Steven Whitehurst wins Scales Award

Steven Whitehurst from Ryde on the Isle of Wight has won the NAFD’s Scales Award, after gaining the highest marks in the  March 2010 Diploma in Funeral Directing examinations.

Having previously worked as a professional driving instructor (cars and HGVs) for 20 years, Steven became a funeral director in 2006 when he moved to the Isle of Wight.  Since joining the profession he has attained two bereavement counselling qualifications and is a member of the Society of Bereavement Practitioners as well as a registered driver trainer and bereavement support counsellor with Brake, the road safety charity.

Steven was one of 33 people to pass the NAFD’s Diploma in Funeral Directing and after intensive study over the last 18 months he considers it his biggest achievement to date.  In receiving the Scales Award from Sue Saville – one of her last official functions as NAFD President – Steven acknowledged the support and encouragement he received from his company, from his trainers and friends Ron and Pam Holland and from his family – his 15-year-old daughter is convinced she could pass the examinations herself after all the help with revising she gave him!
 
Steven recommends the NAFD Diploma in Funeral Directing as the best way to develop funeral industry knowledge and skills and is now looking forward to spending his spare time fishing in his small boat in the Solent, playing snooker at the Royal British Legion Club where he is a member and riding his 750cc trike – all of which had to take a back seat while he was studying.