About Mears & Cotterill
Mears & Cotterill Funeral Directors was founded by John and Muriel Mears in Southfields in 1985. Branches in Tooting, Clapham and Brixton soon followed the first office in Southfields. These branches were later sold and a showroom was purchased next to the Southfields branch to enhance the memorial service.
Three Generations
Peter Mears Dip.F.D., senior partner of Mears & Cotterill, has over 23 years experience in the Funeral Profession. He is a member of the British Institute of Funeral Directors. He joined his parents, John and Muriel, when Mears & Cotterill was founded to work as chauffeur and workshop manager. In 1998, Peter became manager of the Memorials Showroom. He has been managing Mears & Cotterill Funeral Directors since 2001. Peter holds the NAFD Diploma in Funeral Directing. In 2004, Peter was joined by his wife, Joanne Mears B.A.(Hons), Dip.F.D., a former Business Analyst with the Bank of England, to further the smooth running of the business. Joanne holds the NAFD Diploma in Funeral Directing.
John Mears was born in Westminster above the office of Whiteheads, Westminster Ltd, a Funeral Directors where his father, Alfred John Mears, was resident manager, having started there as a lad of fourteen. By the time John had left school to work as a coffin maker and polisher his father had risen to the position of Managing Director and eventually took over the Company in the late 50’s.
John remained in the workshop until his call up for National Service. Afterwards he returned to the Funeral trade, as a limousine and hearse driver. When his father retired they decided to sell Whiteheads. He worked in the Funeral trade in general management until 1985 when he decided to open under his own name in Southfields.
John was pleased to have David Small, now his general manager, join him in the early days, David followed his father George into the trade some thirty years ago.
The management team is completed by Stephen Davies Dip. F.D.. Stephen has 10 years experience in the Funeral Trade and holds the NAFD Diploma in Funeral Directing. Stephen is a Member of the British Institute of Funeral Directors.
Mears & Cotterill hold the Society of Bereavement Practitioners Diploma of Merit.
The management team currently comprises Peter Mears Dip.F.D., M.B.I.F.D.,
David Small, Joanne Mears B.A.(hons), Dip.F.D. and Stephen Davies Dip.F.D., M.B.I.F.D.
