Business Details
37 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Trusted Funeral Directors Since 1989
Ford Mears is a long-established independent funeral director and memorial masonry service with a heritage dating back to 1857. Our expertise combines professional care with compassion, offering tailored funeral arrangements for cremation or burial across South West London, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, and West Sussex. We operate a fleet of modern Jaguar funeral vehicles while maintaining a personalised, local service ethos despite our regional scale. Our Green Funerals initiative provides environmentally conscious options using electric hearses and natural burial grounds. With a history of acquisitions and partnerships since 1986, we preserve the legacy of family-run businesses while embracing innovation.Our directors, including fourth-generation funeral director John Ford and industry veteran Tony Mears, lead a team committed to supporting families during challenging times. We offer 24/7 assistance, pre-paid funeral plans, memorial services through our sister company Hampshire Memorials, and a dedicated funeral shop for commemorative items. Our success stems from maintaining traditional values while adapting to modern needs, ensuring every family receives dignified, professional service.
Services
Funeral Arrangements
Pre-Paid Funerals
Green Funerals
Memorial Services
Cremation Services
Burial Services
Repatriation
Funeral Shop
Eco-Friendly Options
Memorial Masonry
Details
- Year established: 1989
Highlights and features
- We offer over 35 years of combined director experience in the funeral industry
- Our fleet of modern Jaguar funeral vehicles ensures dignified transportation
- We provide 24/7 support for immediate assistance during difficult times
- Our Green Funerals initiative offers environmentally sustainable options
- We maintain local service personalisation despite regional coverage
Services
Funeral Arrangements
We provide comprehensive funeral arrangement services tailored to individual wishes and cultural requirements. Our experienced staff guide families through every step, from initial planning to service execution, offering choices for cremation, burial, or green funerals. With offices across southern England, we ensure local knowledge combined with professional expertise, available 24/7 for immediate assistance during difficult times.
Green Funerals
Our environmentally conscious funeral service utilises electric hearses and natural burial grounds to minimise ecological impact. This sustainable option maintains traditional dignity while incorporating modern eco-friendly practices, including biodegradable coffins and carbon-neutral transportation. Available across southern England, our Green Funerals team helps families create meaningful ceremonies aligned with environmental values without compromising on professional standards.
Pre-Paid Funerals
We offer pre-paid funeral plans allowing individuals to arrange their own funeral details in advance. These cost-effective plans relieve loved ones of decision-making burdens while guaranteeing services at current prices. Our advisors help create personalised arrangements that reflect personal wishes, with flexible payment options and full transparency about included services and any potential additional costs.
Memorial Services
Through our sister company Hampshire Memorials, we provide bespoke memorial solutions including headstones, gravestones, and commemorative items. Our experts guide clients through material choices, inscriptions, and design options while ensuring compliance with local regulations. We offer both traditional and contemporary designs to create lasting tributes that honour individual lives in churchyards, cemeteries, or natural burial grounds.
Repatriation
We handle international repatriation of remains with cultural sensitivity and logistical expertise. Our service includes documentation management, transportation coordination, and compliance with destination country requirements. With experience in global transfers, we support families navigating cross-border funeral arrangements, maintaining dignity and professionalism throughout the complex process of returning loved ones to their country of origin.
People
John Ford
Director
Fourth-generation funeral director with over 40 years industry experience. Co-founded Ford Mears in 1989 following family business heritage dating to 1857. Specialises in maintaining traditional values while implementing modern improvements across the company's 15+ offices.
Tony Mears
Director
Industry veteran with funeral service experience since 1965. Started as coffin maker, progressing through chauffeuring and management roles before co-founding Ford Mears. Brings extensive operational knowledge and commitment to compassionate service across the company's regional operations.
Simon Ford
Director
Joined family business in 2003, gaining experience across all operational areas. Took brief hiatus to establish furniture design business before returning in 2016. Appointed director in 2019, focusing on technological innovation while maintaining traditional service standards.
Matthew Mears
Director
Started with the company in 2013 while studying business. Progressed from operational roles to funeral arranging before director appointment in 2024. Specialises in operational efficiency improvements and digital transformation initiatives across the organisation's multiple locations.
Questions
What services does Ford Mears offer?
We provide full funeral arrangements, pre-paid plans, green funerals, memorial services, repatriation, and a dedicated funeral shop.
Are your funeral services available 24/7?
Yes, our experienced staff are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for immediate assistance.
Do you offer eco-friendly funeral options?
Yes, our Green Funerals use electric hearses and natural burial grounds with biodegradable materials.
Can I pre-arrange my funeral?
Yes, we offer pre-paid funeral plans to arrange details in advance and guarantee current pricing.
Do you handle international repatriation?
Yes, we manage overseas transfers with full documentation and cultural sensitivity across our network.
What memorial options are available?
Through Hampshire Memorials, we offer custom headstones, gravestones, and commemorative items with expert guidance.
