About Ford Mears & Partners
Ford Mears is an independent, family-led funeral director with heritage dating back to 1857, providing compassionate and personal funeral care across the South of England.
Our Heritage
Ford Mears can trace its industry heritage back to 1857 with the founding of E Finch & Son, John Ford’s family business. Our first acquisition, G M Luff, was established in 1897 by Thomas Marshall Luff and served the Haslemere community and surrounding villages during the era of horse-drawn hearses. Building on this heritage, we now provide caring and professional funeral services across South West London, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire and West Sussex with our modern fleet of Jaguar funeral vehicles.
Since 1986, our Directors have grown the company through carefully selected acquisitions of fellow independent funeral directors. This approach has allowed us to expand our business whilst maintaining the personalised, professional service that our predecessors and their families provided to their local communities.
Founded on Experience
Our success stems from the dedication of Directors John Ford and Tony Mears, who have grown the company from a single office in 1986 to multiple locations today. John represents the fourth generation of an independent family-run funeral director, whilst Tony entered the industry at just 15 years old. The two began working together in 1974 when Tony joined E Finch & Sons, John’s family business. Fourteen years later, they recognised an opportunity to establish a larger independent funeral business together.
Partnerships Begin
In 1989, John Ford and Tony Mears formed a partnership with G M Luff, creating the company known today as Ford Mears. The partnership began with G M Luff & Partners of Haslemere, Gould & Chapman of Grayshott, and A W Goddard of Fleet. To mark this new chapter, they renamed the Aldershot office from G M Luff & Partners to Ford Mears & Partners. The following year saw the acquisition of Charles Read & Daughter of Alton.
The business continued to grow as a family affair. In 1990, John’s wife Janet joined the company at Charles Read & Daughters of Alton, and a new Ford Mears office opened in Frimley. The following year, Tony’s wife Sian came aboard at A & W Goddard of Fleet. 1997 brought further expansion with the acquisition of Mullard Funerals of Godalming and Egham & Hythe Funeral Directors. In 1998, P Boast & Son of Chertsey joined the group, and a new office opened in Farnborough.
The Next Generation
The year 2000 saw four Holmes & Daughters offices—Ashford, Feltham, Teddington and East Sheen—become part of Ford Mears. A new office opened in Knaphill in 2001.
The next generation entered the business when John’s son Simon joined in 2003, followed by Tony’s son Matthew in 2013. Both started whilst balancing their studies at college and university. In 2017, Ford Mears & Partners became simply ‘Ford Mears’, though each local office retained its established name. This reflected the company’s evolution: whilst significantly expanded, it preserves the distinct character of each office within the Ford Mears family.
Today, Ford Mears continues to serve its local communities with care and professionalism. Investment in our acquired businesses enables our branches to offer an extensive range of services and vehicle options, whilst delivering the personalised service that honours the legacy of the independent, family-run businesses we partner with.
Our History Timeline
1811: Mullard Funerals of Godalming founded.
1857: E Finch & Son of Aldershot founded by John Ford’s great-great-uncle.
1896: A & W Goddard of Fleet founded by Arthur and William Goddard.
1897: G M Luff of Haslemere founded by Thomas Marshall Luff.
1904: P Boast & Son founded by Peter Boast (Matthew Boast’s great-grandfather).
1941: Gould & Chapman of Grayshott founded.
1965: Tony Mears joins Frederick W Paine of Kingston-upon-Thames (aged 15).
1967: Tony Mears joins Walter Lock & Sons of Ashford.
1972: John Ford joins E Finch & Sons of Aldershot.
1973: Charles Read establishes Charles Read & Daughters of Alton (supported by E Finch & Sons).
1974: Tony Mears joins E Finch & Sons of Aldershot (starts working with John Ford).
1986: G M Luff & Partners of Haslemere was acquired.
1987: G M Luff & Partners acquired Gould & Chapman of Grayshott.
1987: G M Luff & Partners opened an office in Aldershot.
1988: E Finch & Son sold to the Great Southern Group.
1989: John Ford and Tony Mears partnered with G M Luff, forming G M Luff & Partners (the Company) as it is known today.
1989: The Company acquired A & W Goddard of Fleet.
1989: G M Luff & Partners of Aldershot was re-named Ford Mears & Partners.
1990: The Company acquired Charles Read & Daughter of Alton.
1990: Janet Ford (John’s wife) joined the Company.
1990: The Company opened a new office Ford Mears & Partners in Frimley.
1990: Evelyn Woodison and Ian Glazier opened Egham & Hythe Funeral Directors.
1991: Sian Mears (Tony’s wife) joined the Company.
1992: The Company of Godalming was opened.
1993: Brothers Andrew, David and later John Holmes established Holmes & Daughters of Ashford.
1994: Holmes & Daughters of Feltham was opened.
1995: Holmes & Daughters of Teddington was opened.
1996: Holmes & Daughters of East Sheen was opened.
1997: The Company acquired Mullard Funerals of Godalming (also incorporating A J Tracy Funerals of Elstead), then combined G M Luff & Partners of Godalming with Mullards Funerals under the Mullard Funerals name.
1997: Brian & Caroline Bentley established Brian Bentley Funeral Service of Crowthorne.
1997: The Company acquired Egham & Hythe. Founder Ian Glazier & Evelyn Woodison stayed with the business.
1998: The Company opened a new office Ford Mears & Partners in Farnborough.
1998: The Company acquired P Boast & Son of Chertsey from Peter Boast upon his retirement. His son Matthew has stayed with Ford Mears ever since.
2000: The Company acquired the four Holmes & Daughters offices. John Holmes joined the Board of Directors.
2001: The Company opened a new office Ford Mears & Partners in Knaphill.
2003: Michael Miller & Partners of Petersfield opened by Michael Miller with the support of his then partners.
2003: John’s son Simon Ford joined the Company whilst at college, then University.
2003: John Holmes decided to leave the funeral industry to commit more time to his other interests and pursue new ventures.
2004: Craig Miller (Michael’s son) joined Michael Miller & Partners.
2007: Ros Miller (Michael’s wife) joined Michael Miller & Partners.
2007: Roger Poat & Partners was founded by Roger Poat.
2011: Simon Ford left the company to start his own furniture design company.
2013: Tony’s son Matthew Mears joined the Company whilst at college, then University.
2014: The Company became partners of Michael Miller with Michael continuing as Managing Director.
2016: Simon Ford re-joined the Company.
2016: The Company opened a new office Michael Miller & Partners in Horndean/Clanfield.
2017: The Company opened a new office Ford Mears & Partners in Yateley.
2019: Simon Ford appointed Director.
2020: The Company acquired Michael Miller & Partners and Roger Poat & Partners.
2021: With great sadness, Michael Miller passed away in January.
2021: Following the death of his father, Craig Miller decided to leave the company.
2021: The online FM shop for jewellery and urns is launched.
2022: The Company acquired Brian Bentley Funeral Services of Crowthorne.
2024: Matthew Mears appointed Director.