It is with great sadness that we report the very sudden death of Matthew Gallagher on 29th December 2019 at Kings College Hospital, London aged 46 years. Matthew’s funeral took place on Saturday 18th January 2020 at Holy Trinity Church Cuckfield, attended by over 600 people. The funeral was a celebration of his life with music he had selected personally and tributes given by friends from around the world, his fellow professionals within the funeral profession and a family tribute detailing Matthew’s love of life and all the people within it.

Matthew was born on 12th March 1973 in Richmond upon Thames and moved with his parents, Pat & Sandy Gallagher, to Cuckfield, where he attended Holy Trinity Primary and Junior school before moving on to Warden Park, completing his GCSEs, before attending Varndean Sixth Form College in Brighton.

Having completed his A-Levels, he graduated from The University of Leeds with a BA Honours degree. He then went on to Goldsmiths College, University of London, gaining a post grad certificate in education.

He taught in many schools in and around London as a supply teacher before entering the educational recruitment sector, which after several years, saw him move to Australia to expand and develop a new operation. He stayed there for four years before returning to the UK.

He joined the family business in 2007 and became a director, joining his parents and other board members at P & S Gallagher Funeral Directors with offices in Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill, Bowley Funeral Service in Hassocks and Bowley and Gallagher Funeral Directors in Preston Park, Brighton.

Pat Gallagher explained: “Matthew has been instrumental in developing the business over the last few years, expanding the company into Brighton and refurbishing and renovating all the premises throughout the company.

“He brought a refreshing and different insight into how he thought the modern day funeral directors premises of today should look and feel. His thought and vision has certainly left its mark within the family business, with bright modern facilities being created using colour and furnishing styles that have complemented the building the company use, being the envy of many other funeral directors premises.

“His demands and determination with his fellow directors and contractors alike have now been shown to be the way forward for the company, and it is his vision and creativity that will become his long-lasting legacy within the family business.”

Alongside his role within the business, he became a valued member and part of the governing body in The Independent Funeral Directors College. Joining in 2007, he brought the experience from an educational background in his previous career to the College, and he was paramount in his vision within the College, training as an Assessor and then Verifier. Two valuable positions within the education arm of the profession.

He was also an executive member of SAIF Charter, the prepaid funeral planning arm of the profession of which he was a staunch supporter, sitting on the Executive and chairing one of the committees. He was also a qualified member of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, being the cemetery registrar for both Cuckfield and Walstead Cemeteries.

Matthew will be very sadly missed by his parents, family, colleagues and his many fellow professionals and friends around the world.

“Matthew’s legacy is love in his lifelong friendships. He was proud of us all, knowing goodness will guide us, if love is inside us.”