Sometimes a short phrase can catch your attention, it was the words  ‘Over 300 years of Quality Service ‘ that prompted me to pick up the phone to hopefully arrange an interview with Claire Austin –  Managing Director of Austin’s Family Funeral Directors

Q Claire it is amazing to be able to have the ability to trace such a long history of service to the community?

A Yes, it was originally established in Graveley in 1700 by W. Austin and Sons. They were local builders which was the custom in those times as it was the carpenters who actually made the coffins and labourers who dug the graves with other members of the workforce acting as pall bearers

Q Graveley was then a small village on the outskirts of Old Stevenage when did the company move into the town?

A  They relocated in about 1800 to Letchmore Road where family members lived adjacent to the builders’ yard, continuing to build houses and arranging funerals for the next 150 years.

Q So was it at this time that your father became involved with the running of Austin’s?

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A  Yes, it was in 1964  that my grandfather Bill Austin sadly died, he had been running both the funeral and building business  with his two cousins Reg and Hubby.  My father had been following his own career but his father’s death and the fact that the two cousins were nearing retirement prompted his decision to become involved with the running of the company, which he did in January 1965.

Q  When did the company change from its original functions to concentrating on only the funeral side of the business?

A  The building side of the firm was sold by my father John in 1978. Having continued building many individual houses through the late sixties and into the seventies, he took the decision to concentrate on the funeral side of the business, enabling him to provide a personal quality service to the local community and surrounding area. 

Q  I expect the development and continuing growth of Stevenage New Town had a big effect on how the business developed?

A  Yes from 1947 onwards the New Town attracted sometimes as many as three generations from a single family to settle and establish their lives in this area.

Q  A large majority of the new residents came to Hertfordshire from the East End of London. Bringing their own customs with them, I expect this would have brought about many changes.

A  Yes indeed, following tradition gives the bereaved comfort at a difficult time and we have always tried to accommodate the family’s wishes. We still provide Horse drawn Carriages to this day, which was a large feature from the East End of London.

Q   Your father John’s provision of the Harwood Park Crematorium in 1997 must have provided a much needed facility for the local population?

Harwood Park

A Yes it was designed and built by the Austin family, prior to it opening families would have a long drive over to Luton. Having the crematorium in Stevenage not only benefits the bereaved on the actual day of the funeral, it also provides an important local focal point where they can visit and hopefully find comfort in the peaceful grounds.

Q Here we are in 2010 and I believe you are the 10^th generation to be involved with Austin’s was that always your ambition.

A Not really, I had my own career and only joined my father in 1998 and it was on his retirement in 2001 that I became Managing Director.

Q I imagine that as with your father before you, time spent pursuing your own career can bring a new dimension to the running of the business. Would you say that was true?

A  I do think it’s beneficial to have spent time in a different working environment it broadens your outlook and enables you to work as part of a team. We are very fortunate that we have a very loyal and in many cases long serving staff and I think time spent away from a family firm makes you appreciate their dedication.

Q Sitting here with you I can appreciate the thought that has gone into providing such comfortable surroundings for families who have just lost a loved one. Do you feel that a woman’s touch has been helpful in developing the service you are able to provide?

A   In my time at Austin’s I have endeavoured to bring a fresh view in providing thoughtful personal touches that ensure we provide a welcoming approach to all who come to us for help, in caring not only for those who have died but also for those who mourn them. It’s vital that this extremely personal service continues to evolve respecting all the needs and customs of our local community.

Written by Marty Coe

For more infomation about Austin's please visit their website at www.austins.co.uk