Stuart Pilkington has retired from the travel industry for his current role
Stuart Pilkington, who works at Co-op Funeralcare, previously worked as a vacation rep and coordinated activities for younger travelers before moving to his very different, current position.
On his way to becoming a funeral director, he made several professional changes and was also active in catering and social services.
Mr Pilkington said: “I see the funeral service as an experience and a service, much like I used to think about organizing holidays for my clients abroad.
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“Ultimately, it’s about offering the affected families and relatives a very personal service.
“Our quality of service has helped us build long-term relationships with the local community and create some very poignant and special memories that will last a lifetime.”
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He says his great-grandmother Clara, who was a local midwife, instilled in him a sense of duty.
After seeing the preparations for her funeral, Mr. Pilkington knew that a career in the industry would be his calling.
As a holiday representative, he traveled around the world and held the role of Financial Controller for Thomas Cook in Cyprus, overseeing Goa, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
After getting married and starting a family, he decided it was time to return to the UK and find a new career after years of managing the ups and downs of the travel industry, from hanging out with celebrities to dealing with it with major incidents.
To pursue his dreams, he enrolled in a self-funded undertaker qualification course before eventually being given the opportunity to join Co-op Funeralcare to help mourning communities.
Despite his seniority in his previous jobs, Mr. Pilkington began funeral care at the back of the house, preparing coffins and collecting the deceased in a private ambulance.
He rose quickly to become the funeral director of the Wigan branch, the same house he applied to six years ago when trying to gain experience in the industry.
One of his passion projects is working with the deaths of babies and children, with the entire funeral home lit in pink or blue to join the wave of light for the week of baby loss education.
The house also houses a chapel for children, which is of special importance to Mr. Pilkington after he lost a child himself.
This prompted him to set up a baby chapel in the house, in which grieving parents can remember their little ones in a private, comforting and dignified setting.
Mr. Pilkington said, “Supporting grieving parents is something I care deeply about which is why I am so proud of the work we have done and the families we have supported through the special chapel of rest.
“The Baby Loss Education Week is an important time for parents and families to remember their baby’s life.
“We hope this will stimulate more discussion around child loss to ultimately ensure that there is the right grief counseling for those who need it.”
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