An Inverness funeral director has won a top UK award – and has dedicated it to her father who died last year.
Vicki Fraser, proprietor of John Fraser & Son, undertakers, Chapel Street, accepted the prize of Funeral Planner of the Year at a gala dinner in Windsor at the weekend.
The award comes nearly a year after her father Ian died.
And it was a double triumph, John Fraser & Son, which employs 16 people, also won the North Scotland title for the third year in succession.
Ms Fraser said: “It’s a tremendous honour in face of competition from 3,600 funeral firms throughout Britain. My father, former Provost of Inverness Ian Fraser, passed away last May and my staff and I see this award as very much in his memory.
“It’s been a difficult adjustment for us with him not being involved in the business after such a long time, so this success is very emotional for us all.
“My father was very proud in 2013 when we won the North Scotland award – from Kircaldy, Dundee and Aberdeen north – for the first time and we retained it last year. But against the top industry professionals, we didn’t dare think of winning the UK title. It’s been a huge team effort.”
Ms Fraser, who is the first woman and youngest person in the Highlands to achieve a diploma in funeral direction, received her prize from Michael Corish, managing director of Golden Charter, owned by the Association of Independent Funeral Directors, which is the largest independent funeral plan provider in Britain.
John Fraser & Son, founded in Inverness in 1884 by Vicki’s great grandfather, recorded the highest ratio of prepaid funeral plans to their volume of funerals.
Ms Fraser said: “Making your funeral arrangements in advance is no longer a taboo subject in Inverness and the Highlands. More people are choosing pre-pay plans which guarantee prices and peace of mind for the family.”
Mr Corish said:”Golden Charter is proud and delighted to stand alongside ‘three in a row’ award winning funeral director John Fraser & Son. Vicki and her team have once again shown that success in funeral planning has been achieved through hard work, dedication and a desire to succeed.”