Our services
R B Copping Funeral Services was founded in 1935 by Reginald Basil Copping in the rural village of Shotesham, Norfolk. He started his business as a private building contractor and like many small local building companies at that time diversified into the funeral trade. As both businesses started to expand Reg found that he enjoyed the satisfaction of the funeral profession – offering personal support, advice and peace of mind to those distressed at having lost a loved one. Reg began to dedicate more and more of his time and efforts into developing the funeral business. Over time the business gained a strong and increasingly trusted reputation as an independent local family concern.
In 1988, after more than 50 years managing R B Copping Funeral Service alone, Reg invited his niece Betty and her husband Nigel Goodenough to join him and his wife, Irene, as partners in the firm. Nigel had just retired after 30 years service with Norfolk Constabulary which stood him in good stead to continue the high standards that Reg had set in those early years of building the business. Sadly Reg passed away in December 1994.
Nigel and Betty
Nigel continued his work as a fully qualified Funeral Director in the family firm, and further enhanced the reputation that had been developed by R B Copping Funeral Service in the local area. Nigel worked to exceptionally high standards demonstrating the highest levels of kindness, care, sensitivity and dignity in dealing with people at this most difficult time of need.
In October 2007, Nigel enlisted the help of Emma Stork, a fully qualified funeral director. Emma began working in the funeral profession straight from school and gained her qualifications with one of the bigger firms based in Norwich. Emma and Nigel worked closely together until Nigel sadly and suddenly passed away in December 2008. Following his untimely death, the family felt very strongly that all of the good work, the strong local community connections and the respect and trust that Nigel had built up over the past 20 years should continue. It was decided to look at ways to restructure the company in order to secure the future of the business and to safeguard the reputation that has been created and nurtured by both Reg and Nigel – that of a highly respected provider of local independent funeral services.
Jerry and Betty
Joanne
Emma now handles the day-to-day running of the business with assistance from Nigel’s eldest daughter, Joanne. Nigel’s wife Betty and son Jeremy (Jerry) are the Company's directors and they look after finance and administration.