Wigan funeral director with 60 years' expertise to aid in shaping new regulations

One of Wigan’s longest-established family businesses has welcomed the Government’s decision to develop proposals for formal regulation of the funeral sector. 

Varty’s Funeral Directors, which is celebrating its 90th year in business, has also offered to share its experience as ministers begin developing the new regulatory framework. 

The announcement follows the sentencing of Robert Bush, owner of Legacy Independent Funeral Services in Hull. 

Bush was jailed for 20 years after admitting 67 offences, including preventing lawful and decent burials, fraud, fraudulent trading and theft. 

Police recovered 35 deceased people from his premises. Families were also deceived about cremations, given the wrong ashes or left waiting for ashes which were never returned. 

On July 31, the Department of Health and Social Care announced that it will work with the Ministry of Justice, the Law Commission and other stakeholders to develop detailed proposals aimed at improving standards and protecting bereaved families. 

Prime Minister and Makerfield MP Andy Burnham has also said the case requires a proper regulatory response and that families should be able to assume the highest standards apply. 

For Bill Varty, who has spent more than 60 years working within the funeral profession, the announcement is a welcome and necessary step. 

“When a family places somebody they love into our care, the trust they give us is absolute,” he said. 

“They should never have to question whether that person is being treated with dignity and respect. 

“What happened in Hull is horrifying. Our thoughts remain with every family whose grief has been made so much worse by this appalling betrayal of trust. 

“I have worked in this profession for most of my life, and I believe responsible funeral directors will welcome proper regulation and inspection. 

“It protects families, supports good funeral directors and helps protect the reputation of those who carry out this work with care and professionalism every day.” 

Varty’s recognises the important work already undertaken by professional organisations including the National Association of Funeral Directors and the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors. 

Both organisations set standards and inspect their members. However, membership of a professional organisation is voluntary, meaning the protections offered by those schemes do not currently extend across the whole funeral sector. 

Bill continued: 

“Organisations such as the NAFD and SAIF already do important work to set standards and inspect their members. 

“The problem is that a bereaved family should not have to understand how the funeral profession is structured before they can feel confident about the care their loved one will receive. 

“Clear minimum standards should apply to every funeral director. 

“Protection should not depend on whether the provider a family happens to choose has voluntarily joined a professional organisation.” 

Varty’s has served families across Wigan since 1936 and remains an independent, family-run business. 

Now in its third generation, the business believes experienced independent funeral directors should be included as the Government develops its proposals. 

The Government has committed to consulting funeral providers, bereaved families, faith groups and other stakeholders to ensure future regulation is proportionate, effective and informed by relevant experience. 

Bill said: 

“I have seen the funeral profession change enormously during my lifetime, but the responsibility at the heart of it has never changed. 

“We are entrusted with somebody’s loved one at one of the most difficult moments a family will ever face. 

“After 90 years of serving Wigan families, we would be very willing to contribute our experience to the Government’s work and help shape regulation that properly protects families.” 

Kristen Varty represents the third generation of the Varty family within the business and holds professional qualifications including DIPFA and DIPFD. 

She believes many members of the public would be shocked to learn that there is currently no single statutory regulatory framework covering every funeral director in England. 

“Most families would understandably assume funeral directors are already comprehensively regulated,” she said. 

“When you are grieving, checking how an industry is governed is probably the last thing you expect to have to think about. 

“Families deserve to know that wherever they turn for help, there are clear standards protecting both them and the person they have lost. 

“The Government’s announcement is encouraging, but proposals now need to lead to meaningful action. 

“We would like to see clear standards covering the care of the deceased, funeral premises, record keeping, staff training, transparency, professional conduct and accountability.” 

Varty’s has also welcomed the willingness of funeral directors and professional bodies across the country to speak publicly following the Hull case. 

However, the business believes the focus must remain firmly on the families affected and the protection of the public. 

Kristen added: 

“This should not become funeral directors defending the industry. 

“It should be the industry standing alongside bereaved families and saying that proper protection matters. 

“There are thousands of people carrying out this work with enormous care and professionalism every day. 

“Strong regulation should support those people while ensuring that every operator is held to the same clear standards.” 

Although the Government has announced that proposals will be developed, a final regulatory framework and timetable have not yet been confirmed. 

Varty’s is therefore continuing to support the Parliamentary petition entitled ‘Introduce Full Statutory Regulation of the Funeral Industry by Spring 2027’. 

The petition calls for mandatory standards and licensing, independent governance, regular unscheduled inspections and stronger oversight of the care of deceased people. 

At the time of writing, it had received just 3,800 signatures. 

It needs 10,000 signatures to receive an official Government response and 100,000 for the petition to be considered for debate in Parliament. 

It remains open until 14 November 14. 

Varty’s is encouraging fellow funeral directors, bereaved families and members of the public to support it. 

The business would also welcome the continued support of Prime Minister and Makerfield MP Andy Burnham, together with Wigan MP Lisa Nandy, as the Government’s proposals develop. 

Kristen said: 

“We are pleased that the Government has recognised the need for action. 

“We now need to make sure that the momentum created by this case results in effective regulation which families can trust. 

“We have political representatives from Wigan with significant national voices, and we hope those voices will continue to support bereaved families and help deliver meaningful change.” 

Anyone wishing to support the campaign can search for ‘Introduce Full Statutory Regulation of the Funeral Industry by Spring 2027’ on the UK Parliament petitions website. 

[VIEW AND SIGN THE PARLIAMENTARY PETITION]