At Shires Bedford, we are proud of our many years of funeral arranging experience and we work hard to ensure that each funeral is tailored to your unique requirements.
We believe that it is our role to fully support families through each and every step, from the first meeting, to ensuring that our professionally arranged funerals are exactly what you wished for, through to support and advice.
Marian brewer
a week ago
We couldn't have chosen a more professional company. The staff, Clare and Donna were friendly, kind and listened to what we wanted for our Mum's journey. Mum looked beautiful and at peace when we visited and it was obvious a lot of care had been taken to achieve this. The celebrant, Nikki was amazing and her professionalism throughout the service was perfect. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made this possible and would highly recommend them for your loved ones.
Barry Retchless
3 weeks ago
I cannot praise enough Clare Davies, John and all the people at Shires.Their dedication, professionalism and service are superb. They have guided me, helped me and arranged every step of my mum’s funeral. I would not hesitate to recommend the team at Shire’s, they provide a first class service from a first class team.
Stan Bull
a month ago
When my wife died the prospect of making funeral arrangements appeared overwhelming. Shires very quickly too away a great deal of the stress. Clare's calm professionalism and sympathetic handling of every detail of the arrangements immediately gave me the confidence that everything would run smoothly. On the day of the funeral, Donna manage the proceedings expertly. Clare also introduced Liz Barka as a Celebrant and she made many helpful suggestions for the excellent format of the service. I have nothing but praise for the outstanding service provided by Spires, Bedford.
neil dickens
2 months ago
Shires in Bedford recently supported our family when we lost my Mum, and from the very first call with Clare we felt completely safe, supported, and genuinely cared for. The kindness shown by everyone there meant more than we can say. Throughout all the arrangements and on the day of the funeral itself, their guidance made such a difference. They took the time to sit with us, understand what we wanted, talk everything through, and gently offer suggestions. Sally was there throughout and on the day, ensuring everything felt personal - even down to the colour of the tie she wore. The celebrant that they arranged, Nikki, was the perfect fit for our family. Every detail was handled with such thoughtfulness. They dealt with all the paperwork and the practical side of things, which made an incredibly difficult time that little bit easier. Nothing was ever too much trouble. A huge and heartfelt thank you to Sally, Clare, and Millie for all your care, compassion, and for continuing to check in with us even after the funeral. We are so grateful for all your care, and would absolutely recommend Shires Bedford.
James Parrish
3 months ago
A truly outstanding and compassionate service We cannot thank Shires Funeral Directors enough for the way they handled the arrangements for our mother’s funeral. From the very first meeting, Sally and her team were kind, professional, and genuinely caring — guiding us through every step with sensitivity and calm reassurance. Nothing was too much trouble, and every detail was carried out seamlessly. The team brought a real sense of dignity and warmth to the whole process, helping make a difficult time so much easier for the family. The service itself ran perfectly and reflected everything we hoped it would. We are so grateful for the respect, organisation, and kindness shown by everyone at Shires — they did a truly fantastic job and we would not hesitate to recommend them to others.
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Most families arrange the funeral first. Dealing with the estate often comes next — something many people don't realise at the time.
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Practical advice on choosing a funeral director you can trust — what to look for, questions to ask, red flags to watch for, and why NAFD membership matters.
A practical, step-by-step guide to arranging a funeral in the UK — from registering the death through to the service itself, including choosing burial or cremation, selecting music and readings, and understanding what your funeral director will handle.
Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate. This guide explains when it is needed, how to apply, how long it takes, and whether you need a solicitor.
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Contacting the funeral director is step one. But there are 4 other things you'll need to deal with — and most people don't know about them until it's too late.
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