2018 Saw R Banks & Son (Funerals) Ltd grow once again due to the companies acquisition of Redscar Funeral Home Preston.

For two years Brian Halliwell M.B.I.E Dip F.D and Gareth Jones worked with Carroll M Bibby M.B.I.E Dip F.D of Redscar with a view to assisting the business in its development into the future, and helping to grow the business, it was during this time we made an offer to take full control of the business to Ms Bibby and the McKenna family who agreed that for the sustainability of the future that this would be the best course of action.

We are delighted that Carroll M Bibby M.B.I.E Dip F.D has decided to join us and we are now fully investing in her vision for the future whilst she retains full day to day control of the business. This has allowed Carroll the freedom to develop with the financial security our company can offer. She will always be respected and supported by ourselves and we are excited for our future in the city.

Please have a look at their website, it may look familiar! www.redscarfunerals.co.uk

The company is delighted to welcome Lynne Morton Dip F.D, to the close-knit team. Lynne, who is well known and respected locally, joins R Banks & Son, with over 25 years’ experience working in the Funeral trade. Qualified for over 20 years, Lynne has already worked in the Wigan area for 17 years (for a national chain of funeral directors). She has joined the team at R Banks & Son, working at their head office in Pemberton, and will be responsible for all aspects of the profession, from arranging and directing the funeral, to advising and helping bereaved families. Lynne is set to become a familiar face in the company, covering funerals in all of their branches across the region. Lynne says that she’s ‘Excited and thrilled to be working at R Banks & Son, and looking forward to a long and rewarding future, offering a caring, personal touch to bereaved families who need our services’ This professional, personal approach is of the utmost importance when helping families with their loss, and with that in mind, R. Banks employs only full time, reliable staff, to ensure that the same people take care of your funeral needs from start to finish, giving you the peace of mind that each funeral is as individual as the person who has died, and is tailored to the wishes of your family. Alongside the already established team, Lynne will be helping R. Banks & Son achieve this promise.

Brian Halliwell M.B.I.E Dip F.D "I consider my funeral directing team to be not only the best I have had the pleasure to work with but quite simply the best in the country. When I heard that Lynne had approached Gareth, we had absolutely no doubt in our minds that we had to get her here. Lynne brings with her a huge wealth of local experience, professionalism, care and dignity, and we are delighted to have her here and look forward to a very long and successful working relationship.

On Tuesday the 7th of February 2017 R Banks & Son officially opened the doors on its latest funeral home at Platt Bridge in Wigan, serving the communities of Platt Bridge, Abram, Bickershaw, Spring-view, Lower Ince, Hindley, Golborne, Ashton, Stubshaw Cross, & Bamfurlong. We acquired the very former housing offices based at the end of Templeton Road, and after a lot of consideration we consulted with Gavin Pinion of Gold Crest and set out our vision to him, and once we had our plans in place we entrusted the complete works & project management to Mr Steve Ward of Ward builders, Pemberton who did not let us down.

The site now has a 5 rooms of repose, dedicated Roman catholic chapel, memorial showroom, and arrangement facilities. The funeral home has welcomed two new team members to the company, Gillian Sibblies, & Terri Saxon, and the funeral home will be under the direct supervision of Nicola Disley Dip F.D, Wendy Green, and operations manager Gareth Jones, all of who are committed to making the new funeral home a success.

We will shortly be announcing an open day & would welcome anyone who wishes to pop down and see us to do so.

Special thanks on behalf of R Banks & Son (Funerals) Ltd to; Steve Ward, Eddie Fitzsimmons, & Dan Huxley of Ward Builders, Ken Sinclair of K.D Sinclair & Son Electricians, John Hickey, Neil Briggs, Matthew Hendry & Paul Moorcroft of J.P Moorcroft Decorating services, Tom Walsh O.B.E of Select a carpet Ashton, Angel Security systems, Gavin Pinion of Goldcrest, Peter of Synergy Signs & Graphics Leigh, Harmony Blinds of Pemberton, & Alan Thomas of Eclipse Wall Coverings Wigan.

5pm on the 21st of August 2016 marked the end of an era at R Banks & Son as we bid farewell and happy retirement to Jimmy Harrison, our number one hearse driver.

Jimmy has been with the company for 15 years, and had decided that the time was right to take life at an easier pace and made us aware of his intentions to retire, a decision that although we understood and  fully supported was a real blow to the company none the less although he has promised that he will always be on standby should we need him.

What can we say though about Jimmy? Well he is a true gentleman, a consummate professional, a dedicated & loyal man who has  been a true asset to the company.

We speak for every single member of staff when we say Jimmy, it's been an honour & a pleasure working with you, and we all wish you all the best, and a long and happy retirement.

Earlier this year due to the retirement of Les Robinson Dip F.D we found ourselves looking for a new funeral director, we interviewed a number of candidates before an off the cuff comment from Janice Hough made to Gareth Jones made us stop & think.

Janice had been with the company for five years and was a part time member of our staff at our Bentham House Funeral home in Coppull, Chorley, and had been working hard on developing the memorial side of the company, whilst working very closely with Les Robinson to become a funeral arranger. Janice had a great understanding of the administrative side of the business, funeral arrangement, and pre payment funeral plans, and had shown a great deal of loyalty to the company, so the decision was not a hard one to make and Janice has now made the move to full time based at our head office and is trainee funeral director under the watchful eyes of Brian Halliwell M.B.I.E Dip F.D whilst being tutored by Miss Nicola Disley Dip F.D and will in the coming weeks begin her diploma in funeral directing the Dip F.A.A & Dip F.D

Janice will be predominantly based at Halliwell House Pemberton, and will be the dedicated funeral director for our Coppull & Standish funeral homes.

We are delighted that Janice has come on board full time, and we know she will have a long and very successful career with us.

On the 18th of June 2016 eight of the girls here at R Banks & Son took part in this years Race For Life Pretty Muddy® at Avenham Park in Preston.

Pretty Muddy® isn’t like any other fundraising event. It is a muddy obstacle course that women of any ability can climb over, crawl under, and charge through to show cancer that hell hath no fury like a woman in pink, and our girls didn’t disappoint!

Organised by Jane Crook who is based at our Pemberton office, she signed the team up, and I think some of them wondered what they let themselves in for. The day itself was great fun for all of us, even those who just went along to offer their support, the weather held up, and the day was a success, and the girls have so far raised over £630 for cancer research.

Although this was the first event of its kind that our team has taken part in, we know it definitely wont be the last, and plans are afoot to attend more events throughout the  year.

Every two minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer.

Cancer Research UK,  are world leaders in finding new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. They want to create more tomorrows for more people which is why They’re  determined to beat cancer sooner.

They receive no Government funding for our research. Their life-saving work relies on the money that you raise through sponsorship. It is from the support through events like Race for Life that helps them continue  ground-breaking work and help more people survive cancer.

R Banks would like to publicly thank everyone who has donated to this cause, your money is greatly appreciated, and we are so proud of the amount we have raised so far. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank our shirt sponsors for this event, Richard and his team at Halliday’s Funeral Supplies, Adam and his team at Hills Florists, Tiffany & Elaine at Platinum advertising, and Bill Fry at Clarke & Strong.