K Y Green Funeral Directors
The history of our funeral homes across Buckinghamshire
The establishment of K Y Green
K Y Green Funeral Directors has an unbroken line of history of helping people, having carried out funerals in and around Aylesbury and Princes Risborough for over 200 years.
The company moved to 29 Cambridge Street in February 1939, to the premises built by "Harry" Green a few years before. The building’s distinctive green front and signage has always been well known in the community.
Mr Ray Cochrane, the present owner, is the great grandson of Mr William York Green, who lived on Walton Street between 1844 and 1912. They had a builder’s yard which older locals will remember as Gannon & Green Ltd, Builders and Undertakers.
William Green
Five generations before Mr Cochrane, Williams Green's grandfather, also called William Green, lived on Temple Street in Aylesbury between 1795 and 1870. His occupation was recorded in Pigot's County Guide of 1921 as a Builder, Architect, Upholsterer, Undertaker and Toymaker. His advertisement appeared on the front page of the first edition of the Bucks Herald in 1832.
In this photograph you will see Mr William Green outside the front door of the Walton Street premises, with the exterior decorated in honour of the King and Queen.
K Y Green Funeral Directors in Aylesbury are still based on Cambridge Street to this day, with an additional chapel of rest, workshops and garages in the pleasant countryside of Little Kimble.
K Y Green’s Austin Princess Hearse
In the late fifties, K Y Green Funeral Directors decided to replace their Rolls Royce Hearse with a beautiful, brand new Austin Princess Hearse.
The company’s Rolls Royce hearse was already a luxurious, state-of-art vehicle, but it was decided that a new hearse was to be made. The Rolls Royce had bearer doors, a feature was also needed in the new hearse. So, a new four door Austin Princess Hearse was ordered to be built on a Princess chassis by J.R.Motors Ltd of Willoughby, Rugby.
The original drawing shows that the design was produced in 1955, describing the model as a ‘Deluxe Hearse Body on either a Princess/Sheerline chassis, with two or four doors’. This was called a Charlesworth body. An order was placed and the hearse was built by Reall Ltd (Coachbuilders) at their workshop on Bath Road, Cippenham, Slough.
Refurbishing the hearse
There was a considerable wait for the chassis to be delivered. When it arrived, it had a glass screen behind the front seats with bearer seats, and a full width deck in the rear. Looking immaculate with gleaming chrome and paintwork, ‘916 HPP’ became a part of K Y Green on 1st July 1959 and is still going strong over 60 years later.
The last major overhaul was done during 1993 and 1994; the front wings were replaced, the front cross member was repaired, reconditioned shock-absorbers were fitted, and a rebuilt engine and gearbox were installed. The paint was stripped off and the whole hearse was resprayed from the metal. The trim was taken off, re-chromed and re-fixed.
Our locations
Supporting you along the way
We understand that there is a lot to think about, so if you do need assistance with your loved one's funeral arrangements, our funeral experts will offer you all the support you need.
What to do when someone dies
It’s perfectly normal to be unsure of what you need to do following the death of a loved one. These step-by-step guides will carefully explain everything you need to when someone dies, helping you through each stage of the process.
Planning a funeral
Our guides on planning a funeral will ensure your loved one's send off is a personal and unique celebration of their life. We will explain how our Funeral Directors will help you plan a funeral service and support you at every stage.
The day of the funeral
This guide will explain what happens at a funeral; including the funeral procession, funeral service, committal service and the wake. We will be here to help you through every step of the journey.
Head Office
4 King Edwards Court,
King Edward Square
Sutton Coldfield,
West Midlands, B73 6AP
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Calls are recorded for monitoring and quality purposes. All calls made to 0800 and 0808 numbers are free of charge whether made from a landline or mobile phone. Dignity Funerals Limited is a company registered in England No. 00041598. VAT registered No. 486 6081 14. Registered office: 4 King Edwards Court, King Edwards Square, Sutton Coldfield B73 6AP. Dignity Funerals Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under Firm Reference Number 967130. Please note that the selling and administering of funeral plans is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), however if you are purchasing a funeral without a funeral plan this will not be covered by FCA regulation.