A young entrepreneur is opening a funeral directors which he hopes will rival the national chains. James McGee, 25, from Grove, has launched Wantage Funeral Service (WFS) at Orchard House in Portway, the former office of Wantage and Didcot MP Ed Vaizey.
As one of the country's youngest funeral directors, he hopes to provide a personal and affordable service which he thinks is missing in the market.
Mr McGee has worked in the business since he was 15, including seven years at Cooperative Funeralcare.
Mr McGee's mother, Kay, died when he was just 15, but he still remembers the personal touches at her funeral.
He said: “I wanted to repay that service to the profession. I felt that I could do that through my personal experience.”
He added: “I do not find it a grim business. It is a lovely feeling to know you have helped someone out at a difficult time."
He started working at Faringdon funeral directors A E Baker & Sons in 2002.
In 2005, the independent was taken over by Co-operative Funeralcare, and in 2009 Mr McGee went to work as a funeral director at the chain's Oxford offices.
When Mr McGee's father, John, died in 2011, the funeral, organised by colleagues, cost £3,600.
He will run the WFS with girlfriend and business partner, Kerryn Scarrott, 17, from Grove.
Mr McGee has started the business with his own savings and a little help from friends. His £10,000 annual rent will be his largest outgoing.
Because his business will have a budget below £62,000, he will not pay business rates for the first year.
His set-up costs, including decorating and furnishing his new offices, have come in under £6,000.
His predicted turnover for the first year is between £35,000 and £46,000.
As for market research, Mr McGee took a look at recent census data, and discovered a growing population in Wantage. Other than that, he is hoping local support will help bring in business.
Miss Scarrott, a former trainee dental nurse, said: “It is a family company and I wanted to help it expand. I am looking forward to it.”
Contact: 01235 760168 www.wantagefuneral.co.uk
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