Shoobridge Funeral Services create bespoke and fitting ceremonies with the wishes and needs of the families they work with at the heart of what they do.

The family-run company's experienced yet friendly team of funeral directors are there for clients from that very first meeting right up until after the funeral, recognising that the most valuable service they give is often after the ceremony.

And they even offer a service where people can pre-arrange their own funerals, providing peace of mind for loved ones when the time comes. 

Paul Fudge, who runs the Exmouth branch on Exeter Road, said: "We strive to build a relationship with our families, and have a continuation of care in the months after.

"People sometimes have that outpouring of grief after the funeral, and quite often family members will come back into the office, or we see them up town. We write to our families reminding them that our door is always open.

"We've got guidance where we can put them in touch with solicitors or grief counsellors, that support mechanism after bereavement.

"People place their trust in us to look after them at a time of such sadness and bewilderment. We walk beside them in their journey. If they tell us that we made a hard time just a little bit easier for them, that's the most rewarding part of the job. It is a privilege."

Paul has been a funeral director for almost four decades, starting his career after leaving school at the age of 16.

A fresh approach

He has seen funerals change over the years. Once they were all very solemn occasions, but nowadays they are more of a celebration of life and focused more on the deceased.

He and Shoobridge Funeral Services give a fresh approach to making funeral arrangements, with a wide variety of options and choices.

Paul said: "People come in with so many thoughts of what they want to do for the funeral and we put all that into practice for them in a stress-free environment.

"We like to make things run smoothly for them and make them feel that their loved one has been remembered with a fitting tribute to them.

"We try to make it as personal as we can, so the service is really representing the person who has died and his or her life.

"We can play music that they liked, have a particular coffin or, if they had a favourite place, we can take the hearse and drive past.

"Recently, we were up at Orcombe Point and we drove along the beachfront on our way to the funeral."

Relieving stress and strains

Sofas inside Shoobridge Funeral Services on Exeter Road, Exmouth (Nub News/ Will Goddard)

When you go in to see Paul in the Exmouth branch, you will find a relaxed atmosphere complete with comfortable sofas – or, if you prefer, the funeral directors can visit you at your home.

For Paul, learning about the person's life and serving them well is an honour.

He added: "Families tell us that our approach to making funeral arrangements relieves a lot of stress and strains that they had worried about.

"Hearing the story of the person's life and looking after them is the most rewarding part of the job.

"We work to put you at your ease. Our level of service is 100%, 100% of the time - we don't cut corners."

Not just the day of the funeral

Paul Fudge outside Shoobridge Funeral Services on Exeter Road, Exmouth (Nub News/ Will Goddard)

For Paul and his colleagues in the Honiton and Exeter branches, it's not just about the day of the funeral.

Pre-arranging a funeral is also a service that Shoobridge Funeral Services offers.

Paul said: "We go out and visit families and they tell us all their instructions beforehand.

"That relieves the relatives of any stress because when they've passed away it's all paid for and all the arrangements are there.

"People can also come and talk to us informally about funeral wishes and instruct us for what they want for their funerals even without a payment." 

Get in touch

If you need to contact Shoobridge Funeral Services, there will always be someone to answer your call personally on 01395 266902 and you can make enquiries via email [email protected].

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