Paul Sullivan - Proprietor

I was born in Ilford, Essex in 1973 and spent my childhood in Swaffham, Norfolk. I came to Canterbury, Kent in 1983 when my father got a teaching headship in Ashford. I attended St Anselms School in Canterbury and it was during my 6th form that my interest in the funeral profession began. WHY everyone asks, I am still not sure! I was attracted to it because of its historic place in society, because of its apparent security and because it was something completely different.

It took nearly a year of perseverance and letters before I was given my chance by an area manager of the then Plantsbrook group (now Dignity) and taken on as an employment trainee through Kent Skills. I was just 19. I started learning the business at John Kemp Funeral Directors in Whitstable and spent my time going all over Kent and the UK on funerals and removals (collection of deceased). I also spent time at F.C. Woods of Ashford and after my first year was taken on as a Trainee Funeral Director based at Woods. I was given my own hearse to look after and again experienced funerals all over south east Kent and beyond.

In 1994 I was offered the position of Funeral Director at Hambrook & Johns in Folkestone along with free company accommodation and I eagerly left home to begin this next challenge. In 1998 I was given the additional responsibility of Hambrook & Johns in Dover and around this time also began studying for my Diploma in Funeral Directing. I am proud to say that I successfully passed the exams first time in 1999 and subsequently joined the British Institute of Funeral Directors, so becoming one of only a relatively few, fully qualified and licensed funeral directors in this area.

Shortly after passing my Diploma I started to look for a position with an independent firm as working for a large multinational group was not for me. In 2001 I was taken on as Funeral Director/Manager at J. Dilnot Smith & Son, Deal and Woodnesborough (near Sandwich) where I stayed for six years. It was during my first year here that I met Louise. She was working in the relative support office at the Q.E.Q.M. hospital and in fact we had been talking on the phone for nearly a year before we finally met and got together! We soon got engaged and in 2003 had a beautiful son together whom we named Joshua. In November 2006 we married in St Lucia but before this came to the conclusion that starting our own family business, making it grow and doing things exactly how we want to, is the next logical step in our life's journey.

We opened Sullivan & Son Independent Funeral Service at 12 Beaconsfield Road, Dover on 31st March 2007 and are proud to have already served several hundred people with funeral arrangements. Our second son, Thomas, arrived in June 2009.

I have been involved with many large and high profile funerals, although pride myself with the same dedication and attention whether arranging a simple cremation service or more complicated funerals. If you allow me to look after your loved one I promise you will receive a very personal, efficient and professional service at a time when you need it most.









Chas Taylor- Senior Chauffeur/Bearer

I was born in Deal in 1946 and I left Deal Secondary Modern for Boys in 1962 to work as a radio and television servicing engineer. I joined the General Post Office in 1968 serving on Her Majesty’s Cable Ships. Due to the relocation of the cable ships to Southampton I transferred into engineering and worked for B.T for 30 years, taking early retirement in 1998. I was married in 1973 and my daughter was born in 1987.

I have always enjoyed working with the public and have supported many people after the loss of loved ones during my voluntary work as a Life boatman. I have also just completed my 40th year as a volunteer for the Coastguard Agency. I met Paul Sullivan when we were both employed by Service Cooperation International in 1998. I was later invited to join Paul in working for Dilnott Smith and Sons in Deal in the year 2000 before becoming the senior chauffeur/bearer for Paul at Sullivan and Sons. I have worked for the rest but feel I am now working for the best. Working with Paul Sullivan is a pleasure as it is a truly family run business and has a lot of respect for families and friends who have lost loved ones.