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Blogs, News and Thoughts

Franklin and Hawkins Funeral Directors

Conversations, advice and local updates from your Coventry and Solihull Family Funeral Directors.

Canley Garden Cemetery, Coventry.

Templefields Natural Burial Solihull

A Local Guide to Funeral Locations Near Solihull: Crematoriums, Cemeteries & Memorial Spaces

December 22, 2025

Arranging a funeral involves many decisions, and choosing the right location is one of the most important. For families in Solihull, there are several well-established crematoriums, cemeteries, and memorial spaces nearby, each offering a different setting and atmosphere. This guide is designed to help you understand the main funeral locations near Solihull, so you can make informed choices that feel right for you and your loved ones, with the reassurance that local support is always available. For families in and around Solihull, that support is close at hand, our funeral home in Marston Green village offers a quiet, welcoming space where arrangements can be discussed in comfort and

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National Christmas Card Day, How to Feel When There is One Less Card To Write

December 9, 2025

For some people, writing Christmas cards is a moment of peace: a cup of something warm, a cosy chair and a stack of a cards, some of them especially selected for the ones you love most. But this year, you may feel at a loss as you find yourself with one less card to write. If you’ve ever sat staring at a blank card wondering how you’re meant to be “merry and bright” when you feel anything but, please remember: you’re not doing Christmas wrong. You’re doing your best. Grief doesn’t take a break over the festive season, and it definitely doesn’t care that it’s National Christmas Card

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Grief Awareness Week: Standing Together, This Week and Always.

December 3, 2025

Grief Awareness Week arrives every December, but as everyone who has lost a loved one knows, grief doesn’t wait for a date in the diary. It moves at its own pace, sometimes gentle, sometimes overwhelming, sometimes catching you off guard when you thought you were doing “okay”. At Franklin & Hawkins Family Funeral Directors, this week is a chance to pause, reflect, and stand with the families we’ve supported throughout the year. It’s also a reminder that grief isn’t something to get over, it’s something we learn to live alongside. This year, grief touched our own team too This year, some of us have experienced the heartbreaking loss

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Franklin & Hawkins Funeral Services

The Meaning Behind Funeral Traditions

November 26, 2025

Funerals are filled with traditions. Some familiar to the public, others quietly carried out behind the scenes by funeral professionals. These traditions are ways of showing respect, care, and dignity during one of the most significant moments in a family’s life. At Franklin & Hawkins, we honour these long-held customs not because we “have to”, but because they matter and each gesture communicates something meaningful. Paging the Hearse Paging the hearse is the moment the funeral director walks in front of the hearse, and if you live near our funeral homes in Tile Hill or Marston Green you may have seen one of our funeral directors walking at

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Sara-Louise Jinks

Celebrating Funeral Celebrant Day

November 22, 2025

Funeral Celebrant Day is here, and honestly, could there be a better excuse to shine a big, warm spotlight on the incredible humans who guide families through some of the hardest moments of their lives? At Franklin & Hawkins, we are blessed with a team of compassionate, skilled, and brilliantly unique celebrants who bring comfort, meaning, and heart to every service they lead. What Is Funeral Celebrant Day? This special day invites everyone to see what celebrants really offer, encourages honest talk about farewells and shows how a skilled celebrant supports families gently. They are guides, story‑writers, planners and speakers, all in one caring package. A funeral celebrant

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Fillongley Church Poppies

Remembering & Reflecting: Remembrance Day in Coventry and Solihull

October 29, 2025

Every November, our communities pause to remember the bravery and sacrifice of those who served in the Armed Forces. Remembrance Day is about reflection, gratitude, and togetherness, and across Coventry and Solihull, it’s marked with moving local events that bring people together in quiet solidarity. For us at Franklin & Hawkins, it’s also a reminder of why we do what we do: honouring lives, telling stories, and holding space for remembrance in all its forms. Coventry, a city shaped by remembrance If there’s one city that truly understands remembrance, it’s Coventry. The Coventry Blitz in 1940 left scars that still shape the city’s soul — but also built

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Ozzy Osbourne Funeral

Famous Funerals: Notable Farewells in Birmingham & Solihull

October 29, 2025

Every Goodbye Tells a Story From world-famous musicians to local legends, Solihull and Birmingham have seen their fair share of remarkable farewells. Each one says something about our city’s spirit, proud, grounded, and full of heart. Funerals, whether public or private, offer a glimpse into what people value most: love, connection, and legacy. And in Birmingham and Solihull, those values are proudly shown in the goodbyes we give. The City’s Famous Farewells Over the years, a number of well-known figures with Birmingham roots have been laid to rest here, each service reflecting the person behind the name. Just this year, The late Ozzy Osbourne, legendary frontman of Black

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Funeral director

How Funerals Have Changed Over the Years

October 29, 2025

Funerals have always been about honouring life and saying goodbye, but the way we do that has evolved dramatically over the years. From horse-drawn hearses to modern eco-friendly coffins, and from rigid traditions to personalised ceremonies, the funeral industry has seen huge change, and continues to adapt to reflect the people and values of our times. From Horse and Carriage to Motorised Hearses In the early 1900s, horse-drawn hearses took the deceased on their final journey, often grand black carriages with glass sides, drawn by teams of horses wearing plumes. The transition to motorised hearses began in the 1910s and 1920s, when vehicles like the Daimler and Ford

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Franklin and Hawkins Family Funeral Directors

When Someone Passes Away: Gentle Guidance for Families in Solihull

October 28, 2025

When someone you love passes away, it can be hard to know where to start. There’s so much to think about at a time when you’re least prepared to think about anything. At Franklin & Hawkins Funeral Directors, we believe every family deserves time, space and personal guidance to make the right choices for them. There isn’t one “right” way to say goodbye. Every situation is different, and we’re here to guide you through each step with care, clarity and compassion. Personal guidance for every situation Every family’s circumstances are unique, and there are many different paths depending on where your loved one passed away. We’ll explain the

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Budgeting & Cost-Saving Tips When Arranging a Funeral in Solihull

October 28, 2025

When a loved one passes away, one of the first practical worries many families face is cost. It’s a difficult topic to talk about, especially during an emotional time, but understanding what affects funeral costs and how to manage them can make everything feel a little less overwhelming. At Franklin & Hawkins Family Funeral Directors in Solihull, we believe every family deserves a respectful and dignified service, whatever their budget. Here’s how to plan a meaningful funeral while keeping costs clear, manageable, and fair. Understanding what goes into funeral costs Funeral expenses can vary depending on the type of service you choose, where it takes place, and the

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Franklin and Hawkins Family Funeral Directors

The Changing Face of Funerals: Why More Families Are Choosing Independent Funeral Directors in Solihull & Marston Green

October 27, 2025

How Funeral Services Are Changing Funerals today look very different to how they did a generation ago. Families are moving away from the “one size fits all” approach, choosing instead to create services that truly reflect their loved one’s personality, beliefs, and life story. From favourite songs and meaningful readings to colourful coffins, woodland burials, and celebrant-led ceremonies, there’s a shift happening. People want something personal, and that’s where independent funeral directors really shine. The Rise of Independent Funeral Directors In recent years, more families in Solihull and Marston Green have been seeking out independent family owned and run funeral homes. But what does “independent” actually mean? Quite

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The History of Marston Green: From Village Roots to Modern Community

October 17, 2025

A Village with Heart There’s something special about Marston Green. Maybe it’s the way everyone says hello on the High Street, or how the park fills up the moment the sun peeks out. For a place so close to the hustle and bustle of Solihull and Birmingham, The NEC and Birmingham Airport, Marston Green has always managed to hold onto that small-village soul. It’s a place that remembers its past, and that’s what makes it so loved today. From Farmland to Family Homes Marston Green began life as a rural hamlet surrounded by farmland and quiet countryside. The “Marston” in its name comes from mǣre tūn, meaning farm

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