Debbie MUSGRAVE,
Head of Marketing and Income Generation,
Hospice at Home West Cumbria

Cumbria Headstones were recently commissioned to provide a commemorative plaque for the visit of HRH The Prince Of Wales on behalf of Hospice At Home West Cumbria, which was unveiled at their Workington branch to celebrate the opening of our 10 Finkle Street Branch, Workington, Cumbria.

Hospice at Home West Cumbria has a beautiful oval plaque to commemorate Prince Charles visiting its new centre in Finkle Street, Workington. However, we had only 4 week’s notice of the visit and the wording got Royal approval only 5 days before the plaque was due to be unveiled. Despite this Mark was always helpful and patient and although we both worried about the paint drying quick enough everything was ready for the day. It was a real pleasure to hear the lovely comments from our staff and supporters when they saw it. Thank you Mark.

Barrie Hodgson,
Joseph Bell Memorial,
Farlam

I can't remember when I last sent a Testimonial to a company, but I have just been so impressed with our dealings with Mark Hodgson, of 'Cumbria Headstones', that I feel that it's justly due. From the initial approach by Mark, his overall service has been really excellent with a professional and friendly approach to our needs, as well as his good technical reported advice and administration. The bravery undertaken by Mark, suffering subsequently from nettle rash to his person, in the course of his excavating the headstone went well beyond the call of duty! Thank you Mark for your help and understanding our needs as well as your professional attitude toward the undertakings of the project.
(Acknowledged in the book Tarn To Titanic for our work and advice on the restoration project for the memorial of: Joseph Bell Chief Engineer of the ill fated HMS TITANIC.)
Cumbria Headstones was mentioned in the book "Tarn to Titanic".

Mr Allan Lofthouse, Workington,
CUMBRIA

Please accept my grateful thanks for the excellent and sympathetic service you afforded my family and I in provision/erection of a headstone recently on the sad occasion of my mothers passing. We are delighted with the beautiful memorial and very happy with both the competitive price and speedy service which now allows our family a tasteful focal point while fondly remembering our dear mother.

Mr Ron Caffrey,
Workington,
Cumbria

Marks restoration of my Grandfathers headstone was excellent. He cleaned the stone work and the re-lettering on it was done to a very high standard. I would recommend him to anyone wanting any headstone restoration work done.

Colin Jackson and Family,
Workington,
Cumbria

With reference to the work we have had done on our parents' gravestone, including re-gilding of existing gold lettering, adding new wording for our mother, (who sadly passed away recently), cleaning and re-fitting gravestone, and addition of a hand painted plaque of our Lady. The Family is extremely pleased with the standard of workmanship of Cumbria Headstones. They are a local business who are very easy to get hold of by e-mail or phone, and indeed their van can often be seen at Salterbeck Cemetery. Although our parents' gravestone is over thirty years old, it now looks like a new gravestone after the work that Cumbria Headstones have done on it. We found them to be a reliable company who could be trusted to keep their word on promises made when giving them the work. When our order was placed, in spite of the fact that it was pretty late on in the year, promised deadlines for the different stages were always met, which can't have been easy fitting in around the awful weather we have been having over the last few months. We would have no hesitation in recommending the company to anyone requiring work done.

Mrs Jean Wilson, Cockermouth,
Cumbria

I am delighted to recommend Cumbria Headstones Proprietor Mark Hodgson. Mark was very professional and took on board my wishes with guidance and consideration. The end result was a headstone of which he should be very proud and beyond any expectations. It is a beautiful fitting memorial to my beloved husband and I cannot thank Mark enough for all the work and thought he put into achieving the wonderful result.

Mr H. Bell,
Rowledge, Farnham,
Surrey

My Grandfather Abraham Bell died in 1917 and was buried in the Harrington Road Cemetery in the family grave joining other predeceased members of his family and a large headstone of blue Russian granite was erected. He was later joined by his wife Sarah. There have not been any blood relatives living in Workington for many years, his grandson Hodgson last visited 20 years ago and the headstone was still in perfect condition. However in July this year two of his great granddaughters travelled from Australia to see the grave but despite me giving them my recollection of its location they were unable to find it. However with the assistance of the council they found the grave but the headstone and plinth were lying face downwards so the inscriptions could not be seen. They informed me of the situation and with other grandchildren of Abraham we agreed to try and get it put upright again. I contacted the council and they sent me a list of monumental masons in Cumbria. I selected Cumbria Headstones and could not have made a better choice. Mr Mark Hodgson was most helpful. He immediately visited the site and contacted me by phone, letter, e-mail of what the options were. The final decision could not be made until the headstone had been raised from the ground. Mr Hodgson kept me informed at every stage of work sending me photographs of progress and finally it was decided that the headstone would be set in the ground with the plinth behind it. Mr Hodgson had to use a substantial gantry to raise the headstone because it weighed in the region of 800Kg. I received photographs of the headstone being set into the ground and also when the work was completed. He did a very professional job and all my relatives here and in Australia are very pleased with the outcome and would strongly recommend Cumbria Headstones to any future clients without hesitation. Many thanks again Mark for all your help, consideration and professionalism and my only regret is that being 300 miles away I was not able to see the work being done in person.

Mrs Colette Hodgkinson,
Gainsbough,
Lincolnshire

Thank you for the photographs of the headstone it looks lovely. I would like to thank you both for the professional way you have handled the whole process. I also found it excellent the way you kept me informed of everything that was happening and despite the worst weather we have had for some years it seemed to be finished and fitted quickly. I have no hesitation in recommending you both and shall do so to friends and family. Thank you once again for making a difficult time a little easier and I wish you the best of luck in your business for the future...a job well done!

Cliff Ismay,
Workington,
CUMBRIA

When our mother passed on she was laid to rest with dad who had passed on some years earlier. We asked Cumbria Headstones to add an extra inscription onto the headstone, changing our thoughts on the wording several times Mark was very helpful and patient until we were completely satisfied with the wording. The original inscription was in Gold Leaf so we wanted to follow using the same but on completion the original inscription looked very worn so Mark suggested re-inscribing the original. We followed Mark's advice and we are so very pleased that we did. We now have a beautiful and lasting memorial to our parents.

Rhoda Robinson,
Distington Parish Council

On behalf of the Distington Parish Council, I would like to thank Cumbria Headstones for the fantastic restoration of our War Memorial. It has been a pleasure to do business with Mark and Becky, their commitment to the project and their workmanship was outstanding.