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With helpful and friendly guidance we were able to arrange the perfect goodbye
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About Thomas Bragg & Sons Funeral Directors
At Thomas Bragg & Sons Funeral Directors, we have been looking after local families for more than 150 years. ‘Thomas Bragg, Builders and Funeral Directors of Shirley’ was founded in 1869, as one of a number of local trades then run by the Bragg family.
Starting out with one branch in Shirley, the business expanded to open a second branch in Knowle. Both branches serve the city of Birmingham, Solihull and communities from surrounding villages and towns.
The teams at our Shirley and Knowle 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. We have our own on-site service venue.
Here at Thomas Bragg & 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.
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Meet the Team
Gavin Bruce
Area Development Manager
Gavin knew that he wanted to be a Funeral Director at a very early age and has been involved in the funeral business from the age of 11. After leaving education, Gavin took up a full-time position in 1987 within a local family-owned funeral business, progressing through to Funeral Director and Area Manager within a larger organisation.
Joining Funeral Partners in October 2022, Gavin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as the Area Development Manager to support the team, holding a Diploma in both Management Studies and Funeral Directing.
Gavin says, “It is an honour to be a part of a company that truly does care for the community. I feel that it is a privilege to be entrusted to look after the bereaved families and their loved ones.”
Sharon Calvert
Diary Manager
Shaz (Sharon) started working at William H Painter in November 2005 and has progressed from a branch arranger to Diary Manager encompassing both William H Painter Funeral Directors and Thomas Bragg Funeral Directors (and for a short time also included Henry Ison Funeral Directors).
In her previous jobs, she has worked for the Royal Navy, a building firm, been a senior carer in a nursing home and Duty Manager at a hotel.
She enjoys driving, reading and exploring Scotland with her husband, and has done a parachute jump for the charity MIND
Katie Hughes
Office Manager
Katie first joined the Funeral Industry in 2016 and started her career at William H Painter in Yardley as a Funeral Arranger then progressed to Office Manager over the years, she then left the industry a couple of years ago to work at an Estate Agents. Katie has returned to the Funeral Industry and now works for Thomas Bragg and Sons in Shirley, as Senior Funeral Arranger to have again progressed to Office Manager. She says “I really enjoy being there to support families and it is an honour to be able to look after their loved ones and to provide the best service I can” I love my job and missed the profession when I had left.
In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her family and friends.
Claire Andrews
Funeral Director
Claire knew she always wanted to become a Funeral Director when she joined the Funeral business back in 2005 as a Funeral Arranger & Conductor for Stephanie Mason and Johnathan Walkers before joining Thomas Bragg and Sons in 2023 as a Funeral Arranger, Claire brought a wealth of knowledge with her and a lot of experience, since then Claire has now progressed to Funeral Director. She says “I absolutely love my job and it is a privilege and an honour to be able to support families in their toughest times from the moment they walk through the door to the day of the funeral and ensure they receive the best level of care and service provided.”
In her spare time Claire likes to read and spend time her friends & family.
Kathryn Wagg
Funeral Arranger
Kathryn is originally from Yorkshire but moved to Solihull 30 years ago.
Kathryn worked in banking and accounting after leaving school. She joined our team in 2019 after working for another Funeral Director and finds it a privilege to help families through their journey at such a difficult time.
Kathryn has four daughters and four grandchildren who she loves to spend time with.
Dana Moore
Funeral Arranger
Dana joined Thomas Bragg and Sons in April 2024 as a part time arranger and then soon progressed to being full time the year after. Dana says it’s a privilege to look after families and their loved ones and to be able to provide the best service and level of care. Dana enjoys spending time with her family in her spare time.
Sammi Harvey
Funeral Arranger
Sammi joined Thomas Bragg and Sons in January 2026 as a part time arranger. She says “I like my job and being able to support families through a difficult time.”
In her spare time, Sammi likes to spend time with her family & reading.
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.