A FUNERAL director is to celebrate the lives of his father and grandfather whose business he inherited by sponsoring a hospice appeal.

Norman Alderson, of N Alderson Funeral Directors, took over the family business from his father Bernard, who had succeeded his father Robert William, who founded the firm in 1921.

Now Norman is sponsoring Durham’s St Cuthbert’s Hospice’s Light up a Life appeal, in their memory.

He said: "Our whole family lived in Ushaw Moor, so we were very close and I have a lot of memories of my grandfather and father running the business. Both were incredibly committed and hard working men.

"The would work extremely long hours to serve the community. It was their life and it meant so much to them.

"My grandfather always used to cry at funerals, because it was such a close-knit community and he knew everybody.

"In my time running the business, I have personally seen the difference that St Cuthbert’s Hospice has made to so many local families. It’s become an essential part of the community. We are delighted to support them."

The Light up a Life appeal invites people to remember the life of a friend or relative by making a donation to St Cuthbert’s Hospice. In return, the names of those remembered will be included in the hospice’s Books of Remembrance and donors will be invited to a special Light up a Light service at St Nicholas’ Church, Durham, on Thursday, December 17.

For further details, call 0191-386-1170.