An Independent Family Business - We Care

Photo above: Ray & Shirley with Mayor Frank Barton, opening the first funeral home in King's Lynn - early 1984

Ray Thornalley founded Thornalley Funeral Services on 1 April 1981. At the age of just 24, while working as a carpenter and joiner for a local builder and undertaker, Ray saw the opportunity to establish his own funeral business from premises on Station Road, Clenchwarton.

A year later, Ray married Shirley, and together they purchased 53 St James Street, King's Lynn, converting a former newsagent's shop into a small funeral home. In 1988, they acquired the adjoining property at 51 St James Street, carrying out extensive alterations to combine the two buildings into one larger funeral home.

During this time, Ray and Shirley welcomed their two children, Andrew and Rachel. Keen to follow in his father's footsteps, Andrew spent his school holidays helping in the family business whenever he could, washing vehicles, preparing coffins and learning every aspect of funeral service. After leaving school on a Friday, he joined his father in the business full-time the following Monday, beginning his own lifelong career in serving bereaved families.

In 1997, Roly Whitear approached the Thornalley family to take over R.E. Whitear in Tilney St Lawrence. Having served the local community for many years, Roly was a well-respected village funeral director, and his Chapel of Rest remained open under Thornalley Funeral Services for several years following the acquisition.

The business continued to grow, and in 1999 the purchase of 55 St James Street enabled the three adjoining properties to be combined into one larger funeral home. As the demand for the family's services increased, the opportunity arose to build a purpose-designed funeral home in Austin Street, King's Lynn. Following extensive planning and construction, the new funeral home officially opened on 4 February 2011 and continues to provide the highest standards of care, compassion and support to bereaved families across King's Lynn and the surrounding areas.

In 2012, Andrew's wife, Abi, joined the family business, working alongside Shirley and further strengthening the family's commitment to providing compassionate, personal care to bereaved families.

Thornalley Funeral Services broadened their roots in 2016 when they bought Chapmans Funeral Services in Swaffham and carried out extensive refurbishments to the premises. In 2022 a further opportunity arose to purchase Ashdene House in Dersingham, formerly a bed & breakfast business, which the Thornalley family converted into a funeral home to serve Dersingham and the surrounding area. All three funeral homes run as one big, friendly family, upholding the traditional values of respect and dignity.

For two generations, the Thornalley family has dedicated their lives to providing a professional yet personal service that is second to none. Over the past forty years, Ray's unwavering commitment to supporting bereaved families has been recognised with the award of the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the bereaved.

The family tradition continues with the next generation. Andrew and Abi's sons, Ollie and Harry, joined Thornalley Funeral Services in 2025 and 2026 respectively, proudly marking the beginning of the third generation of the Thornalley family to serve their community.

Ray Thornalley with his first hearse - 1981