Bennetts Funeral Directors in Essex
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Bennetts funerals logo
Standardised funeral prices

Call us on
01277 210104

Essex Funeral Directors
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Standardised funeral prices

Meet the team

Our funeral staff makes the Bennetts Funeral Directors, and its funeral services a generations-long legacy. The Bennetts mission is to give you the best support possible during a difficult time. We understand that death can be a very sensitive and private matter which is why the Bennetts funeral staff are dignified, professional, caring, and always there to help in any way that they can.

Home » About Bennetts » Funeral Staff
funeral staff

Jane Bennett

Managing Director

The Bennett family has very strong links with Brentwood going back over three centuries.  Jane Bennett started working in her family’s business in 1988 having previously spent a few years in the Civil Service and almost 10 years in the City within the financial sector.

Jane was a founding Director of the Brentwood Town Centre Partnership in 2004 and led a community project to enhance the gardens of St Georges Church, Ongar Road. The drought garden won the coveted Beth Chatto Award for Best Drought Garden at that year’s Anglia in Bloom Awards.

More about Jane

Jane has served as a Member of the Brentwood Town Centre Partnership, as a company Bennetts is a member of Brentwood Chamber of Commerce.

Jane has also been involved with much fundraising over the years and regularly takes part in challenges to help raise funds for local, national, and international charities.

Her hobbies include looking after her animals, she has two dogs Bonnie and little Loxie who love going on long walks, gardening, eating out, music and travel.    Jane’s challenge is to complete the Camino Frances Pilgrimage, three hundred miles were covered before covid disrupted everything, with just two hundred and fifty left to go.

She has two sons, Joss and Callum, and a granddaughter.

Bennetts Funeral Directors support two bereavement groups, New Era and Our Grieving Hearts.

Contact Jane:
jane@bennettsfunerals.co.uk

funeral staff

Craig Knott

Manager

Craig joined Bennetts in January 2022 having previously worked for another respected independent funeral director for 7 years.

Prior to that, he worked in the UK for BAA as an account manager looking after anything customer care-related, before coming to the UK Craig worked within the retail sector.

More about Craig

Craig originally from New Zealand is married to Kerry, he has two young sons, George and Harry, and a little French Bulldog named Lily, who the family enjoys taking on walks.

Contact Craig:
craig@bennettsfunerals.co.uk

bridget - funeral staff

Bridget Holley

Funeral Planning Consultant, Bereaved Parent Support & Senior Funeral Director

Bridget joined Bennetts in 2015 as a receptionist having previously worked for Buttsbury Infants School, Billericay. Bridget previously worked for the Civil Service for 23 years in public health and food safety. Bridget runs our support group for bereaved parents.  Having lost her own daughter, Emily, in 2011, she calls on her own experience to provide invaluable support to other parents who have experienced a similar loss.

More about Bridget

Bridget has two daughters and enjoys spending time with her family and their dogs, Florrie and Shelby.  She also enjoys an eclectic range of music, film, and TV and has been a fan of Dr. Who from a very young age.

Contact Bridget:
bridget@bennettsfunerals.co.uk

martyn - funeral staff

Martyn Stevens

Funeral Planning Consultant & Senior Funeral Director

Martyn joined Bennetts in 2018 as a Funeral Planning Advisor. Martyn previously worked for solicitors for 28 years assisting personal injury families who had sustained moderate to serious injuries. Martyn also arranges and conducts funerals, is part of the 24-hour call-out team, a bearer, and driver.
More about Martyn
Martyn undertakes numerous networking events and supports local community groups. Martyn is married has two daughters and enjoys spending time with his family. He also enjoys a wide range of music. Martyn also is a keen gardener, growing vegetables at home.

Contact Martyn:
martyn@bennettsfunerals.co.uk

funeral staff

Denise Rixson

Masonry Manager, Funeral Arranger and Vehicle Hire Administrator

Denise joined Bennetts in March 2018 coming from a retail background. She is responsible for the Memorial Masonry Department. Denise is married with 3 daughters and a grandson. Her hobbies include swimming and going to the theatre.
More about Denise

She enjoys holidays in the sun and spending time with her family and her two dogs, she especially likes soaps and reality tv shows.

Contact Denise:
denise@bennettsfunerals.co.uk

mark - bennetts funerals

Mark Ebsworth

Financial Administrator/Funeral Director

Mark initially helped Bennetts out on a casual basis, before starting working full time in 2015 following in the footsteps of his father Gary, who worked for the company over a fifteen-year period. Mark looks after all duties within our Accounts Department and is continuing his studies in this area, he also conducts on funerals, is part of the 24-hour call-out team, a bearer, and drives the limousines.
More about Mark
His hobbies include art, swimming, the gym, watching live sports, and attending music festivals.

Contact Mark:
mark@bennettsfunerals.co.uk

lisa foot

Lisa Foot

Funeral Director and Bereavement Support

Lisa joined Bennetts in July 2020, coming from a wedding and hospitality background.
Lisa arranges funerals and conducts services, as well as looking after our New Era Bereavement support group, and helping the team with administrative duties.
More about Lisa

Lisa is married with 3 boys, and enjoys spending her time with family and friends, and walking her beloved dog, Milo. She also loves to go and watch live music and loves a festival in the summer.

Contact Lisa:
lisa@bennettsfunerals.co.uk

david osborn funeral staff at Bennett

David Osborn

Funeral Director’s Assistant and Conductor

David Osborn joined us in 2020, as part of the 24 hour call-out team, also driving all vehicles, and over the last year has added conducting of funerals to his skills.
More about David
He has been happily married to Karen for 33 years, they share three grown-up children and two dogs, Muttley and Millie. In Dave’s spare time he likes nothing better than to take them for long walks around Hornchurch where he lives. A keen runner, he also enjoys playing golf and watching his beloved Arsenal.
david osborn funeral staff at Bennetts

Duane Jordan

Funeral Director’s Assistant and Health and Safety Officer

Duane joined Bennetts in November 2021 having previously worked in a large retail company.  Duane is responsible for all Health and Safety within the business, he is also part of the on-call team, and drives, and bears on funerals.

More about Duane

Duane, a real family man is married to Charlotte and has three children, Jamaine, Ella, and Paris. Outside of work he enjoys music and football, he supports Tottenham Hotspur.

Contact Duane:
duane@bennettsfunerals.co.uk

funeral staff at Bennetts

Paul Lee

Funeral Directors Assistant

Paul joined Bennetts in January 2022 having previously worked for another family business in a different profession. Most of his previous roles have involved driving a variety of vehicles and now he is driving different vehicles again as well as being part of the 24-hour call-out team.
More about Paul
Paul is married to Sharon a special needs teacher and has two daughters Deanna and Abigale plus a little grandson. Paul’s hobbies include travelling – he and Sharon enjoy visiting National Trust properties; football – another Arsenal supporter, and gardening.
tina - funeral staff at Bennetts

Tina Linger

Facilities Manager

Tina has been with the company since 2007, she frequently covers the reception area. Tina is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the premises and organisation, plus the support of the funeral staff in all areas. Tina is also our chief (and only) window dresser.
More about Tina

She frequently helps with community-related projects we are involved in. Tina lives locally she has 2 children and 2 grandchildren.

jonathan lee - bennetts funerals

Jonathan Lee

Funeral Director’s Assistant and Workshop Co-ordinator

A local lad, Jon has been with us since 2005. Coming from the care industry he already had an insight into the preliminary stages of caring for the deceased. Jon is responsible for the smooth running of the workshop; he is part of our 24-hour call-out team, a bearer on funerals, and also drives the limousines.
More about Jonathan

Jon lives locally and is an active member in his local church St Thomas of Canterbury where he is a bell ringer. He also helps to keep our award-winning gardens and hanging baskets in good shape!!

Rubie Godridge

Rubie Godridge

Graphic Designer

Rubie joined the Bennetts team in 2023, after gaining experience in another sector of the funeral profession at Chelmsford Crematorium. She is our graphic designer, and helps us create our orders of services and visual tributes.
More about Rubie
In her spare time, Rubie enjoys experimenting with makeup looks, and she has a particular fondness for cats. She’s also a music enthusiast and loves attending live events.