Home town expansion for business

Humanists with staff outside Palmer House in Jarrow, front, from left, Yvonne Owens, Gill Jones, Margaret Humphrey, Diane Cook, Mark Cook, Mavis Lorryman, Sharon Banks; middle, Angela Stewart, Peter Scullion, Alan Daley, Peter Bassett, Paul Smith, Margaret Wood, Michael Howe; back, Ray Wood, Ian Hunter, Graeme Swan.

Mark Cook and wife Diane run Tynedale Funeral Directors and have opened Palmer House in Ellison Street, which has three tastefully decorated private chapels and is named after former Jarrow MP Sir Charles Mark Palmer.

The new business premises was recently blessed by the local clergy and visited by the South Tyneside Humanists.

Humanists join staff outside Palmer House in Jarrow, front, from left, Yvonne Owens, Gill Jones, Margaret Humphrey, Diane Cook, Mark Cook, Mavis Lorryman, Sharon Banks; middle row, Angela Stewart, Peter Scullion, Alan Daley, Peter Bassett, Paul Smith, Margaret Wood, Michael Howe; back, Ray Wood, Ian Hunter, Graeme Swan.

A Jarrow lad who lived in Cleveland Court, a stone throw away from Ellison Street, Mark attended Bede Burn and Springfield School.

Already operating Tynedale House in South Shields and Victoria House in Hebburn, it was always Mark’s ambition to have a premises in Jarrow.

He said the business has gone from strength to strength because of the dedicated team of staff.

He said they pride themselves on being a family owned and run company with a personal touch giving 24-hour care at all times.