Funeral Director in Alton

Charles Read & Daughter, 13 Turk Street, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 1AG

About Charles Read & Daughter Funeral Director in Alton, Hampshire

After H C Patrick of Alton closed in the 1970s, the manager Charles Read opened his own funeral business at 5 Normandy Street, Crown Hill, Alton. Years later, Charles Read, who went on to become Mayor of Alton, purchased a second-hand Austin Vanden Plas hearse (registration GOU 763D) from E Finch & Son through John Ford.

After Charles Read’s death, his daughter Jennie Ward took over the family business assisted by Keith Cox. After her daughter’s wedding, she sold the business to John, Tony and Martin of Ford Mears, which they later operated from Turk Street, Alton.

As part of the Ford Mears group, Charles Read & Daughter continues to provide a caring and professional service to the local community around Alton, Four Marks, Farnham, Selborne, Odiham, Bordon, Chawton and Holybourne.

Further investment in the business by Ford Mears has meant that Charles Read & Daughter is now able to offer a wider range of services and vehicle options, whilst still providing a personalised service that honours the legacy of Charles Read & Daughter’s independent, family-run business.

The Nearest crematoria to Alton are Basingstoke, Aldershot and Guildford.

Meet The Charles Read & Daughter Alton Team

Our Staff

Nigel Cairns

Nigel Cairns - DIP FD, LMBIFD

Funeral Director & Office Manager

Nigel has worked for the company since 1997, starting as a Chauffeur Bearer. Nigel took his Diploma in Funeral Directing in 2003 and has been Manager in the office at Alton since around 2009.
Nigel was born and brought up in Farnham and moved to Alton in 1987. He is married with three children: two daughters and a son.

Sue Morgan

Sue Morgan

Funeral Arranger and Accounts Administrator

Sue Joined Charles Read and Daughter in October 2022 as a Funeral Arranger and Accounts Administrator. Sue has been in the funeral industry for 20 Years originally working as a Senior Administrator and Funeral Arranger at Kemp & Stevens Funeral Directors in Alton. Sue has lived in Alton her whole life and remains there today with her Husband.

Funeral Vehicles

Our Fleet

We offer an immaculately presented fleet to ensure a dignified procession. Our transport options feature traditional British marques like Bentley and Jaguar hearses and limousines. For environmentally-minded arrangements, the quiet, zero-emission Nissan Electric Hearse is available.

Access to specific luxury options may vary by branch location. We ensure appropriate and respectful transport for every service.

Find out more about our services or to discuss how we can help you with the funeral arrangements.
Funeral costs

Our Services

Direct
Cremation

Unattended Service
From £1,950

Simple
Service

Attended Service
From £2,995

Classic
Service

Attended Service
From £3,585

Tailored
Service

Attended Service
From £3,860

Green
Funerals

Attended Service
From £4,675
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Pre-paid funeral plans

Reduce the worry for loved ones with a pre-paid funeral plan through our trusted plan provider, Ecclesiastical Planning Services

Funeral Donations

To make a donation in memory of a loved one or dear friend for whom we at Charles Read & Daughter – Alton are honoured to be handling the funeral, please search for the person’s name below. The branch will be pre-selected.

Get in Touch

Contact our Alton funeral home
Contact Charles Read & Daughter IN Alton, Hampshire

Contact Details

Office Hours
Monday9:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday9:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday9:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday9:00am - 5:00pm
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed
Charles Read & Daughter, 13 Turk Street, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 1AG
From the A31 South (Winchester), follow the road past the Butts Green and M & S store. At the mini roundabout outside Sainsburys. Turn Left there & then immediately Right. This brings you into a public car park behind Iceland store. Go to the far end of the car park & park. There is a walkway between two blocks of flats leading down into Turk Street, opposite the office. From the A31 North (Farnham), follow the road into the High Street, down Crown Hill, go past Market Street keeping left. Bringing you to Turk Street and our offices are on the Left. For parking go past the office turn right at the mini roundabout. Left at the next mini roundabout outside Sainsburys, turn right and then immediately right again. This brings you into the carpark behind Iceland store. Drive to the far end of carpark & park. There is a walkway between two blocks of flats leading down into Turk Street, opposite the office. Coming into Alton from the B3349 Odiham direction, come to a mini roundabout & turn Left on to the Basingstoke Road into Alton. Come to a give way and you must turn Left into Amery Hill. Follow the road around, past the Library and up a hill to another mini roundabout and then turn Right into Church Street. At the next mini roundabout turn Right into the High Street and go down the hill past Market Street on the Right and the road bears round to the right which is a one-way street. This is Turk Street, our offices on the Left. Drive past the office to the mini roundabout and turn Right. At the next mini roundabout outside Sainsburys turn Right and then immediately Right again. This leads you into a carpark behind the Iceland store. Drive to the far end of carpark & park. There is a walkway between two blocks of flats leading down into Turk Street opposite our office. Coming into Alton on the B3004 Bordon direction, go under the railway bridge and up the hill to the junction. Turn Left onto Normandy Street, drive to a mini roundabout and then turn Left onto Orchard Lane. Follow road which then becomes Drayman’s Way to the next mini roundabout and go straight over to the next mini roundabout outside Sainsburys and turn Right and then immediately Right again. This leads you into a carpark behind the Iceland store. Drive to the far end of the car park & park. There is a walkway between two blocks of flats leading down into Turk Street opposite our office.