About Us

Funeral planning is a personal business. That’s why we’re proud to have been run and owned by the same family for more than 300 years.

Family is at the heart of everything we do

Since our founding in the 17th century, we've come a long way.

Our board of directors features five members of the Field family, all of whom work tirelessly to continue providing a first-rate funeral care service.

We've helped thousands of bereaved families, and it is through years of experience and a passion for caring that we have built trust with generations of families across the Home Counties and the south of England.

More than a funeral director since 1690

Owned and operated by the Field family for ten generations, Jeremy, Charlie and Emily run the business, with a keen interest in the wider funeral profession, supporting national charities, working in the community, and balancing funeral traditions with modern thinking and approach.

It is the diverse experience within the family, and the strong sense of tradition, that allows CPJ Field to always strive to deliver exactly what local families are looking for.

This is because at the heart of everything the company does, is a passion for first-class funeral arranging and care, together with a keen interest in supporting the bereaved, providing advice and expertise for those going through a difficult time.

Jeremy Field

Jeremy Field joined CPJ Field & Co in 2005 and is our Managing Director. He’s Sussex born and bred, living with his family in the company’s heartlands.

Jeremy like his father before him, has taken an active role in the wider funeral profession, working with government and other stakeholders to the funeral profession, always ensuring the needs and experiences of funeral directors and the families they serve are the central focus.

Jeremy was President of the National Association of Funeral Directors from 2016/17. The prominent role he’s played for the NAFD over the years and, in particular during the pandemic of 2020/22, resulted in him being awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to the funeral profession.

Emily Hendin nee Field

Emily is CPJ Field’s Marketing and Community Engagement Director, having joined her two brothers to work for the family business in 2009.

With an overall responsibility for marketing and communications across all 12 of CPJ Field’s trading businesses, Emily manages the strategic direction of the digital marketing and PR functions.

Having previously pursued her own career as a director at a leading consumer PR agency, Emily has brought creative expertise to the business, and latterly has developed the business community engagement and colleague wellbeing programme.

Charlie Field

Charlie Field is our Deputy Chairman and a 10th generation family member at CPJ Field & Co Ltd.

Charlie has been part of CPJ Field since 2008 and has driven the business’s innovative approach to developing class-leading cloud-based technology for funeral arranging under the name Seker Tech.

As a director of Homeland International, a specialist in international repatriation services, Charlie has also been instrumental in building this service for funeral directors, private families, and corporate clients.

Charlie sits on the board of the Family Business Institute, as well as serving as Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army.

Our People

We are extremely proud of our colleagues who serve as ambassadors for the family business and custodians of our company ethos.

We stand by our joint belief that our role as funeral directors is to fully support families through the delivery of professionally arranged funerals, made special as each one is personally tailored and unique.

However, just as important as this, is our commitment to help families find the best way to bring one chapter to a close and to start a new one.

We couldn’t do this without our hard-working team who believe every family deserves the best.

325 years of history

History Timeline

Humble beginnings
1690

It’s the late 17^th century and the Field family enters the funeral profession for the first time, as they begin to build coffins for use in funeral ceremonies.

A company evolving
1730

The family begins specialising in funeral furnishing. In addition to crafting coffins, work now involves dressing the coffins and performing the funeral ceremony.

The Duke of Wellington passes
1852

The Field family assists with the funeral of Arthur Wellesley, 1^st Duke of Wellington. A grand affair held in the country’s capital, the Duke of Wellington’s funeral was the last heraldic state funeral to be held in the United Kingdom.

Finding its fortunes - Late 18th century
1899

Now operating as JD Field & Son, the company moves from Southwark to a more prestigious location on Blackfriars Road. It’s from here that the business really starts to flourish, extending its range of services, and taking on a selection of high-end clients.

Remembering Queen Victoria
1901

In 1901, the Fields are enlisted to assist with arrangements for the funeral of Queen Victoria, which is held in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday 2^nd February.

The funeral is a military affair, with white being worn, in preference over the traditional black. Attention to detail is greater than ever. The Queen’s engraved coffin plate, for example, takes some six proofs before being finalised.

An historic funeral for Edward VII
1910

The Field family once again assists with the arrangements for an historic funeral. This time, for Edward VII.

In the two days during which the monarch’s body is on display at Westminster Hall, an estimated 400,000 members of the public visit to pay their respects.

Historian, Barbara W. Tuchman, described the funeral as “the greatest assemblage of royalty and rank ever gathered in one place.”

A crematorium opens
1936

After much hard work, the family is proud to open a crematorium at the Streatham cemetery. Its success far outstrips expectations, soon becoming responsible for 20% of all cremations in London.

The family resists a takeover
1956

Edward Ernest Field successfully fights off growing interest from the Amalgamated Tobacco Corporation, who seem intent on building their presence in the cremation market.

As a result of the interest, the Board begins the process of returning 100% of company shares to the Field family.

A new era
1994

38 years after the previous approach, JD Field & Sons is again targeted for takeover by a US conglomerate. Despite an impassioned defence, family ownership is lost.

Later in the same year, however, Colin and Barry Field establish a new firm, marking the beginning of the company’s modern era.

Jeremy M D Field Managing Director — Jeremy M D Field

CPJ Field & Co is born
2005

Jeremy, Emily, and Charles Field acquire a significant interest in the company. To reflect the reinforced family involvement, the company is renamed CPJ Field & Co.

The new name also aims to recognise the valued participation of many non-family colleagues throughout the years.

Field family brings together five stand-out funeral directors
2012

Uniting them under the name Shires, CPJ Field builds presence in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

Rights returned and a stamp of excellence
2013

The family regains the rights to the JD Field & Sons name, reuniting them with more than 300 years of history.

In the same year, CPJ Field & Co is proud to be named FBU Family Business of the Year for London and the South East.

CPJ Field celebrates 325 years
2015

The business marks the occasion with a family fun day, complete with fairground stalls run by colleagues and their families.

Presidency of NAFD and partnership with Seker Tech Limited
2016

Jeremy Field, the youngest person to be appointed to the role, is appointed as NAFD president in the same year as CPJ Field launches cloud based eFD software by Seker, an automated funeral management software.

Life president appointment as FD completes 25 years of service in Brighton
2019

Colin Field is appointed life president of CPJ Field as Chris Stringer is recognised for 25 years of service to the business.

An OBE for services to the funeral profession
2022

Recognised in Her Majesty the Queen’s 2022 New Year’s Honours for service to the funeral profession during the pandemic, Jeremy Field receives an OBE for his detailed input into draft government Covid 19 guidance.

But we do more than just funerals…

CPJ Field is proud to play an active role in the community, both through charitable donations and offering direct support.

Each year, we donate funds to the tune of £15,000 to worthwhile causes in the community. Below are just a few local organisations that have benefitted from our help in recent years.

CPJ Field also offers a programme of care and support for individuals or families who are experiencing the effects of grief, loneliness or social isolation due to a bereavement.

Each week, our local funeral homes are welcoming hubs providing advice, guidance and emotional support via our Never Alone initiative.

This helps individuals reduce grief and feelings of isolation, thereby delivering physical and mental health benefits for greater wellbeing.

Never Alone

Family is at the heart of everything we do

More than a funeral director since 1690

Jeremy Field

Emily Hendin nee Field

Charlie Field

Our People

325 years of history

History Timeline

Humble beginnings 1690

A company evolving 1730

The Duke of Wellington passes 1852

Finding its fortunes - Late 18th century 1899

Remembering Queen Victoria 1901

An historic funeral for Edward VII 1910

A crematorium opens 1936

The family resists a takeover 1956

A new era 1994

CPJ Field & Co is born 2005

Field family brings together five stand-out funeral directors 2012

Rights returned and a stamp of excellence 2013

CPJ Field celebrates 325 years 2015

Presidency of NAFD and partnership with Seker Tech Limited 2016

Life president appointment as FD completes 25 years of service in Brighton 2019

An OBE for services to the funeral profession 2022