About Payne & Sons Funeral Directors
Payne & Sons Funeral Directors was established to serve Eastbourne and Hampden Park and the neighbouring communities of East Dean, Pevensey and Polegate.
Rifleman Christopher Howard set up Payne & Sons Funeral Directors with parents Donna & Rod Payne in July 2010, just 11 months after being severely injured by an IED whilst on foot patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. It is now led by Funeral Director Lee Howard, Christopher’s younger brother.
Our Eastbourne funeral home, in a former Edwardian cinema, has its own service venue in Eastern Hall. This is a beautifully spacious large room in which we can conduct a funeral or ‘celebration of life’ service that will easily seat 70 or more.
The teams at our Eastbourne and Hampden Park funeral homes will provide advice at every stage of the funeral planning process, and will arrange an individual and unique funeral to help you celebrate the life of your loved one.
Here at Payne & Sons Funeral Directors we also offer an affordable prepaid funeral plan, Choice, so that you can arrange and pay for a funeral in advance. This will protect your family from rising costs and remove uncertainty about your wishes.
If you would like to talk to us about planning a funeral, or our Choice plan, please come and see us in any of our funeral homes, or if you’d rather we can arrange a home visit. We’re also available 24 hours a day on the phone so if you need anything please don’t hesitate to call your local funeral home.
Meet the Team
Lee Howard
Area Development Manager
Lee has been with Payne & Sons Funeral Directors since 2010, and is the younger brother of Christopher Howard who set up the business with Lee’s parents Donna & Rod Payne. He previously worked in a local leisure centre and before that trained in the military.
In the past 10 years he has ensured that every funeral has met the personal needs and requirements of every family, became Funeral Director in 2015 and then Area Development Manager in 2018. He says he enjoys “Helping families through one of the hardest times in their lives, it’s very rewarding.”
Christopher Hatt
Funeral Manager
Christopher began working at Funeral Partners in October 2020.
He says he enjoys “helping clients in their hour of need and giving their loved ones a funeral/send off they deserve, as well as looking after the deceased like they’re part of our own family.”
In his spare time he like going to the gym, gardening and spending time with his family.
Trevor Boorman
Funeral Director
Trevor joined Funeral Partners in 2018 having previously worked in the funeral industry since leaving school in 1984. He set up TW Boorman Funeral Services of Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells (1992 – 2004) and has since moved to the Hastings area.
Trevor says he enjoys “caring for the bereaved. Being of practical help to the families, gently guiding them through a difficult time”.
He has four dachshund dogs – Zac, Zara, Zeth & Zion, and has an interest in antiques, especially antiques clocks, as well as in Egyptology and Freemasonry.
Mark Giles
Funeral Arranger/Conductor
Mark joined Payne and Sons, in July 2021 after having a 30 year career with British Airways as a Cabin Manager.
Mark said: “Meeting the needs of our customers, from initial contact to the day of the funeral. Making the whole journey as seamless as possible and promoting personal touches.”
In 1996 Mark was fortunate to be on a private charter for the late Queen Elizabeth and late Prince Phillip to Africa.
Tara Agrela
Funeral Arranger/FSO
Tara has been working for Payne & Sons Funeral Directors since 16th May 2022.
She previously worked in the beauty therapy and hospitality industry.
Tara said: ” I find it rewarding to help families at their time of need and try to make a very difficult time slightly more bearable for people.”
Clare Payne
Funeral Arranger
Clare has been working at Payne & Sons since early 2022. She previously worked at Co-op Funeralcare for 7 years.
Clare said: ” Meeting the people and arranging the Funeral, knowing it’s the last thing that can be done for their loved ones so taking special care of the families.”
Claire can read Tarot cards and her hobbies include painting, mostly landscapes and waterscapes.
Her greatest achievement is when she saved a man’s life in Safeway’s Supermarket with CPR when he collapsed with a heart attack.
Our Values
Pride
We take pride in everything we do. Our aim is that everyone who works for Funeral Partners shares our values.
Helping People
Our business exists to help the bereaved to make fitting arrangements for their loved one’s last journey and to provide lasting memories for family and friends.
We do this with a positive, caring and understanding approach.
Respect for everyone
We value diversity and treat everyone with the same respect, courtesy and dignity.
Professional Standards
We are a professional organisation and we strive to achieve the highest possible standards in everything we do and to improve upon these standards continuously.
Accept responsibility
We accept responsibility for our actions both as a company and as individuals.
Partnership
We believe that we can only achieve our goals by working together in partnership with client families, suppliers and our employees.