Reviews

Kelly and her team were fantastic from the minute we asked them to look after mum to the funeral we couldn’t have asked for more help and compassion
You treated her with dignity and respect and that brought us great comfort
We Thankyou for helping us and supporting us and giving mum the send of she truly deserved
Your service will always be remembered with gratitude

Kelly was absolutely amazing in assisting me with arranging my mums funeral.
Her attention to detail was second to none, and no request was declined.
At an extremely difficult time for me Kelly was a calm presence determined to give my mum the send off that she deserved.
I can't thank Kelly and her team enough for the care that they all showed my mum and my family. Absolutely amazing. X

Kelly was an amazing support emotionally and practically on arranging the funeral for my husband. Her attention to detail and getting things right was excellent. Her respect for John in the chapel of rest was outstanding as was her care for us as a family.
We had a motorcycle hearse which they organised with us. Toni, on the day was fantastic also and they organised a perfect route for johns last journey on this earth. Thank you all. Lesley

Claire at Ashdowns in Blacken is an absolute diamond. She has helped me with both my parents funerals, with the most recent being last week. The service from Claire from start to finish was amazing, Claire is so friendly and helpful & always on the end of the phone if need her. The funeral director & his staff are all wonderful, helpful & professional. I couldn’t have wished for a more perfect send off for both my parents.

Ashdown Funeral Services Review January 2026

My Father passed away in November 2010. My Mother also wished to use Ashdown Funeral Services, when the time came.
Unfortunately, Mum passed in November 2025.

Now, we heard that Edward and Rachel Micallef, who were running Ashdown’s, and who undertook the arrangements for my Father’s Funeral were now retired.

Was this going to be a problem?

My Sister and I made an appointment to meet Kelly Smith at the Belvedere branch of Ashdown’s to discuss my late Mother Joyce’s wishes for her Funeral which was arranged for Tuesday 16th December2025.

We needn’t have worried, right from the start, Kelly was perfectly understanding, and immensely courteous to us both given what had just happened. We both sat down in comfortable armchairs and were offered tea/coffee and were told that the three of us would not be disturbed as this was our ‘booked time’.

Kelly talked us through all the arrangements, as my Mother wanted to attend Christ Church first, and then Eltham Crematorium. Kelly clearly outlined what we would need to provide.

Pictures for the Church Service and the Cremation. Up to five pictures for the ‘Order of Service’ which Ashdown’s would collate and print. Also helping us arrange a meeting with the Vicar, Trevor Wyatt, to obtain his input on the Hymns, Organ music, and Order of Service layout.

In the next few days, Kelly was superb with her organisation, arrangement of her Staff, and printing of the Order of Service. We decided ‘on the day’ for us to follow the Hearse in one Limousine.

The day could not have been more ‘absolutely beautiful’. Ashdown’s staff on the day were so professional at ALL times in their conduct; walking before the Hearse, carrying Mum’s coffin in the Church and finally into the Crematorium.

The day was perfect in every way, Mum would have been so proud.

What I did like so very much was the break with the ‘stoicism’ that the staff showed as they drove us in the Hearse to the Wake. This brought us gently ‘back down to earth’ to face our family and friends.

During the Wake we received so many comments about how well the day went, which for all of us was so important. The care and consideration shown throughout the day was exemplary.

Finally, when the day comes, you will not find a better way to say goodbye to a family member, than by using Ashdown Funeral Services in Belvedere and entrusting in very professional services of Kelly Smith.

Thank you all so very much.

Chris G

The most warming service at such a difficult time for our family. Claire and family and the whole team looked after us with such care from start to finish. Everything was smooth from the organising to running the funeral day and nothing felt like a big ask or inconvenient. The communication was perfect and our family is so grateful to have gone here to arrange our loved ones funeral. Thank you!!

From the moment we walked into Ashdowns to discuss arranging my mum's funeral I knew we were in the right place. Claire was amazing, she listened to us and from the first discussion we were on the same page on what we wanted for my mum. She was so compassionate and had so much empathy and nothing was too much trouble, she was always at the end of the phone when we needed help or advice.
Claire also helped me find a celebrant who was absolutely perfect.
We would highly recommend Claire and the team at Ashdowns Blackfen as they provided a personal service unlike other companies we had spoken to.