David Knowles Funeral Service

27/02/2026

We’re delighted to welcome Tom Stafford to David Knowles Funeral Service and to our growing team.

Tom is a very well known and deeply respected gentleman throughout Yarm and Eaglescliffe, having moved up from London over 40 years ago and dedicating his life to serving the local community. From owning and running a local milk round, to founding Stafford’s Newsagents at Healaugh Park, Tom has always been at the heart of Yarm life. In fact, I used to be one of Tom’s paperboys!

Retirement certainly isn’t for Tom. His passion to continue supporting and giving back to the community is truly inspiring and we are incredibly proud to have him with us.

Alongside this, Tom is a cricket legend, still playing for Yarm Cricket Club and representing Yorkshire and England Over 70s. He is so highly regarded at Yarm Cricket Club that the bar has been named in his honour, a true testament to the respect he deserves.

Welcome to our family business, Tom. I’m genuinely delighted and honoured to work alongside you as we serve our local community together.

26/02/2026

The family of the late Keith Thompson have asked me to share the details of his Funeral which are as follows:

THOMPSON
Keith
(Retired Managing Director of Beta Electronics)

Sadly in hospital on 22nd February, Keith aged 82 years. Perfect and devoted Husband of Julia. Loving and supportive Dad of Chris and Leanne. Wonderful Father-in-Law of Rebecca and Trev and also an adored Grandad of Cameron and William.
Service and Cremation takes place in the Chapel of St Bede, Teesside Crematorium on Friday 13th March at 2:00pm.
Would friends please meet at the Crematorium Chapel.
Family flowers only please by request, donations in lieu if so desired to Blood Cancer UK. Donations can be made and memories of Keith can be shared by visiting Keith’s online tribute page by using the following link, https://keith-thompson-1943-2026.muchloved.com/ a collection will also be available at the Crematorium.
All enquiries to David Knowles Funeral Service, 4 Mandale Park, Urlay Nook Road, Eaglescliffe, Yarm. Tel: 01642 929090.

24/02/2026

National Funeral Planning Awareness Week
23rd February – 1st March 2026

This week encourages open and honest conversations about funeral wishes, conversations that can feel difficult but often bring great comfort, clarity and reassurance.

Planning ahead allows your wishes to be clearly understood, eases the emotional and practical burden on loved ones and gives families the time and space to focus on remembering, rather than making decisions under pressure.

At David Knowles Funeral Service, we offer a free Expression of Wishes service, designed to help you record your personal preferences in a simple, supportive and no-obligation way. Whether your wishes are traditional, simple or completely unique, this gentle planning step ensures your voice is heard and your loved ones are guided when the time comes.

Our service is entirely free, confidential and completed at your own pace, with friendly guidance whenever you need it.

You can learn more and download a free Expression of Wishes booklet here:
👉 https://davidknowlesfuneralservice.co.uk/expression-of-wishes

Prefer a printed copy? You can also get in touch with us 24/7 and we’ll happily post one out to you.

Sometimes, the greatest gift we can give our family is clarity, comfort and peace of mind.

Available 24/7 | Serving Yarm, Eaglescliffe, Ingleby Barwick, Stockton, Thornaby & surrounding areas

With over 25 years experience. We understand that every detail matters when it comes to saying farewell to a loved one.

21/02/2026

A recent national news story regarding two Funeral Directors in Gosport, Hampshire has understandably caused concern and upset for many families and it serves as a powerful reminder of just how important trust, integrity and professional standards are within the funeral profession. Out of respect to the families affected, I have chosen not to share the article.

Nearly 30 years in the funeral profession has taught me that true care isn’t learnt overnight. It’s found in the small details, the quiet reassurances and the ability to support families through every moment. Not all Funeral Directors are the same. When choosing someone to care for your loved one, it’s essential to ask about their experience, professional background and qualifications. Ask how they will support you personally and always ask about the funeral home itself, request to see their facilities and understand how your loved one will be cared for whilst in their care.

At David Knowles Funeral Service, we are proud to be deeply rooted in the community we serve. Every family is treated with compassion, dignity and complete transparency and every service is conducted with the same care and respect we would want for our own loved ones. We strictly adhere to the National Association of Funeral Directors Code of Practice, which sets the highest standards for professionalism, ethics, care and accountability. This means families can have complete confidence that their loved one is always in safe, respectful and caring hands.

Being a local, independent and family-run funeral service allows us to offer genuine and personal support before, during and long after the funeral has taken place. Our commitment to our community isn’t just words; it’s at the heart of everything we do.

If you ever need advice, reassurance or support we are always here, 24/7 to care for you and your loved one with Dignity and Kindness.

19/02/2026

We have received this lovely review this week.
Thank You so much for taking the time to leave such a kind and thoughtful review. It truly means a great deal to both myself and our team. It was a real honour to support you and your family during such a difficult time and I’m grateful that we were able to provide the care, reassurance and guidance you needed. Knowing that we helped make an incredibly hard experience a little easier is exactly why we do what we do.
On behalf of myself and the team, thank you for placing your trust in us. We’re sincerely grateful for your recommendation and wish you and your family continued strength and comfort.
David.

14/02/2026

We’re very proud to share that we now have over 100 five-star reviews across multiple review platforms including Google, Trustpilot and Yell. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Families across Yarm, Eaglescliffe, Ingleby Barwick, Thornaby, Stockton and surrounding areas trust us to care for their loved ones and themselves with Dignity and Kindness.

We are an independent family run Funeral Service. We are available 24/7 for advice and support, whenever you need us.
Tel: 01642 929090.

All reviews can be viewed by using the following link:
https://davidknowlesfuneralservice.co.uk/testimonials

13/02/2026

The family of the late Bryan Wood have asked me to share the details of his Funeral which are as follows:

WOOD
Bryan

Sadly in hospital on 10th February surrounded by his loving family, Bryan aged 36 years. Treasured and forever loved Son of Sandra. Adored and witty Brother of Donna and the late Craig. Beloved Nephew of Linda and Brian and also a very much loved Cousin of Julie, Debbie and Vicky. Bryan will also be sadly missed by his faithful companion Pippa.
Service and Cremation takes place in the Maplewood Chapel, Stockton Crematorium on Tuesday 3rd March at 11:00am.
Would friends please meet at the Crematorium Chapel.
Family flowers only please by request, donations in lieu if so desired to The Golf Foundation. Donations can be made and memories of Bryan can be shared by visiting Bryan’s online tribute page by using the following link, https://bryan-wood.muchloved.com/ a collection will also be available at the Crematorium.
All enquiries to David Knowles Funeral Service, 4 Mandale Park, Urlay Nook Road, Eaglescliffe, Yarm. Tel: 01642 929090.

11/02/2026

All ready and prepared to welcome the team from MHA Montpellier Manor Care Home for a tour of our Funeral Home and a talk on the role of the Funeral Director and the evolution of Funerals.
If you or anyone you know would like a talk please get in touch, I am more than happy to support.

09/02/2026

We have received this lovely ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐review over the weekend.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to leave such a lovely review. It truly means a great deal to us. It was an honour to support you and your family during such a difficult time and I’m glad we were able to provide the care, guidance and reassurance you needed. Ensuring your Dad received the send-off he deserved was incredibly important to us and I’m grateful for the trust you placed in us. Thank you again for your recommendation, it is very much appreciated.
David

07/02/2026

We’re delighted and honoured to once again sponsor Yarm Fun Run this year. 🏃‍♂️

As a local, independent and family run business, supporting our community is at the heart of everything we do. We’re very proud to support events that promote wellbeing, togetherness and positivity for families across Yarm and the surrounding area.

In addition to designing our event banners, David Knowles has sponsored our event water bottles this year!

David supports a wide range of local clubs and events and is a real community hero!

04/02/2026

We’re very proud to renew our sponsorship of Yarm Cricket Club 🏏
Supporting our local community and the people who live, work and grow within it means a great deal to us.
Yarm Cricket Club is a brilliant example of that community spirit and we’re delighted to continue our support.

Many thanks to for renewing their Scoreboard Sponsorship for 2026. Great to have you with us again and look forward to seeing you in Staffords Bar at some point during the season.

Be sure to give David a follow. He supports so many in our community, whether it's via his business or the work he does with local charities, groups and sports clubs.

If you think can help support your business, then drop us a DM. We have many advertising packages available and all can be tailored to suit your business.

03/02/2026

The family of the late Gwynneth Stephenson have asked me to share the following information:

STEPHENSON
Gwynneth

Peacefully in hospital on 31st January surrounded by her loving family, Gwynneth aged 68 years. Dearly beloved Wife of David and also a courageous and selfless Mam, Sis, Grandma G, Auntie, Neice, Cousin and friend who will be very sadly missed forever.
In accordance with Gwynneth’s wishes there will be no Funeral service.
Donations can be made in memory of Gwynneth to Macmillan Cancer Support. Donations can be made and memories of Gwynneth can be shared by visiting Gwynneth’s online tribute page by using the following link, https://gwynnethstephenson.muchloved.com/
All enquiries to David Knowles Funeral Service, 4 Mandale Park, Urlay Nook Road, Eaglescliffe, Yarm: 01642 929090.