Sussex Funeral Services Ltd

  • 2018

Funeral Directors Category: South East England

  • Sussex Funeral Services is owned and managed by Philip Evans and his wife Sallie. Philip is what you might call one of the new wave of funeral directors who has come to this work motivated by a strong vocation. He does not feel bound by tradition and habit, but has fresh eyes and fresh ways. This doesn’t mean he is in any way a radical. A better way of looking at Philip is as a man who puts principles first, adds a dash of pragmatism and a lot of life experience and brings to his work all the passion of someone who really cares. And he does. Philip is, actually, the son of a funeral director but he didn’t go into the business after leaving school, he went out in the world to get himself some wider life experience, and after a spell in the RAF, he became a policeman. His career encompassed a number of investigative roles with various agencies, including Trading Standards

    It was only when Philip’s brother died and he spoke about him at his funeral that he thought of becoming a funeral director in his own right. And as he thought, he came to the conclusion that his police work has given him plenty of transferable skills. Now that he is doing the work, he says: “I have never been more at peace with myself.” He has done a foundation course in counselling skills with Cruse Bereavement Care, and he is a qualified funeral celebrant. When not at work Philip and Sallie are members of two local Bowls clubs, enjoy playing Bridge and learning to ballroom dance

    Phil met Sallie in 2013, she is an artist who provided some beautiful work for the premises at Hove. The friendship between the two grew into a strong bond that underpinned their relationship and saw them through a difficult period of ill health, and they were married in April 2016. Sallie now looks after the second branch of Sussex Funeral Services in Brighton but provides an overall gentle female approach to caring for clients as well as support for Philip.

    Specific Gravity

    For Philip, what you want is paramount. He wants you to have your funeral your way, and he will play the role you want him to – anything from the most traditional role to a much less formal role. As he says, “I am completely in favour of choice for the client.” He means it, too, and will spend all the time it needs to explore those choices with you, sensitively and thoroughly. There’s no hurry! He can offer you any sort of funeral transport you want and, because he is especially concerned to offer environmentally friendly options, he is looking to provide inexpensive horse-drawn transport. As he says, “My business ethos is founded on ensuring that my business has as little impact on the environment as possible.”

    What’s Important?

    In Philip’s words, “What’s important to me is that my client is afforded as much choice as is possible in order to be able to make the right decision as to what type of funeral services are appropriate, according to the personality and beliefs of the deceased, the financial implications for the person paying and whether an impact on the environment is a concern to be considered.”

    Philip and Sallie are committed to providing their clients with the best possible service at the time of bereavement, and also to supporting them after the day of the funeral. The company will pay for four sessions of one to one bereavement support with a qualified and experienced support practitioner for either their client or any one person designated by them. There is also a community page on their website with details of local events such as Death Cafes and awareness talks.

    What’s Different?

    Philip trained as a celebrant years ago, and is highly experienced in creating meaningful ceremonies for families. For those who do not wish to have a full religious funeral but, rather, one which reflects their own beliefs, he is able to lead your funeral ceremony as well. There are very few funeral directors who can offer this sort of joined-up service.

    He has also been trained in bereavement counselling, and is a keen advocate of getting support for those who find themselves needing additional help after a bereavement.

    Philip believes in investing in his business, not only his premises but also in the website which brings a lot of clients to them. There is a virtual tour on the Home page where you can see inside their Hove office – a really good way of familiarising yourself before you go there. (If you click the arrow towards the back of the reception area and rotate to the right, you’ll see Sallie’s beautiful trio of paintings on the wall).

    Both of the Sussex Funeral Services premises are lovely – open, airy and contemporary, with comfortable private rooms to discuss funeral arrangements. In the Brighton office, this room can also be used to spend time with the person who has died, although most families are happy to go to the Hove branch to do this where there is more space.


    • Prices online hereDirect cremation £1500 all in. Or if you want a ‘No Fuss’ funeral but also want to spend some time with the person who has died beforehand, you can opt for their ‘No Fuss with personal hygiene care’ option at £1750 which includes washing and dressing the person and visiting them during office hours.
      • Your call will be answered by: Philip himself or Sallie.
      • You will be seen by either Philip or Sallie and they will be there for you throughout – and for as long after the funeral as you wish.
      • Yes to a home visit.
      • Yes to you coming in and laying out and dressing the person who has died. Philip is not keen on embalming and will only recommend it if it is absolutely necessary.
      • Skilled in the needs of all ethnic groups.
      • Will gladly work with those who wish to care for their dead at home: see the Plan Your Own Funeral section of his website.
      • Same-sex funeral director to lay out the person who has died if you wish. Sallie often looks after the people in their care.
      • Premises light, airy and completely un-gloomy, all freshly refurbished.
      • Park outside, or off-road at the pay-and-display car park.
      • Really nice website which gives a feeling of the business and their ethos and priorities.


    Very good value for money, as you can expect from a business of this size. No packages offered here, but clear transparency. There is the professional fee plus only what you want chosen from a menu of services. Above all, superb personal service from a funeral director who really does live their work. Philip and Sallie are passionate about their work, and about providing a service to their community, with the emphasis on choice.



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    Reviews from the old GFG site

    Tracey Linnette

    What a personal. professional and friendly team there is in Phil and Sallie.
    I accompanied my friend during meetings to arrange my friend and her husbands funeral, after his tragic and untimely passing.
    Phil complied the eulogy after chatting to us for quite a while and managed to make that conversation an enjoyable experience, quite a feat. His friendly and empathetic style was spot on.
    The service itself was lovely and captured everything needed to reflect his personality.Great team, great service and great value, from a family team who obviouslry care about what they do. Credit to you Phil and Sallie.

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    Howard Shields

    Philip and Sallie arranged for my mum’s funeral on Feb 22nd 2017.
    They were extremely caring, helpful , flexible and efficient. It made it all much easier than we imagined, and seemed excellent value for money

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    Stephen Frost

    Sallie and Phil were absolutely amazing and I can’t even begin to express my gratitude for their professionalism, kindness, honesty, helpfulness, flexibility, compassion and for going the extra mile for us. They broke up their prices clearly, there were no hidden fees or surprises, there was none of that ‘being charged for things you don’t want’ nonsense. They put the Orders of Service on the seats, they arranged lights for me, they helped me with the music, they communicated with me every step of the way, we even had some lovely chats too. All of this and they offer one of the cheapest prices. But we got everything we’d want; we probably got more than we’d have got from places charging a grand more. I can’t praise them enough, thank them enough and recommend them any more highly. If I find myself needing to arrange another funeral in the area, I guarantee I’ll go straight back to Sussex Funeral Services and be confident I’m in safe hands. At the worst time of my life, at my most vulnerable, they not only didn’t take advantage, they were a great comfort and support.

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    Kate scott

    Phillip and and Sallie have been a great help at a very difficult time. We wanted to find a funeral director when my grandfather passed away recently and I am so glad we found them. They have been thoughtful, compassionate, supportive and efficient. We all thank your for your assistance

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    Anthony Cockburn

    I would highly recommend Philip and Sally to anyone considering funeral directors. Every aspect was dealt with with warmth and compassion. Our father passed away in early December last year. We wanted a memorial service at his local church and a private commital the following day. Both were handled brilliantly and were a great success. We knew our father was in good, caring hands and all of his wishes were met. We initially had a hunch that Sussex Funeral Services was the company for us being family run and having that “personal touch.” They fulfilled all our expectations. The pall bearers were immaculate and professional, the casket was beautiful and the procession and funeral car looked wonderful. Overall, a high quality of service all the way.

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    Adrian Monti

    Having to organise a family funeral so soon after you’ve lost a loved one is never something most of us would look forward to. But thanks to their excellent service, Phil and Sallie made our dad’s funeral a surprisingly positive experience. From the moment we first met them, they listened to our needs and acted on what we wanted. And by using their experience and knowhow of what might work, they helped us arrange a fitting send-off for our dad. Nothing seemed too much trouble and it was all carried out in a sensitive, caring and very human way. Everything went smoothly beforehand and on the day itself. At a difficult time in your life, you really do notice and appreciate those around you who genuinely are there for you. That was very much the case with Phil and Sallie who made a very hard time a lot easier navigate by taking away many concerns and worries. If you can have a ‘good’ funeral, they certainly helped us achieve that.

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    Debbie Clark

    Dear Sallie, and Philip too,

    Thanks so much to you both for a beautifully managed funeral – we were all very satisfied that we’d asked you to organise it for us, and all the guests I spoke to were equally impressed. I was sorry not to have taken more care to speak to all the bearers before the service, but would be grateful if you’d convey our appreciation to them as well. So many people came together to make it a memorable and comforting experience for us all, and your personal touch, both of you, and the graveside music made so much difference.
    If I were to pick one highlight it was the friendly and personal service you both gave us and your care to listen to our preferences so carefully. Thank you so much.

    Very best wishes


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    Justin Quick

    HI Phil. We as a family would like to thank you all for everything you have done for our Dad & for us. We were very lost & you have all helped us thru this heartbreaking time. From the very start when I first rang you & that fine gentleman Bob arrived to take Dad, to then meeting you & your wife; & from then on planning our Dad’s funeral, you have all been absolutely fantastic. When we visited Dad he looked so handsome & smart and we thank you for that. The service yesterday was beautiful & your words that you used to describe Dad were amazing. You have all been so professional yet heartwarming & so friendly. We cannot thank you all enough.
    Justin, Vicky & Louise

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    Dee Fallon

    I just wanted to thank you and Sallie again for the seamless organization of Mum’s funeral arrangements. It couldn’t have all gone better and we are very grateful for the professional way you both conducted things. I hope you enjoyed your well-deserved free time in Devon.

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    Tracey Green

    Hi Phil

    I just wanted to say a massive thank you for all your guidence and support through our difficult time, I know the whole family feels the same.
    The service was just what we wanted and the goodbye we needed to say.

    I don’t want my family to have to make the decisions we had to for Gary so, I was wandering if you do funeral plans. I would rather arrange my own and save someone else the headache?

    And Yes of course you can use this as a testimonial.

    Take care Phil and thank you again.

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    Piers A

    Thank you Philip and Sallie for arranging my mums funeral this Tuesday at the South Chapel Woodvale Brighton, it was a lovely day and everything went very well – I couldn’t ask for more.

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    Patricia Hughes

    We can’t praise enough the care that Philip and Sally gave to us when we had to arrange my brother Alan’s funeral. Everything they did was carried out with great attentiveness and empathy to our wishes to have a dignified and simple funeral.
    They made everything easy and they went out of their way to make us feel relaxed on the day of my brother’s funeral.
    Thank you Philip and Sally you deserve all the great comments you have received.. You are a great team. Warm regards

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    Andrew Bidwell

    A very special thank you to you all for making the celebration of Becky’s life so true to her character, at just 45(missing her 46th by a few days) she had led an extraordinary life, which you were able to convey in a way that made her life shine out to all.
    I’ve had so many comments from the congregation of friends and family who have been profoundly touched by her send off, it really was a beautiful farewell to my wonderful wife.
    ‘From first contact with Nick and then meeting Phil I felt completely reassured that you were the right people for this very important task, and felt you would understand us,embrace becky’s express wishes,and make it a day exactly how Becky would’ve wanted it to be.
    You did, and surpassed all of our expectations, I can imagine her giving two thumbs up’.
    Bob & Nick came to our home to collect Becky, and the care, respect and dignity she was shown made this incredibly difficult moment so much easier to bare, please send my gratitude to them.
    Sally dressed her and made her up beautifully, and seeing her for the last time, I was once again so touched how much love and effort had gone into each detail of the preparation.
    I’ll be popping in when I pass to say hi. I hope all is well with you all and am truly grateful to you all.

    Kind Regards
    Andrew Bidwell

    Ps please feel welcome to use any part of this as a testimonial, I know it helps you and future customers to make up their minds on who to choose.

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    Tracey George

    Dear Phil

    Thank you both for your kindness and compassion with all the arrangements.
    Sallie’s kind, sensitive and caring nature made the initial preparations smooth and stress free. Mum was totally at peace after seeing Janet in her casket, Sallie was sensitive and compassionate throughout…Thank you x

    The service and eulogy was beautiful and perfectly delivered by you, the family were very happy with the service and the arrangements. I cannot thank you enough for all the help and the advice you have given me, plus the lovely photos which you sent after your meeting with Mum & George.

    Despite the circumstances, it’s been a pleasure to have met you.

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    Harriet Rossger

    Dear Phil,
    Many thanks again for your excellent service and helpful advice concerning my grandmother’s funeral. I was very grateful for your attention to detail and support and wouldn’t hesitate to use your services again. As you know, this may well be the case in the coming years, sadly, but it’s very reassuring to know that there are undertakers who care out there.
    Helen Roberts is on holiday until 23rd May, but I am sure her secretary will deal with your invoice shortly.
    Please feel free to publish this feedback on your website.
    Many thanks and best regards from Berlin,

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    Christopher Davies

    Dear Phil,

    Just a brief line to say thank you for the funeral arrangements yesterday. We really appreciated how you handled everything. You made it a really good occasion and Jack could not have wished for a better send off.

    I really appreciate how you handled the celebration of Jack’s life at the South Chapel.
    You were an excellent celebrant and made the occasion just what we wanted.
    I know you said that it was your job and profession but I thought you really understood what we wanted to do for Jack.
    Thank you.

    Please will you also thank Nick for excellent arrangements and for putting us all at ease,

    I wish you both well for the future.

    Kind regards

    Chris Davies

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    Sharon Lawton

    Dear Phil,
    Tony and I would like to thank you and your colleagues for your help over the last couple of weeks, and for guiding us through a difficult time yesterday.

    Kind regards,

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    Babar Coughlan

    “When my brother passed away (on Sunday 13th December 2015.) I was unsure who to use as I live in Northolt, Middlesex and he lived in Brighton.
    When I spoke to Nick ( from Sussex funeral Services), my instinct, told me to use them. They sounded warm, friendly and helpful and I’ve not been proven wrong. They carried out their duties ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WAS “called for” and for that I am TRULY GRATEFUL.”

    Warmest regards

    Babar Coughlan (Mrs)

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    Jeanette Collinson

    Could I just say thank you so much for handling everything absolutely perfectly. I loved your ‘no fuss unless you want it’ approach, and throughout the whole process, and especially on the day there was just the right blend of dignity combined with informality and a sense of compassion that made a painful day go as well as it possibly could.
    (Thank you also for encouraging me to take Janet’s flowers home, I’m not really a flower person, but they are just so lovely it would have been a shame not to have see them after Friday (plus I couldn’t really take too much in at the time) so I’m really glad I did now.

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    Elaine Milford

    I would like to thank Philip for his thoughtful and considerate handling of my brothers recent cremation. My brother Mike had been estranged from our family for many years, so it was difficult to know what he would have wanted. In the end I, my brother Jon and Mike’s close friends decided that a very basic cremation service was all that was required. We would have a wake and a scattering of his ashes as ‘the special time’ rather than a religious service and traditional funeral. Philip arranged everything and dealt with us in a kindly and sensitive manner at this difficult time. Thank you.

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    Ru Henry

    Hi Phillip,

    We just wanted to say a great thank you once again to you, Sally and Nick. We feel that you do a true credit to the service you provide and we were so very happy to have found you. I honestly don’t think we could have found a person with more compassion and commitment.

    The sensitive approach that Phillip effortlessly puts across can only come from someone who truly understands and cares about what you are trying to achieve for a loved one, or where your roots to belief lie. His experience comes across immediately and I found myself felling better about the whole experience for just having met him. His level of attention to detail is second to none.

    Kind regards,
    The Henry Family.
    In memory of a loving brother and son.

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    James Lawson

    I would certainly recommend Sussex Funeral Services. Philip and Sallie were very helpful and supportive, going out of their way to sort out the funeral, which all went smoothly on the day. They gave a caring personal touch to everything, responding very quickly to any questions.

    Thanks and best regards
    James and Maria

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    Debbie Nash

    Hi Philip and Sallie,

    Thanks for all your help in making our dad’s funeral run smoothly and for all your advice and recommendations during the whole process.

    I would recommend you guys to anyone and everyone in need of funeral services either on a budget or not.

    Many thanks
    Debbie Nash

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    Emma Tolson

    Dear Philip,

    Thank you for all your help during the last two weeks. Your professional assistance, advice and thoughtful approach was much appreciated by my sister and her family and was a tremendous benefit to us all during a very difficult time.



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    Emma Tolson

    Hi Phil & Sallie

    Just wanted to once again extend our thanks for your kindness and professionalism shown during this last week.

    The service was so lovely, everyone commented so. You absolutely understood the way we wanted Barry’s farewell, no mean feat considering you didn’t meet him !

    The support you’ve given the family during this sad time has been a godsend. You both made what is an incredibly difficult situation a somewhat lighter journey and for that, there are no words.

    Best and kind regards
    Emma, Martin, Janine, David & the sleeping Mia !

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    David Tillson

    On behalf of myself my two daughters Amanda and Nichola a HUGE thank you to Philip & Sally for the way they dealt with the funeral arrangements for my beloved wife Val; they were put under huge pressure for very good reasons in both organising the funeral and having an order of service printed in a very short space of time. Cannot praise them highly enough; a TOTALLY professional couple and one I would recommend to anybody. Thank you both again.

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    james Barnett

    All our family can really say is thank you….Philip, Sally and all the staff at SFS were wonderful before, during and after the ceremony and both comforted and supported us through a very tough time. They made the whole process as easy as possible and felt genuine care from them throughout. We cant recommend highly enough. Thank you all once again.

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    Terry Jordan

    Thank you Philip and Linda (who acted as celebrant) for a straightforward, professional, discrete, caring and stress-free non-religious funeral service for my father. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Sussex Funeral Services Ltd. Warm regards from the Jordan family.

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    Cyndy Ba-Abdullah

    In April 2015 my mum died. Even though she was 92, the shock of loosing her meant that our whole family went into that traumatic stage of bereavement in which even making a small decision feels completely overwhelming. There was so much to organise and arrange and I felt so lost at the responsibility I now faced. Philip Evans (Jnr) and Sallie at Sussex Funeral Services were so very supportive. Their calm organised efficiency helped me to be able to gain clarity as to how I wanted mums funeral to be. Phil talked me through the steps I needed to take with regards registering the death, choosing the coffin, deciding on the format of the funeral service etc. There is so much to think about when a loved one dies. Mums funeral was so memorable and I know that she would have been really proud of me for the decisions I made. I was able to achieve this through the wonderful support which Phil and Sallie gave to me and to all my family. Thank you for your excellent service!

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    Julian Sheppard

    Dear Philip, On behalf of myself & my sister I wish to thank you & your team for the very helpful & understanding assistance given to us in both planning our brothers farewell & support on the day. As non Brighton residents our dealings had to be on line,& by phone. Your support could not be bettered. Thank you for helping us at this difficult time. I have no hesitation in recommending your service.

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    John Bedford

    Phil and Sallie make the emotional and daunting task of saying goodbye to a love one something my family and I were able to feel both comforted by and proud of.

    Their friendly and open approach to the formalities of a funeral were a huge help to my family and I and their encouragement made my father’s funeral something that felt truly personal, well planned and unique.

    I was also impressed with the way Phil and Sallie set out to make arrangements affordable yet always bespoke.

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    Lucy Butner

    Hi phil

    Just to let you know that I received a very kind letter today form the RSPC, thanking us for the donation.
    Thankyou for all your work in making that process so seamless (from my perspective at least!).

    Once again my thanks to you, Sally, Bob and the team for all that you did for Mum. It was so important that everything was right on the day – we were gathering to say goodbye, so it needed to be perfect. And thanks to you all, it was – even the weather. Although I don’t think you had anything to do with that!

    Finally, best wishes to you and Sally for your wedding.
    Kind regards

    Lucy Butner

    PS. If you want to use any of the above as a recommendation on your website, then please do.

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    Gary Williams

    After speaking to most of the funeral directors in the area and not being very impressed, I came across Philip. He was the first person who really seemed to care. He led me through the whole process and arranged everything. The funeral was flawless.

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    Veronica Silvertop

    Philip Evans is an excellent funeral director. He is a kind and caring man, deeply understanding of the diverse needs and wishes of those from all walks of life who need particular family support at a very difficult time of their lives.

    He is also very efficient and, when we wanted to change arrangements very close to the funeral day, he just got on with it. His help and advice enabled us to organise a service that was perfect for the deceased, our family and friends.

    Thank you, Philip and Sallie, for the good memories we will always have of the moments we said goodbye to someone we were very sad to see go.

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    Michael Snead

    I found Philip and Sally very compassionate and understanding.Philip’s eulogy at my mothers’ service was sensitive,heartfelt and very moving.In fact i do not think it could have been bettered.
    I would have no hesitation in recommending them.First class.

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    Phil Booker

    Thank you Philip, you allowed my Father’s service to be held with dignity and I appreciate your personal touches and care in making the necessary arrangements completely bespoke to my needs.
    I chose Sussex Funeral Services based on other people’s comments, and I am glad I did. You have an obvious passion for your vocation, which made the service a memorable one in all the right ways.
    From the start of the arrangements, you listened to my requests before giving me options to think about, then guided me through the process and made a difficult situation very bearable.
    All family and friends who were able to attend the service commented how well everything was arranged, and they were impressed with your professionalism and compassionate delivery.
    I am happy to say Philip was the right choice for arranging the service and acting as the celebrant, I would highly recommend Sussex Funeral Services.
    Thanks again Philip, you are a credit to your profession

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    Nicholas Rushworth

    Hi Phil and Sally!!

    I’m sorry I’m only getting round to writing this now, been meaning to say for a while but thank you both so much for your support during probably the most difficult emotional experience that I will have to face in my life, the death of my Mum.

    When I first strolled in back in February I was feeling awful, I had a clear idea of what I wanted to happen for my Mum but had no idea of how to make it happen, I’d seen another couple of funeral directors and they’d tried to dissuade me from making certain choices, but you and Sally listened and said ok, you then took control of the situation, in a way that allowed me full access to every choice that needed to be made, you were both always at the end of the phone and made a highly stressful situation manageable, you allowed me to just experience the thoughts that are natural, sadness and grief.

    The funeral itself was beautiful, and the service will always be in my mind, I wouldn’t imagine saying this at the time, but you have given me clear points of definition in the events that have followed since my Mums passing, which are and will continue to help me as I progress through the next steps of my life. Everything came together in such a way that only shows how brilliant you both are at your job.

    Sorry to ramble on but finally out of all the grimness I have found two wonderful friends in you both, and I’m happy to have you in my life.

    Lots of love from Nick xxxxxx

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    Sam Mackley

    I would like to sincerely and wholeheartedly recommend Philip Evans of Sussex Funerals. My dad passed away without leaving any instructions apart from wanting a “no-fuss, no-bother” cremation and from the very start Philip was attentive, skilled and quietly supportive.
    Philip and his team were wonderful at helping us organise things in a timely and gentle way with minimal interference and a lots of useful advice and guidance. He allowed dad to have exactly the kind of service he wanted without it being at the expense of our need to say goodbye respectfully and lovingly. He thought of little touches that I will always be grateful for and he managed to help us occasionally smile on a day that I was afraid would be unrelentingly sad.
    In short, I will always be grateful to Philip and his team for the way they helped us find a way to honour dad and still stick to his wishes to keep it very simple and straightforward. I can’t recommend him and his colleagues highly enough.
    From Sam Mackley and family

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    Ron Charlton.

    Phillip and Sally were recomended to me by the Nursing Home where my wife died,just a few days before her 84th birthday.
    I had made no preparations,so was rather thrown in at the deep end. I need not have worried. Sussex Funeral Services,took command and organised everything. Despite the short notice,everything went very smoothly.Every item had been attended to and my Joycie had the best send off that anyone could hope for.
    Phillip and Sally were sypathetic,friendly and efficient,as were the bearers.
    When my turn comes,I hope to be served by the same team.
    10 out of 10. Top marks.

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    Rosemary Ellis

    Hi Phil,

    Now that the dust has settled from the funeral last Thursday, I would like to say “Thank You” for all you did to make the arrangements go so smoothly. It was not easy organising from afar and choosing a funeral director from the Internet a big gamble. In the end I felt very lucky to have chosen such efficient and sympathetic people. Thank you all so much.

    Yours Sincerely, Rosemary Ellis.

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    Jane Klevenhagen

    Dear Phil
    I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you properly for all you and Sally
    did for us last week. As a funeral director you led us through the whole sad process with compassion, care and efficiency and, as a celebrant, helped us create such a beautiful, tranquil and moving finale in celebration of Mummy’s long life.
    We will always remember just how much you helped us.
    Thank you again

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    Kate Sherlock

    Dear Philip & Sallie
    Our family would like to say a very big thank you for the caring,compassionate and professional way you conducted our mum funeral on 15th Sept 2014.
    You helped us in a very sad day,giving us the time to remember and honour a loved one. You treated our mum with such respect and dignity. We will always remember you for the compassion you showed us. Kate Sherlock

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    Susi Santorelli

    Fortunately I had some time to do research on funeral directors in the months before my mum passed away in June 2014. Before she died we discussed her final wishes and visited the websites of the businesses I had selected. Together we decided on Sussex Funeral Services. I’m so pleased we did.
    Phil and Sally were exceptional from the moment I met them to the days after the funeral when I returned home to the US. Phil turned one of the saddest days of my life into a celebration of my mum’s life. The positive impact that made on our family and friends can’t be expressed in words alone. Thank you so much.

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    Max Julié

    My mum passed away recently, the experience has been very difficult and the whole process seemed very daunting at first.
    After visiting Phil and Sally, my sister and myself felt extremely reassured straight away.
    They listened to us and showed great care, professionalism and respect towards our choices. Phil did his best to make sure that all the different procedures went as quickly and smoothly as possible and I couldn’t be happier with the way my mum has been looked after.

    The grieving process is long but I can honestly say that they’ve helped me a lot, in many different ways and brought me and my sister peace of mind. Not only will they help you organise the right type of funeral for your loved one, they will also listen to you and take the time to have a chat with you.

    I cannot recommend Sussex Funeral Services enough, Phil and Sally are truly great people and they will treat you with all the respect and professionalism that you would expect and that you deserve.

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    Teresa Hemsley

    Dear Philip & Sallie
    I am writing on behalf of Mick and myself for all your kindness, understanding and professionalism you showed us after the passing of Mick’s Dad. The Eulogy was spot on, you described all the events, celebrating Dad’s life, so well. He would have loved it. So many family and friends came up to me and said how impressed they were. We were so pleased that you and Sallie joined us after, we know what busy lives you have, so we were very touched you found the time. All that remains for me to say is thank you again and take care.

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    Simon Hamblin

    My Mother and I visited Phil following my Father’s death purely because of the comments I read on this site.

    Phil was wonderful from the moment we walked in the door, friendly, warm, understanding and compassionate. Never did he try to sell us his services, in fact he took great trouble to tell us what what services were unnecessary or not usually used by people these days.

    He made a very emotional process much easier to bear with his kindness, and a genuine desire to know us and my Dad.

    Phil also recommended a vicar to us, the pair of them provided a service and helped us plan a funeral that truly reflected my Dad.

    The greatest compliment to Phil, Sally and Christyan is that Dad would have liked them all and be very happy with the way they treated us and him/

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    Joe Ashdown

    Just dropping you a line to thank you both for all your help in organising my Dad’s funeral. I can only say that I found your service throughout to be first class and I feel that the service was testament to the work you put in beforehand. In what were very difficult days for me in the aftermath of my Dad’s death, I felt very reassured knowing that the funeral was being handled by yourselves. I found the insight you were able to provide when planning the funeral very helpful and the compassion and interest that you both took in my Dad to be very comforting. I am certain I speak for Tony too, when I say that I was highly impressed with the service that you provided and rest assured that if I am ever asked to recommend an organisation to plan someone’s funeral, I will have no hesitation in recommending yourselves. Thank you very much.

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    David Wallace

    I just want to thank Phil and Sally and the staff at Sussex Funeral Care for the superb way you have attended to my brother’s funeral. The care and advice given was reliable, compassionate and met all our wishes and needs. You really supported us during this very difficult time of my brother’s sudden death. I could not wish for a better service and kinder people and at such a reasonable price which is always difficult to consider at such times. Thank you again and I have no hesitation to recommend you highly.

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    Sue Wicks

    I’d like to take this opportunity to thank yourself and Sally for your kindness and generosity towards me. I can’t tell you what a difference it made to have a friend looking after me and my mum. Thank you so much for ensuring everything went so smoothly before and on the day and for your help and advice. For me, the funeral was both moving and beautiful. I will definitely recommend you to anyone I know requiring funeral services and look forward to seeing you both again on a happier occasion.

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    Emily Mann

    Dearest Philip & Sallie
    Thank you to you both and your team at Sussex Funeral Services. You supported me and our family during such a sad time and you did my mum, Jane, very proud. Thank you for guiding us through the fog and tears.
    With all our love
    Emily, Ronnie, Andy and friends and family

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    Karen Griffiths

    Having recently lost the love of my life and entrusting him to anyone other than myself was heart renching
    I can honestly say arranging his funeral with Philip and his staff was a ‘joy’ and I say this with total respect to my beloved man
    He is so down to earth and compassionate in every aspect from start to finish, Philip is a total professional and removes any worries completely, hence making this process virtually painless for the grieving relatives
    We had the most glorious service celebrating my mans life and not his passing
    It was a day that was perfect in every way
    I send huge thanks to all concerned who made this happen and I am so pleased that we decided to make our arrangements with this wonderful caring funeral directors
    I would advise anybody that you will find no better than these lovely people

    Many thanks again, you’ve left everyone with beautiful memories of a wonderful day


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    Polly Pasi

    My father died in Royston, my brother lives in Cambridge and I live in North London. My father wished to be buried alongside my mother in Brighton. From the first conversation we had with Philip (on a Saturday) he was calm, caring, respectful and professional. He tackled what seemed a complicated arrangement with ease and reassured us from the outset. We dealt with him all the ways through rather than via a manager. Philip put us in touch with a marvellous local vicar, arranged the Chapel booking complete with organist. He kept in touch with us all the way through assisting with every aspect of the Service. Our father had been a Fleet Air Arm Pilot during WW2, so Philip thoughtfully suggested and sourced a Union Jack for my father’s coffin. His team on the day were a credit to him. We would have no hesitation in recommending Philip and his firm who provide a professional personalised service. Best wishes Polly

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    Margaret de Casanove

    Dear Philip, Sallie and Emma.

    Thankyou for the kindness shown to us. You brought calm and positivity at a very difficult time. The care and attention shown when looking after Claude was second to none and deeply reassuring.

    Margaret de Casanove and Family

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    Simon Woodland

    We were very impressed with Phillip’s service and manner from beginning to end. My father died unexpectedly and, since I was only back in the UK for a limited time, we had to make the arrangements incredibly speedily. Phil expedited all of these with sound advice and interventions. He was also totally open to us doing exactly what we wanted, without any hard sell of expensive and unnecessary options. At all times, we felt him to be genuinely sincere and compassionate. Highly recommended!

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    Nicole Foster

    I would like to echo the comments below. When my father passed away, Philip was recommended as good Brighton funeral director. Excellent service, supportive through out and competitive / transparent pricing.

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    Mark Sharron

    My family considered a number of funeral directors in Brighton when my Grandfathers passed away. Philip was supportive and respectful in our time of need. I would recommend Philip to anyone looking for a genuine independent Brighton funeral director.

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    Mrs Paulina Coleman

    My mother recently passed away, we thought we were losing her a few prior to her death. I went into see Philip with my idea of how the funeral would go. He was kind,considerate, caring and gave me some good suggestions that I had not thought about, like the Giving Tributes, where you show photos of your mum with messages from the family. He went out of his way to help us, scan photos, talk with my mums Father Michael.We are Roman Catholics so we had a big Requiem mass and the the crematorium. The co-ordination was perfect.The whole family said it was a perfect day. Mum would have been proud and I am sure she would have liked Philip. Everything was crystal clear with Philip and his efforts are greatly apprieicated. Philip was very easy to work with and not stuffy, just kind and gentle, Philip , all of my family would like to say thank you to you and your team. Warm regards.
    Mrs Paulina Coleman & family, .
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    samantha durrell

    Philip and his helpful assistants have been extremely kind to my very frail and elderly mother-in-law and to the rest of the family in helping us to plan my father-in-law’s funeral this week. We were very impressed by the time given to us and by his patience, even when there was an impromptu family meeting in the waiting room! We felt in safe hands from start to finish and his warmth, friendliness and light hearted touch were much appreciated. Many thanks again

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    Beth Harrison

    Myself and my family would like to add to the previous comments about Phil and his staff at Sussex Funeral Services. We couldn’t have asked for a kinder, more compassionate service. We had done our ‘homework’ prior to our dear Dads passing as he was terminally ill. Phil wasn’t at all phased by a visitation from myself and two sisters ‘checking him out’ at his office in Hove! When the time came, he struck absolutely the right balance of listening to our requirements and translating them into action, providing a service that was second to none, even out of hours. He was a fantastic celebrant and worked closely with us so we could provide a fitting tribute for our dad, finding a wonderful mezzo soprano to sing one of dads favourite pieces. So many people said that it was the best funeral service they had ever been to. I cannot recommend him and his lovely assistants, Sarah and Emma more highly. At a time of devastating loss, we couldn’t have been in more caring hands and they really did go the extra mile. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The Harrison family.

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    Dermot Donegan

    A very dear family friend of ours passed away on the 21 of February in Hove. As we live in the north of England we went on the website to search for a reputable funeral director in Hove. We chose Phillip Evans of Sussex Funeral Services. By the time we arrived in Hove all the arrangements for the funeral had been made to our satisfaction and any other help we needed was catered for to a very high standard. MR EVANS and his staff offered high quality professional care and assistance to the deceased Mrs Sheila Donnithorne and ourselves throughout all the funeral arrangements. We would like to thank Mr. P .Evans and his caring staff for all their help and professional care and assistance. We would highly recommend Sussex Funeral Services in the event of losing a loved one. Lancashire.

    Reviews from the old GFG site

    A great service at a sad time
    Rosemarie & Doug Standen
    Phil & Sallie helped to turn what was a sad occasion into a stress free celebration. They went out of their way to to accommodate our wishes and made suggestions to enhance the day. My husband’s father was an old soldier so was eligible to have the Union Flag draped over his coffin something we would not have known. Everything worked well on the day. The staff used i.e the drivers and the pole bearers were kind and respectful. We would recommend this company to anyone.

    Jackie skinner

    Philip and Sallie offer and deliver a unique approach and delivery of a funeral service. I have never had dealings with any other funeral directors who offer the services Philip and Sallie do. There attention to detail is amazing . Philip conducted the service for my father in law . He spent time with us as a family getting to know him and the eulogy Was outstanding. His attention to detail was spot on. His attention during the service to us as a family was unbelievable. I can not praise the pair of them high enough. If you want an amazing tribute to your loved one with help every step of the way then you need look no further Philip and Sallie are the ones to us. Absolutely brilliant.

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