Our History

1880

Our original funeral furnishing business was founded in the mid 1880’s by Simeon Higginson Breeze, in Finger Road, Dawley. During the 1920’s the running of the business was taken over by his son, John Vaughan Breeze, who moved location to our current site in Dawley Bank, whilst still operating as a village blacksmith and carpenter. He was assisted by his daughter, Kathleen, who in 1941 married Walter Williams, who had two children; Christopher and David.

1960

In 1961, Christopher Williams, entered the family business after serving his apprenticeship with local funeral director W. L. Jones of Wellington and Dawley. Christopher was a visionary and from the outset, as the youngest Funeral Director in the country, set about a lifelong ambition of offering the finest funeral service possible to the people of Telford and surrounding areas.

In the 1960’s Christopher opened Telford’s first dedicated chapel of rest, at Dawley Bank.

1970

The 1970’s saw the expansion of our Company with the purchase and amalgamation of John Sheward and Sons, Carriagemasters (Little Dawley), Broome and Poole Funeral Directors (Madeley), W E Wilkes Funeral Service (Dawley and Beckbury) and W J Williams Funeral Service (Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale).

1980

Throughout the 1980’s, our facilities continued to be developed to complement the requirements of the new town of Telford.

1992

In 1992, John Williams Funeral Service of Shifnal was purchased. John Williams retains its character as an independent business and shares our unrivalled services.

1997

During 1997, the Directors embarked on what was meant to be a simple building project to improve facilities, and further our ethos of creating and running the finest available funeral business in the country.

2000

2005 – Major office refurbishment

2007 – New chapels of rest and service chapel at Dawley Bank were dedicated and opened

2008 – An 8000 sq. ft. limousine garaging and valeting facility at Hortonwood, Telford

2009 – A Memorial Showroom at Dawley Bank

2010

2010 – The Shropshire School of Funeral Service opened its doors to students from home and abroad

2011 – We were invited to join ‘Selected Independent Funeral Homes’ (one of only 26 in the United Kingdom) and we remain members of this prestigious organisation

2013

Sadly, in December 2013, Christopher passed away, leaving his wife, Carol, together with Simon and Louise – the fifth generation – to run the business. Simon and Louise Williams, are actively involved in the family business on a daily basis and are extremely proud of the achievements made by previous generations.

2013 – A memorial masonry and pre-paid plans office at Lawley

2014

2014 – A new funeral home in Madeley (Court Street)

2017 – The creation of a new office, family arranging rooms and coffin showroom at Dawley Bank

We continue to build upon the vision and ethos set out all those years ago by Christopher. Our directors and team share that same vision – to provide every bereaved family we serve with the finest levels of service and facilities available.