About Us
Laura
Laura, Andrew and Debbie’s daughter, is Managing Director of Henwood Funerals and as the company has evolved, she has taken on the role of Funeral Director, Partner and now Owner/Director, taking care of all funerals in their entirety including the day to day running of the business allowing Andrew to take a step back into retirement enjoying having the free time he has worked so hard for. She started employment with Andrew, after she applied great pressure to him to allow her to follow in his footsteps after completing full time education in Newquay in 2006. Since then she has been completely absorbed in all aspects of the business gaining a broad depth of knowledge and experience similar to Andrew’s as they have worked together and supported each others roles exclusively for almost 18 years.
Laura brings a sense of modernism to the traditions surrounding funerals and hopes to ensure we are approachable, without worry or fear, by all. It is mainly Laura who you will communicate on all levels with from beginning to end, equally it is Laura, along with the assistance of trusted support, who will care for your loved one at all stages along their final journeys. Laura lives on site meaning we have the freedom to provide services outside of usual office hours.
Outside of work Laura can usually be found caring for her horses or persevering with her attitude packed dog Honey whilst out walking, but for the most part, she can usually be found doing something funeral related.
Mike
Mike, Laura’s partner, joined us in 2018 looking for a very different challenge following a career in sales and we saw an opportunity to relieve Laura’s growing work load affording her more time to take on the added responsibility of running the business.
Mike can usually be found in the workshop and garage, or seen endlessly washing the cars. You may have seen him as you have passed by.
Mike will usually be the one accompanying Laura or Andrew in caring for your loved one at any time of the day or night or will often be the man driving the limousine on the day of the funeral.
Andrew
Andrew first took up employment in the industry 40 years ago alongside his father, Tony. During his training he worked not only here in Newquay but also in other locations in the country, broadening his experience and expanding his knowledge. In that time he was awarded the National Association of Funeral Directors, Scales Award for highest achiever in the country during his Diploma in Funeral Director training. Standing on the Board of Examiners for the National Association of Funeral Directors soon followed. During his years of study Andrew also studied intensely and gained qualification with the British Institute of Embalmers as an embalmer, a skill very rarely found in Cornwall and he remains a member of the institute to this day. When Tony retired in 1988 selling his business, T B Henwood and Son, Andrew stayed as manager but soon decided to start his own business, Andrew Henwood Funeral Director, which still stands today.
During his career Andrew has conducted many different funerals and takes great pride in having helped countless numbers of families over the years. He has witnessed huge change in funeral traditions over the decades and has enjoyed enabling the business to adapt to grow and evolve to what it is today now proudly supported by his daughter Laura.
Outside of work Andrew mostly enjoys spending time with his wife Debbie and dog, Gracie, travelling in their motorhome or caring for their horses and donkey. He is a long standing member of The Rotary Club of Newquay and dedicates a good proportion of his spare time to raising money for the charitable causes supported by the club. Read an insightful article featuring Andrew’s life below.
Debbie
Debbie, otherwise known as Mum, is Andrew’s wife and has been a stalwart in supporting us all while we take care of the business. We could not have come as far as we have without her in the background, keeping everything together.
Debbie loves maintaining the house, office and garden we call home here at Edgcumbe Avenue. As an original Victorian building and surroundings it is truly a labour of love and we are thankful that it always represents our business so well.
Apart from caring for us all, Debbie is passionate about her pets, of which there are many, big and small.
Tony
Tony, Dad or Grandad to most local people is at the heart of our family tradition. Starting out as a carpenter and manager within his own father’s building firm followed service with the Royal Air Force, Tony soon found his place as the business found itself moving towards funerals. His career as a Funeral Director was hugely successful and his knowledge is truly vast. His tireless work as a representative for the profession both nationally and internationally and as a pioneer in the education of Funeral Directors has lead him to many a far flung corner of the world, in turn awarding him with great respect across the generations. He stood as President of the National Association of Funeral Directors from 1980 to 1981.
A truly honoured and appreciated Cornish gentleman of which we are so proud.
Tony passed away peacefully in his sleep in February 2022 aged
Honey and Gracie
There isn’t a lot to say about this troublesome pair, other than these are the rather noisy hounds that great you and the post man alike when you come to our home, but fear not, their noise is nothing more than just that.
They’re also incredibly amusing and loving and give us reason to walk our paperwork around town rather than using the post.
‘Directing The Final Journey’ by Matt Bond, 2004
Featured in the Newquay Voice, March 2004.
