Name: Lee Howes
Job: Funeral Director in Bradford

"It is difficult to describe the feeling when a client says 'thank you, you have made it that bit easier' - it makes everything seem so worthwhile."

Lee Howes, your Question and Answer session starts now...

How did you get into the job?

I have always had an interest in this field of work as two of my cousins were gravediggers for the local council before working at a crematorium. When my Grandad died I was fascinated by the funeral director, as he 'sorted' everything out and I decided that that was the profession for me. I mentioned to him that I was interested in his field of work and he advised me to approach the bigger firms for prospective vacancies.

My initial pursuits were to no avail, but two years later when my Grandma died I was left with the job of arranging the funeral and this increased my determination to become a funeral director.

In 2001 I successfully applied for the position of part time funeral arranger at a local funeral home. This part time position gave me the foot-hold I needed to achieve my goal as a fully fledged funeral director. As the position was on a part time basis I had the opportunity to study for my Diploma in Funeral Directing and consequently in 2002 I was offered a position as a funeral director.

What is the job about?

As a funeral director, I am responsible for arranging and conducting funerals in accordance with the wishes of the client and in full compliance with the law. I advise clients on how to register the death, any benefits they may be eligible for from the Department of Work and Pensions and guide them through what can be an extremely traumatic time. Also I arrange for people who have died to be brought into our care from hospitals, nursing homes, their own homes and even from abroad. I am on the on-call rota and prepare the deceased so that their families can spend time with them in the chapel of rest. It is very important that we comply with all cultural customs and that we know about different cultures and religions.

What are the best and worst things about your job?

The best thing is the sense of satisfaction I get from knowing that I have helped a person through a very difficult time is the most rewarding part of my profession. It is difficult to describe the feeling when a client says 'thank you, you have made it that bit easier' - it makes everything seem so worthwhile.

The worst thing is the 24 hour on-call duty. It can play havoc with your personal life - when you are on call your personal life is never your own and never goes to plan! However as I enjoy what I do this doesn't bother me.

Have you had any embarrassing moments or have you got any funny stories tell?

I heard of an incident that happened to a colleague of mine many years ago who was helping a lady plan her own funeral. The lady was adamant that when she died her budgie had to be put to sleep and buried with her as she and the budgie were best friends. My colleague offered to personally ensure the wellbeing of the bird in the event of her death.

If you weren't doing this job what would you be doing?

For most of my youth I wanted to be an airline pilot and because of my love of flying I started flying lessons so that would be my obvious choice.

Have you got any heroes in your field of work?

I have two mentors who have taught me everything I know about funeral directing; one is a former work colleague and a close friend and the other is my area manager. Between them they have guided me in the right direction and still provide ongoing assistance.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work in your field?

The funeral profession can be hard to enter - vacancies do not arise that often. You may need to consider relocating in order to enter the profession.

If someone is serious about entering this profession I would advise them to try and get some work experience and to consider professional training. The British Institute of Funeral Directors has a national network of registered tutors who run schools offering the Foundation Certificate in Funeral Service and the Diploma in Funeral Directing.

Finally, I would say, be patient. I know how frustrating it is to send speculative letters to funeral homes in the hope of striking lucky but it is worth the wait so don't lose heart!