Meet the Operations Manager at Distinct Cremations

Supporting people at the most difficult time

Little did Alex Moore know that a temporary job with a funeral director would blossom into a professional vocation.

Marking time while applying to join the Army’s elite Parachute Regiment, Alex Moore took a job as a funeral service driver to earn some extra cash.

“I didn’t know what to expect but I really enjoyed the work, and when the Army eventually got back to me with an offer, I decided to turn them down,” said Alex, 34, from Birmingham.

“Ten years later I’m still working in the industry. Once I found my calling, I didn’t want to go anywhere else. I don’t regret my decision at all.

“Supporting people through the process is an honour and a privilege. It brings me an immense amount of job satisfaction. I sleep well at night because I know I’ve been helping people in the day.”

The importance of listening

Alex qualified as a funeral director in 2015 and now works as our Funeral Operations Manager, facilitating our direct cremations and small attended cremations.

“Witnessing clients’ grief is not easy. You need to be able to provide compassionate support, but also have the ability to switch off when you are outside of work.

“Good listening and communication skills are key. The right person will be able to provide answers to people’s questions and offer comfort, as well as guidance.

“It can be physically and emotionally draining and I’m not sure you can train for it, but as in my case, when the profession finds you, then it’s the best job in the world."

How the pandemic influenced funerals

Alex says his skills were tested to the limit during lockdown when the phone rarely stopped ringing with people seeking help.

During that time, he says the industry saw a steep rise in direct cremations which typically take place with no service or mourners present. Loved ones are informed of the date of cremation – typically five to six days after the deceased is collected – with the ashes later delivered in person.

“Direct funerals started to become an option about 10 years ago, but the pandemic has really accelerated the awareness and choice of this type of funeral,” added Alex.

According to the recent SunLife Cost of Dying Report, in 2023, a fifth of funerals were direct cremations, up from 3% in 2019.* Direct cremations cost £1,498 on average in 2023, down slightly on the 2022 figure of £1,511.**

* 20% of funerals were direct cremations in 2023 compared to 3% in 2019 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)

** The average cost of direct cremation in 2023 was £1,498 and in 2022 was £1,511(SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)

Benefits of direct cremation

“While some people opt for a traditional send-off because that’s right for them, others yearn for permission to do things differently and to be allowed to feel that it’s okay too.

“A direct cremation is the cheaper option, there is no getting around that, but it’s not a case of scrimping, it’s about what people feel is best for them or what they can afford. Rather it gives people permission to say: ‘I’m doing this the simple way’.

“Some would rather give the money to charity, others might choose to plant a tree in a loved one’s name or organise a future party or a memorial service. It’s a matter of personal choice.”

“And from an operations perspective, we do everything as you would expect in preparing the individual for cremation – there are no cut corners on our quality and care. The integrity of our service delivery is one of the reasons I am passionate about this type of service, as I know families are still getting the best care for their loved ones.”

Talking about funeral wishes

When it comes to making decisions on a person’s wishes about the end of their life, Alex says he is on a mission to get more people to discuss the matter with their families.

“Planning your own funeral gives you a choice in what happens to you once you are no longer able to speak for yourself and can remove a huge burden from your family.

“Leaving a clear idea of what you want gives you and your loved ones a sense of control at what will be a distressing and stressful time. The more we can prepare by talking and thinking about it, the better.”

A funeral plan lets you plan and pay for your own funeral in advance, putting your mind at ease about your future funeral arrangements. All of our funeral services are also available as prepaid funeral plans.