About Us

  • Farthing Funeral Home team
  • Wheeled Bier at Ipswitch funeral home

    About Farthing Funeral Service

    The roots of the business go back to 1840 when Edward S Singleton started out in business on Woodbridge Road in Ipswich.

    Hastings & Son was established in the town in 1876, but the business began to evolve into what we know today when the two were united in 1975, to become known as Singleton & Hastings, under the leadership of the Farthing family whose involvement, initially in Felixstowe, stemmed from 1950.

    We believe everyone should have the opportunity to be aware of the choices available when arranging a funeral to make it meaningful and individual to them.

    Here at Farthing Funeral Service we also offer an affordable prepaid funeral plan, Choice, so that you can arrange and pay for a funeral in advance. This will protect your family from rising costs and remove uncertainty about your wishes.

    If you would like to talk to us about planning a funeral, or our Choice plan, please come and see us in any of our funeral homes, or if you’d rather we can arrange a home visit. We’re also available 24 hours a day on the phone so if you need anything please don’t hesitate to call your local funeral home.

    Meet the Team

    Jamie Waters

    Area Development Manager

    Jamie has been part of the funeral profession since 2007. In the early part of his career, originally from Suffolk Jamie worked as a Crematorium Technician for his local crematorium where he obtained accreditation from the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities in the Practical and Ethical Operation of Crematorium Equipment. Following this, a large part of Jamie’s career has been spent working with a national network of funeral homes, with experience in a number of roles including funeral service operative, funeral service arranger, funeral director, diary and logistics manager and branch development manager before joining Funeral Partners in January 2022 as Operations Manager for Farthing Funeral Service to become Area Development Manager for both Suffolk and Northamptonshire

    Andrea Race

    Funeral Director

    Andrea lives in Debenham and has been with the firm since 1989. Over the years Andrea has established herself as a caring and dedicated Funeral Director. Andrea won the Scales Memorial Prize when taking her Diploma examination, demonstrating her commitment to her career. Andrea’s interests include dancing, especially Ceroc, and foreign travel.

    Francesca Souter B.A. (Hons), M.A.

    Funeral Director

    Francesca is local to Woodbridge and joined Farthing Funeral Service in October 2021 following graduation from the University of Liverpool with a master’s degree in Egyptology. Francesca continues to enjoy researching and travelling to archaeological sites around the world, including digging for a month in rural Turkey. After many years teaching swimming to children and adults alongside her studies, she decided on a change of career to the funeral profession where she endeavours to support all families in their time of need. An experienced funeral director, Francesca also oversees the day-to-day planning and fleeting of funeral services. 

    Samantha Barksby Dip. FD

    Funeral Arranger

    I began working as a trainee Funeral Director in April 2009. In March 2011 I was presented with the NAFD diploma qualifying as a funeral director after a lot of hard work and study. Before entering the funeral sector, I worked in caring professions, as a qualified NNEB Nursery Nurse, Radiographer (BSC Science) and mammographer ( PGCert). I am passionate and dedicated about providing our families with the very best care at such a difficult period in their lives. Knowing that together we have provided a unique service to families and their loved one is so rewarding. Married to husband David with one daughter and 2 granddaughters, I enjoy meals out with my family and friends, an avid genealogist and gardening.

    Hayley Clarke

    Funeral Service Operative

    A member of our team with a range of skills that includes looking after deceased in our care, pallbearing, driving cortège vehicles and our private ambulance, coffin furnishing and tending to our seasonal flowerpots and baskets! In her spare time Hayley enjoys caring for horses and walking her dogs Rodney, Cassie, Racquel and Poppy.  

    Taris Green

    Funeral Service Operative

    Taris has a wide range of skills and knowledge gained from the past few years in the funeral profession. Her caring nature has drawn her to developing a career as a mortuary technician. Looking after loved ones from the moment they are in our care to the day of the funeral, helping families to be able to spend time with their loved ones in the chapel of rest and maintaining the high standards set for our care of deceased facilities is a key part of Taris’ role. 

    Julian Abbott

    Funeral Service Operative

    A former chef and manager of a kitchen within the care sector for 10 years, Julian opted for a change of career and has become a key member of the team preparing for funeral services, pallbearing, caring for deceased and oversees looking after and maintaining our fleet of vehicles. 

    Chloe Jarvis

    Funeral Arranger

    Chloe joined the team in 2021 having previously worked in the care sector and was quick to show great promise with her attention to detail and motivation to provide the best service and care to our clients and their loved ones. In her spare time Chloe enjoys crafting, nice walks and looking after her three tortoises Lulu, Sheldon and Ziggy.

    Ammie Nichols

    Funeral Arranger

    Ammie joined the team to begin a career in the profession after spending her first working years in the beauty industry, born in Suffolk, Ammie knows the area well and her local knowledge is key to caring for families and their loved ones. “I saw an advert for the role of Funeral Arranger on a recruitment website and I thought how rewarding it would be to be able to help people at one of the most difficult times, so I applied and was selected for an interview. When I attended the interview, I was shown around the funeral home and I was so impressed, it was difficult to know exactly how the interview went but I left knowing that it was what I wanted to do. When I received a call offering me the opportunity to join the team, I was so pleased and now I cannot think of anything else I would rather do!”. In her spare time Ammie enjoys trips to the cinema long walks with her dog Buddy.

     

    Steve Lockwood

    Chauffeur / Bearer

    An experienced hearse driver, limousine chauffeur and pallbearer. Steve’s experience is key in assisting the funeral director with preparing and planning of a funeral service.  

    Dave McDonald

    Chauffeur / Bearer

    Dave is the second longest serving member of the pallbearing team. Ensuring all is in place and ready at the service venue and the bearing of the coffin are Dave’s key skills. 

    John-Paul Toh

    Chauffeur / Bearer

    An experienced limousine chauffeur and pallbearer. John-Paul also has a key role setting up and preparing the service venue ahead of a funeral. 

    Jack Lewington

    Chauffeur / Bearer

    Jack has 10 years’ service in the funeral profession with Farthing’s and is an experienced pallbearer and limousine driver. Jack also plays a vital role greeting mourners and ensuring everything is in place ahead of a funeral service.

    Michael Sheahan

    Chauffeur / Bearer

    A former driving instructor Michael has a key role as hearse driver, limousine chauffeur and pallbearer. 

    Matt Southgate

    Chauffeur / Bearer

    With 20 years in the funeral profession, Matt brings a wealth of experience with a skill set ranging from looking after the deceased in our care, arranging the funeral service, limousine chauffeur and directing the funeral on the day. 

    Our Values

    Pride

    We take pride in everything we do. Our aim is that everyone who works for Funeral Partners shares our values.

    Helping People

    Our business exists to help the bereaved to make fitting arrangements for their loved one’s last journey and to provide lasting memories for family and friends. We do this with a positive, caring and understanding approach.

    Respect for everyone

    We value diversity and treat everyone with the same respect, courtesy and dignity.

    Professional Standards

    We are a professional organisation and we strive to achieve the highest possible standards in everything we do and to improve upon these standards continuously.

    Accept responsibility

    We accept responsibility for our actions both as a company and as individuals.

    Partnership

    We believe that we can only achieve our goals by working together in partnership with client families, suppliers and our employees.

    Our locations

    We're available 24 hours 365 days a year

    Call 01473 272 711 visit branch or arrange a home visit