tournament going, with participants ranging from complete novices to award-winning veterans. After some tense moments, the leader board had been established and the ones to watch were firmly on everybody’s radar.
Before the pressure became too much to bear, we enjoyed a delicious buffet provided by the wonderful Repton Tea Rooms, which certainly diffused the tension that was mounting ahead of the grand finale. As the day drew to a close, all that was left was a final match to decide the winner. The last-remaining competitors were Rosie Coulton, Becky Skinner, Brian Alford and the woman herself, Sue Barke. Standards were incredibly high and onlookers watched in amazement as the scores slowly crept up, but in the end we were delighted to award first prize to Becky and Brian who proved themselves to be a cut above the rest.
Special consideration must also go out to our very own Barry Saville, who received the Wooden Spoon for scoring the fewest number of points across the day. Better luck next time, Barry – it’s the taking part that counts!
Thank you to everyone who came along to support this event and of course the Burton Constitutional Club for accommodating us so hospitably yet again.
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Visit us on www.murraysfunerals.co.uk for help and guidance, flowers or to see our online obituaries.