Funeral directors invests in bespoke hearse following new funding deal

A SOLIHULL funeral directors in Solihull has modernised its fleet by purchasing a bespoke Jaguar hearse. The move follows a new funding deal for C Bastock.

Founded in 1856, the firm is a family-run business that has been passed down through seven generations.

In order to improve its service offering, the company recognised it had to provide the most up to date vehicles for its customers. It therefore decided to invest in a Pilato Jaguar Hearse made to a bespoke specification in Italy. The vehicle, which combines British engineering with Italian design, is currently the only one of its kind in the UK.

The firm approached long-term banking provider, Lloyds Bank, for support. It offered a competitive foreign exchange rate and full financial advisory to ensure the deal went ahead.

This is the second occasion that Lloyds Bank has supported the firm – in 2009 it helped fund the purchase of two Jaguar limousines and a Jaguar hearse with a finance package totalling £208,700.

C Bastock, which also has an office in Yardley, now has plans to further expand its fleet with additional Italian designed Jaguar limousines in 2015.
 
David Bastock, Managing Director of C Bastock (Funeral Directors), said: “As one of the longest established funeral directors in the area, we pride ourselves on the quality of care that we offer to the Solihull and Birmingham communities.
 
“We wanted to keep our vehicle choices up to date and be able to offer something different but, having never dealt with businesses overseas before, we were apprehensive about making such a large transaction in foreign currency. The financial advice provided by Lloyds Bank ensured that the payment was effortless and gave us peace of mind, and we are really grateful for the bank’s support in this process.”
 
Nick Palmer, Relationship Manager at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “C Bastock is a well-respected business in the Solihull area and has held a solid reputation for its quality and personal services for over 150 years.
 
“In order to maintain this high standard and benefit its clients, it is important for the business to continually invest in modernisation, but we understand that trading abroad can often be daunting.”