James Ray, 45, began his career at a local Funeral Directors in Teignmouth back in 2000, before joining Drakes of Torbay, based in Hele Road, Torquay, in 2003 helping families in the local area and becoming a well-known and respected Funeral Director.
He was then asked to take up a wide-ranging role based in Surrey for Funeral Partners – a high-quality network of businesses which Drakes is a proud part of.
Here he successfully built a portfolio of funeral businesses serving communities of all faiths, specialising in Muslim, Italian, and Nepalese funerals before his remit expanded into Berkshire and North London.
But now, James has been made Regional Director for Southern England, Wales, and North London for Funeral Partners bringing him back to his roots.
Funeral Partners’ outstanding network in the region includes Drakes, Torbay & District Funeral Directors in Babbacombe Road, Torquay, and JH Way Funeral Services in Dawlish and Teignmouth.
James said: “It is wonderful to see so many familiar faces, within the teams in Torbay and from Teignmouth, like Caz Denning who also brings 23 years of service and dedication to the industry.
“I originally got into the industry after seeing a role advertised, but someone told me the job wouldn’t suit me. I’ve always had a desire to prove people wrong and have since found that helping people when they are at a low ebb is the most rewarding experience you can have.
“A lot has changed since I started, but what remains is the care we all must give to our clients at what is an incredibly difficult time.
“I am excited to return to Devon and continue my journey with Funeral Partners. I look forward to working with our dedicated team to support families during their most challenging times.
“The care and presentation of every single person’s loved one is of the utmost importance to me.
“I play a pivotal role in ensuring the high standards that I expect along with my team are passed down to the next generation of funeral professionals within our team of dedicated service providers.”
The funeral business is a fixture in James’ family with his wife Paula working as a Regional Support Manager and eldest son Callum enjoying his role as a Funeral Manager in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. His youngest son Ben is studying at university in Dundee.
Matthew Barber, Chief Operating Officer at Funeral Partners said: “We are thrilled to welcome James back to Devon, and are excited that he agreed to lead the way in our largest region.
“His extensive experience and dedication to providing compassionate and personalised funeral services make him an invaluable addition to our team.”
