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24-year-old Bath funeral director trying to change "perceptions" | |
(3 months later) | |
Hollie James started her own funeral director business at 24 years old | Hollie James started her own funeral director business at 24 years old |
A 24-year-old funeral director has said that people are often "surprised" that a young person is working in the industry. | A 24-year-old funeral director has said that people are often "surprised" that a young person is working in the industry. |
Hollie James recently set up her own company in Radstock, near Bath, and is thought to be the youngest independent funeral director in Somerset. | Hollie James recently set up her own company in Radstock, near Bath, and is thought to be the youngest independent funeral director in Somerset. |
"I lost my mum when I was 15 years old and all I remember was it being quite a bit of blur at the time of organising the funeral," she told BBC Radio Somerset. | "I lost my mum when I was 15 years old and all I remember was it being quite a bit of blur at the time of organising the funeral," she told BBC Radio Somerset. |
"It’s a privilege to support people at their time of need and we get to meet so many different people. No day is the same." | "It’s a privilege to support people at their time of need and we get to meet so many different people. No day is the same." |
Hollie James was inspired to start her own company after the death of her mother | Hollie James was inspired to start her own company after the death of her mother |
Ms James started her career with an apprenticeship at her local crematorium in Bath when she was 18. | Ms James started her career with an apprenticeship at her local crematorium in Bath when she was 18. |
She said: "I didn’t get the grade that I wanted to when I did my GCSEs. | She said: "I didn’t get the grade that I wanted to when I did my GCSEs. |
"I was brought up with my grandparents and they urged me to go for an apprenticeship." | "I was brought up with my grandparents and they urged me to go for an apprenticeship." |
Ms James said she used to get "so nervous" when taking her first funerals. | Ms James said she used to get "so nervous" when taking her first funerals. |
She continued: "I used to get heart palpitations at first. I would be pacing up and down in the office – it’s because I care. | She continued: "I used to get heart palpitations at first. I would be pacing up and down in the office – it’s because I care. |
"You don’t get a trial run in funerals, everything has to be perfect. | "You don’t get a trial run in funerals, everything has to be perfect. |
"It’s become second nature now to me and I can deal with the nerves and responsibility." | "It’s become second nature now to me and I can deal with the nerves and responsibility." |
Ms James wants to change the "taboo" of talking about death and funerals | Ms James wants to change the "taboo" of talking about death and funerals |
While an apprentice, Ms James said she had built up contacts by meeting funeral directors across Somerset and now ran her own business. | While an apprentice, Ms James said she had built up contacts by meeting funeral directors across Somerset and now ran her own business. |
She said: "It was quite scary for me, going from an established company to go on my own. It’s quite daunting running my own business but so far it’s going really well. | She said: "It was quite scary for me, going from an established company to go on my own. It’s quite daunting running my own business but so far it’s going really well. |
"We always say, metaphorically we hold people’s hands through the journey." | "We always say, metaphorically we hold people’s hands through the journey." |
Ms James said she was keen to break "taboos" around death and funerals. | Ms James said she was keen to break "taboos" around death and funerals. |
"Everyone has said that it’s really refreshing that young people are coming into the industry. It’s a changing industry. | "Everyone has said that it’s really refreshing that young people are coming into the industry. It’s a changing industry. |
"There’s so much taboo around death and people need to have conversations about death and I hope to help change that." | "There’s so much taboo around death and people need to have conversations about death and I hope to help change that." |
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