Barry Pritchard was one of the founding Directors at Funeral Partners before he decided to return to Sheffield and launch his own venture, along with his wife Yvonne.
Over the years he has stayed in close contact with the current Chief Executive Sam Kershaw and has now selected the country’s third largest funeral business as his acquisition partner after choosing to sell their three businesses – Barry Pritchard Funeral Services, WN Allcock Funeral Services and Trafford Lowe Funeral Services.
The three Funeral Services brands boast five branches across Sheffield and Derbyshire, which are new areas for the Funeral Partners network.
Barry is currently serving as the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) President and is teaming up with Funeral Partners to give him more time to focus on his proudly earned role.
“I’ve kept in touch with lots of friends and former colleagues at Funeral Partners since I left and it has been great to see the company thriving,” he said.
“Once the decision had been made to sell the businesses, they were the obvious choice.
“Their values as a business and as a management team are aligned with my own, their policies safeguard the future of my staff and offer them the first-class support which comes from being part of a large network. I am proud to be part of Funeral Partners again and confident that the businesses are in safe hands.
“Being President of the NAFD is a real honour and I want to give it my all during my term, and this arrangement with Funeral Partners will allow me to do this. There are significant changes and developments in the funeral profession, more than we have seen in the last 50 years, and I am dedicated to being able to advice, influence and support our Funeral Services colleagues.”
Barry is a third-generation Funeral Director following proudly in the footsteps of his father Alan – known to many as Jim – and grandfather Charles. The Pritchard family have been undertakers since the early 1900s.
“The funeral business is all I’ve ever known, and it is in my blood,” Barry added.
Sam Kershaw said he was pleased to welcome Barry back to Funeral Partners.
“I have worked with Barry on and off for 30 years and am delighted that he has chosen to bring his well-respected, and successful businesses to us at Funeral Partners,” he said.
“We’re always keen to maintain relationships in the industry and see each other at the NAFD events. Barry and I have kept in touch and I have seen the great success he has had over the years with his funeral homes, creating a reputation for high standards of service and respect within the industry and local communities they serve.
“He will make an excellent NAFD President and I will be looking to support him in his new role whichever way I can.
“We welcome Barry Pritchard Funeral Services, WN Allcock Funeral Services and Trafford Lowe Funeral Services teams into our family of businesses and look forward to working with them to carry on their great work.”
