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Meet our Team
Our team - a family of funeral service professionals dedicated to the people of Redcar, Marske, Guisborough and beyond
Michelle Thurston-Balam, DipFD, LSBP
Managing Director/Funeral Director
Michelle was only 21 when she held her first position as a Mortuary Technician, this was after years of gaining work experience and qualifications through the National Association of Funeral Directors. After 5 years as a qualified Mortuary Technician in Somerset, Michelle was ready to move onto becoming a Funeral Director. This started with an independent Funeral Directors in Somerset before moving to be Funeral Director in London where she arranged and conducted hundreds of funerals.
A need to come back home to the North East led Michelle to become an assessor within the funeral profession and completed her own Diploma in Funeral Directing. Not being able to keep watching others do the job she had a passion for, Michelle formed Roseberry Funeral Service. This had been a long desire of Michelle's to do and finally felt that was the ideal time for her. Over the next few years this led to expanding Roseberry Funeral Service in Marske in 2015 and Guisborough in 2022.
Michelle now has a vast knowledge base and a lot of expertise to handle any circumstance, including having personally trained each and every person who has worked for her.
Being supportive of the families she cares for as well as her dedicated team, has lead her to join the Society of Bereavement Practitioners. She also plans to dedicate time to becoming a bereavement counsellor.
Graham Wilkes, DipFD
Funeral Director
Graham has been an important part of the Roseberry Funeral Service team since 2014. As a well-known and respected member of the Redcar community, Graham has built strong relationships with local families over many years.
Having previously worked within local communities, supporting some of the most vulnerable members of society, Graham was able to bring his experience, compassion and understanding to the funeral profession when he achieved his long-term ambition of becoming a Funeral Director.
Graham places families at the heart of everything he does. He understands the importance of being there for people during some of the most difficult moments in their lives and takes pride in providing a calm, respectful and sympathetic service. His years of experience and genuine commitment to the families we care for make him a valued member of the Roseberry team.
Paige Ridsdale
Funeral Director
Paige joined Roseberry Funeral Service having already begun her journey within the funeral profession, and has since become an important part of our team.
Building strong and lasting relationships with the families we care for is at the heart of everything Paige does. She understands that every family is different and takes the time to listen, offer support and ensure that every funeral is arranged with care, compassion and attention to detail.
Paige is committed to continuing her development within the profession and to providing the very best care and support to the families who place their trust in us. Her dedication and genuine care for others are qualities that make her such a valued member of the Roseberry team.
Paige was also recognised for her commitment and achievements within the profession when she was named a finalist in the 2023 Good Funeral Awards.
Adam Thurston
Managing Director/Accounts Manager
Adam is the Accounts Manager and Managing Director, to oversee the day-to-day running of the business and supporting our team across all three of our offices.
Although much of Adam’s work takes place behind the scenes, ensuring the business runs smoothly and efficiently, he is also a familiar face at our Guisborough office, where families will often see him and can speak to him.
Adam has completed three years of study to achieve his Level 4 AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) qualification, bringing a strong financial and business background to his role.
Adam takes great pride in the work we do and in supporting our team to provide the highest standards of care and service to every family we look after. His approachable nature and willingness to help make him an important part of the Roseberry Funeral Service team.
Kerry Garbutt
Funeral Administrator
Kerry is a valued member of the Roseberry Funeral Service team and plays an important role in assisting families who are arranging a direct cremation. She is often one of the first members of our team to support families through this process, helping to ensure everything is handled with care, compassion and attention to detail.
Kerry joined Roseberry following a full career in administration, bringing with her a wealth of experience and an exceptionally well-practised eye for detail. She understands that, when arranging a funeral, it is the little things that matter and that families need to feel confident that everything is being taken care of.
Working closely with our Funeral Directors, Kerry is an important part of ensuring that every arrangement runs smoothly and that families receive the same high standard of care and support throughout their time with us.
Steve
Funeral Assistant
Steve worked for many years withing Redcar and Cleveland Council. His time there included within the bereavement services. When he retired, he joined our team as a funeral assistant. This is a role that has many aspects to it, but Steve's professional and caring nature means he is always the right man to assist.
John
Funeral Assistant
John joined our team wanting to do something more following semi-retirement. He has been part of our team for many years as a bearer. He does this role with great professionalism and care.
Gavin
Funeral Assistant
Gavin joined our team after coming to the North East to be with family. Gavin is retired but enjoys his role with us and caring for families in need.
Neil
Funeral Assistant
Neil joined our team in early 2024 and is following a life long dream of working within the funeral profession. He has great attention to detail and wants everything to go perfectly for each and every funeral service.
Clive
Funeral Assistant
Clive brings with him a wealth of dedication and commitment. His calm, respectful presence and attention to detail ensure that every funeral is carried out with the utmost care and dignity.
With professionalism at the heart of everything he does, Clive is committed to making sure every farewell is as perfect as it can be – because every farewell matters.
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Peter
Funeral Assistant
Peter joined our team after retirement, bringing with him a wealth of life experience, kindness, and a calm, caring nature. Although new to the funeral profession, he is dedicated to supporting families with compassion and respect, ensuring each service is carried out with dignity and professionalism.
Jason
Funeral Assistant
Jason joined Roseberry following his retirement and has quickly become a valued member of our team. He has taken to his new role with enthusiasm, bringing a calm and dependable approach along with a genuine willingness to help. Jason has already become a great asset to the team and we are delighted to have him with us.
Gary
Funeral Assistant
Gary joined our team after retiring and has quickly settled into life at Roseberry. His friendly nature, practical approach and willingness to support others have made him a welcome addition. Gary takes pride in helping ensure every funeral is carried out with care, dignity and professionalism, and has already become an important part of our team.