Funeral venue adds two new members to team

A Bristol funeral venue has welcomed two new additions with the appointment of an administrator and a hospitality manager.

Maria Gawler has joined Bristol Memorial Woodlands, near Alveston as an administrator. As well as general administrative tasks, Maria is responsible for meeting families and assisting with their plot purchasing.

Having spent many years as a school administrator and prior to that in customer service for a large distribution company, Maria feels her people skills help to make a real difference to the families they care for.

She said: “I enjoy meeting families and helping them select from those plots we have available for purchase within our beautiful and peaceful grounds. One particular aspect of my role is arranging and assisting families with the interment of their loved ones’ ashes, this is a particular honour and privilege.”

Also joining the team at Bristol Memorial Woodlands is new hospitality manager Michelle Walsh.

Michelle also joins from a school background having spent many years in a busy kitchen as catering staff.

She said “I am relishing my role here, even with the small challenges that the position can occasionally present. From day one everyone has made me feel welcome and at ease so I feel as if I have been part of the team for a long time.

“I really admire the way in which the team at Memorial Woodlands sees to it that each family’s particular wishes are properly respected. They work hard to ensure a caring and sensitive approach and I’m really happy to be a part of that.”

Bristol Memorial Woodlands is creating a 100-acre woodland nature reserve that will be managed and maintained for future generations.

Chris Baker, founder of Memorial Woodlands, said: “We are pleased to have added to our busy and dedicated team here with the appointment of Maria and Michelle.

“The service we provide to the families who come to us at an incredibly challenging time in their lives is of the upmost importance to us and so finding the right team to deliver that quality service is equally important.

“Maria and Michelle’s individual experience and skills have already been proven and we’re pleased to have them on board.”