Throughout the next few months, Grassby & Sons will be introducing you to some of their local Funeral Directors from Dorchester and Weymouth.

This month it is the turn of Melody Hopkins of Grassby & Stockting Funeral Service in Weymouth.

Mel grew up on Littlemoor attending Littlemoor School, followed by Wey Valley School and then Weymouth College.

She moved to Portland in 2000 where she ran a majorette troupe on the Island for 10 years, following in the footsteps of her parents who ran a troupe in Weymouth whilst she was growing up.

Weymouth and Dorchester carnivals have been regular events over the years with both troupes, along with taking part in many local fetes and events. The Grassby Memorials truck has been the supporting vehicle over the year, and has blasted out the troupe’s music on quite a few occasions!

Prior to joining Grassby & Sons Mel worked at Preston Road Doctors Surgery and The Benefits Agency.

Mel has worked at three of the Grassby & Sons branches, Grassby & Stockting in Weymouth, Rose Funeral Service in Wyke Regis and Grassby Funeral Service in Dorchester, and has been with the company since 2001. Mel became the Funeral Director at Grassby & Stocking Funeral Service in 2015.

She works alongside fellow funeral directors Sam Wilding and Paul Buddin and is supported by Karen Ward as the administrator for Grassby & Stockting, and is the first face you will see on visiting the premises in Crescent Street.

Mel gained her Diploma in Funeral Arranging and Administration (Dip FAA) in 2017 attending Birmingham University.

Mel enjoys working with an independent funeral service as she gets to help many people she already knows at a very difficult time in their life, along with meeting new families and helping to plan and execute the perfect send off to reflect the person they love.

She particularly loves the use of glitter or brightly coloured coffins and loves the challenge of unusual requests.

Her first experience with Grassby & Stockting was when they carried out the funeral of her own father in 1999, and being able to maintain the excellent level of service her family received at that time is very important to her.

Outside of work Mel is kept busy by her daughter, four cats (yes, a crazy cat lady!), and can often be found paddleboarding around the local area. Mel is also a member of Weymouth Rotary Club, helping with the running of this year’s Fayre in the Square which raised money to help many local charities.

Grassby & Stockting Funeral Service is part of Grassby & Sons Ltd. The company was founded in Dorchester by Benjamin Grassby, a stone carver, in 1861.

Grassby & Stockting Funeral Service can be found at 22 Crescent Street, Weymouth, DT4 7BX.

All branches are members of NAFD (National Association of Funeral Directors) and SAIF (National Society of Allied Independent Funeral Directors).

Please visit the website www.stockting-funeral.co.uk for more information.