Ballard & Shortall
Ballard & Shortall offer funeral directors in Crawley, East Grinstead, Forest Row, Horley, and Horsham.
Our history just about creeps into the 19th century, with our founding in 1899 on Three Bridges Road. Since then, we’ve worked with thousands of local families. We’ve even assisted with funeral arrangements for the much-loved children’s author, AA Milne.
Ballard & Shortall brings together some of the best-respected funeral providers from the local area. Our Principal Funeral Director, Clare Shortall-Emery alongside Funeral Director, Kevin West the team work tirelessly to ensure that our name is top of the list when it comes to funeral directors in Sussex.
A copy of our current price list can be found by clicking the button below.
Under the order made by the Competition and Markets Authority, we are required to publish a Standardised price list and Other information.
Our Team
Clare Shortall-Emery
General Manager, Crawley
Clare Shortall-Emery
General Manager, Crawley
I was born into the funeral profession as my father Paul was a funeral director. We moved to Crawley in December 1982. The business was owned by Neil Ballard and originally called Bartley and Ward. My mother was also working for the business and managed the Crawley funeral home. Over the years the name of the business changed to Ballard and Shortall.
I became actively involved in the business in 1994 when I was 16 years old as a part-time receptionist, eventually becoming full time I left in 1998 to work at Gatwick Airport as a passenger service agent, working for Delta Airlines.
I returned to Ballard and Shortall as a funeral director in 2001 not long after the business was purchased by the Field family. I was placed in East Grinstead and obtained my Diploma in funeral directing in 2004.
My parents retired in 2016 and I moved to Crawley, I was a Senior Funeral Director there and became the Principal Funeral Director for North Sussex. In May 2021 I was promoted to General Manager.
The funeral profession has quite literally been my entire life, mostly working for CPJ Field. I married Gavin in 2012 and our son, Elliot was born in 2014. My spare time is very much focused around my family. I enjoy socialising with friends and when I get the opportunity I like to read.
Nicki Kennedy
Funeral Home Manager, Crawley
Nicki Kennedy
Funeral Home Manager, Crawley
I am locally born and bred, with a knowledge of the Crawley area. This is helpful when talking to families as I can relate to your preferences on funeral venues when we meet. My priority is to look after families during a difficult and emotional time, ensuring we reflect your loved one in the funeral we arrange. I started at Ballard and Shortall in January 2018 and progressed from Funeral Arranger to Funeral Home Manager in 2020 after gaining a qualification in funeral arranging.
In my spare time, I like to read, meet friends and family as well as chaperoning children at theatre productions as this is where my children spend a lot of their time. I am also the clerk to Governors at a local primary school.
Kevin West
Funeral Director, Horley
Kevin West
Funeral Director, Horley
I joined Ballard and Shortall as a Trainee Funeral Director in Horley on the 4th Jan 2021 and started my training in Crawley. Before that, I spent over 40 years working in the Airline Industry at Gatwick and Heathrow for British Airways, mainly as an operations manager. I have lived in and worked around the Horley and Crawley area for most of my life.
I have now been in Horley as the Funeral Director for nearly 2 years and have got to know the local community through the local Coffee shops and have joined the Horley Constitution Club and have organised a Never Alone Coffee Morning supported by the Horley Methodist Church and we also support the local Food Bank.
In my spare time, I enjoy going out with my wife for a nice meal and drinks, going to the gym, walking, cycling in the warm weather and weekends away and lovely holidays. One of my greatest achievements was being a Games maker at the London 2012 Olympic games.
I feel very privileged in my role as the local Funeral Director that I am able to support the families within Horley and surrounding areas at a very difficult time.
Nicola Barraclough
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, Horley
Nicola Barraclough
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, Horley
I joined Ballard & Shortall as a Funeral Arranger Administrator in April 2018, and feel privileged to be able to help families through one of their most difficult times, working as part of a close-knit team with Kevin and Lisa.
I am not a Horley resident myself, but I do have connections with people and places here outside of work.
Lisa Bashford
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, Horley
Manjit Burji
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, Crawley
Manjit Burji
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, Crawley
I moved from Bedford to Crawley over 30 years ago, to get married and be with my now husband who lived in Crawley.
I am very familiar with the local Asian community (Hindu and Sikhs) and they are aware of and relate to us when thinking about a Funeral Home. I have a good familiarity with the rituals. My understanding of religion relieves families, and we personalize the arrangement of the funeral service. My main passion is to ensure that the minute the family walk into the funeral home they are looked after, and we can provide the best send-off for their loved one.
I started my role at Ballard and Shortall in August 2018 as a Funeral Arranger/Administrator and enjoy helping colleagues professionally and families through their difficult time.
In my spare time I enjoy going on long walks, going to local the gym (I love yoga and aqua aerobics), gardening and of course I love cooking.
Ruth Usher
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, Crawley
Ruth Usher
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, Crawley
Having grown up in Crawley, I lived in Australia for a few years before returning to England and becoming a nurse. Nursing gave me the desire to look after the loved ones of people who are unwell.
Working in Crawley as an FAA with Ballard and Shortall is a wonderful opportunity to help support people in the community who are suffering the death of someone they love or have been close to.
Donna Saunders
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, Forest Row
Donna Saunders
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, Forest Row
I am enjoying working within the Forest Row area, which is quite a diverse community. Pippa and I work as a team helping a wide range of the community, from a gentle wave at the window down to charity support and working within the local school.
Pippa Yates
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, Forest Row and Community Champion for Ballard & Shortall
Pippa Yates
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, Forest Row and Community Champion for Ballard & Shortall
I have been based here for a number of years and am familiar with the local community. Being very team-spirited, I support the local community in many ways from funerals to charity support and getting involved in local events.
Joanna Read
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, East Grinstead
Amy Matthews
Trainee Funeral Director, East Grinstead
Amy Matthews
Trainee Funeral Director, East Grinstead
I am excited that I have just begun my journey with CPJ Field, Ballard & Shortall, as a Trainee Funeral Director. I have worked in funeral care for nearly 10 years, and have found my calling in life. There is no greater privilege than to be entrusted to care for our families and their loved ones. I am married with two young children who are our world. We love to spend time together, baking, watching movies and playing games.
Wendy Wapshott
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, Horsham
Wendy Wapshott
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, Horsham
I have been working as a funeral arranger since May 2023, in the Horsham funeral home. I can honestly say that being a funeral arranger has turned out to be a job that I love, it is an absolute privilege to help and support families and friends at such a difficult time in their lives, and guide them through the, sometimes, quite complex processes that they face, and to be able to take away much of the worry.
Throughout my career, I have always worked with the public, providing excellent customer service in areas such as retail, children’s nurseries and hospitality.
Outside of work I love the theatre, dancing, singing, walking and spending time with my grandchildren, friends and my springer spaniel dogs.
Andrea Garrick
Trainee Funeral Director, Horsham
Bobbie Bittles
Funeral Arranger and Administrator, East Grinstead
Business Policies
More information on our Business terms and conditions and Charitable donations can be found below.
