Hastings born and bred, Edward started work at Towners when he left college in the mid 1970s. He became Managing Director in 1987 and worked in this capacity up until 2021.

Being the fifth generation of the Towner family to run the firm, he has always been acutely aware of the legacy his forebears have left.

After over 46 years in the business Edward has now hung up his top hat and is easing into retirement. In 2021, he handed over the reins to his son, Oliver. In his role as the Company Chairman Edward is happy, he says, to be guiding his wonderful team in pursuit of the perfect funeral.

Outside work he enjoys sailing, cooking curry, walking the dog and sitting in his beach hut. He spends equal amounts of time trying and failing both to play the classical guitar and to learn German. He brings new meaning to the term 'golfer with a high handicap'. He is a Trustee of and volunteer for Hope Kitchen Hastings, the local soup kitchen providing hot food and a friendly welcome to homeless people. He has been married to Bev since 1978.

Oliver took over the role of Managing Director from his father, Edward, in 2021. As he leads the company into the future he brings together expertise from a number of areas and industries to support the staff and the company. He and his sister, Hannah (who is the Company Secretary) are the sixth generation to run this long-established local family business.

Recently, his work has focused on developing the sustainability credentials of the company which has included negotiating greener energy contracts, the purchase of our first Electric Van (Evan) and developing new paper-free and carbon aware ways of working. Oliver has the aim of being able to conduct fully carbon neutral funerals in the near future.

Hannah works with her brother Oliver in the running of the company. In a small family business many areas of responsibility fall on the owners – areas which, in larger companies, would have their own head of department: Human Resources, Marketing, Asset Management, Strategy, Research and Development, Finance, etc. Hannah (Company Secretary) and Oliver (Managing Director) work together in all these areas to ensure the present health and future growth of the company.

A fluent German speaker, Hannah is also a keen environmentalist. She loves the sea and swims like a fish; she is a keen scuba diver and has worked internationally as a scuba diving instructor. She also likes to go surfing when given the opportunity.

Duncan was brought up and educated in Hastings. As a teenager he developed an interest in acting at the Stables Theatre, and went on to train professionally.

Following a period of early experience in panto and plays around the country, Duncan found himself with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company in a connection which lasted a number of years and concluded with him as Resident Director.

On his return from London he joined Towners in 2000, and worked first as a driver and then as a funeral director, passing the Diploma in Funeral Directing in 2003.

Duncan is a Deacon in the Catholic Church. His duties include a leading part in services and the training of adults new to the faith in preparation for reception into the church.

Duncan and his family, his wife and two teenage children, all share in various ways in his participation in the theatre and in active membership of the congregation of St. Mary Star of the Sea.

Born and raised in Bexhill-on-Sea, Angela lives there with her husband and two daughters. On leaving school Angela worked in the family print business for over 34 years, predominantly in the pre-press and graphic design department.

After the business was sold she found employment briefly at Bexhill College before being accepted at Towners in May 2017 to produce artwork for clients' service sheets, eventually moving into the role of Funeral Director.

Angela is very keen on sports and is a member of a local Run & Triathlon Club, particularly enjoying swim and cycling events. With a UK Athletics Run Coaching qualification she volunteers twice a week to coach the 8-16yrs Club runners. 

Spare time is spent with her family and she enjoys watching films, reading, listening to a wide range of music and, during the football season, enduring the peaks and troughs of being an Arsenal supporter.

Born and raised in Kent, Joanne crosses the county boarder to join us more recently.
Having worked for a local law firm, then on to the corporate environment of Allianz Insurance, followed by some years at The National Trust, she has gained a wide perspective on the working world and how to best look after the needs of others.

If you were to ask her which of her roles she finds the most fulfilling, she would whole-heartedly tell you, “That of a Funeral Director” and so would we! She hopes one day to move ‘shore-side,’ to every day wake to that beautiful view we have just outside our office and to learn to sail, especially coming from a family of sailors. Having been lucky to have travelled far and wide over the years, she now looks forward to exploring the countryside, coasts and landscapes closer to home with precious friends and family.

Born and raised in Hastings, Dele lives there with his wife and two daughters and grandchild. On leaving school, Dele joined the Army and served with the Royal Engineers in Northern Ireland. On leaving the Army, Dele worked in numerous jobs and has worked with both corporate and Independent Funeral directors.

He joined us in March 2022 as a Funeral Director and has been enjoying every minute.

In his spare time he is a keen photographer and sportsman. What time is left is spent with his family or watching films, reading, listening to a wide range of music and, during the football season, enduring the peaks and troughs of being an Arsenal supporter.

Eleanor was born and raised in St. Leonards-on-Sea and educated locally. She achieved 19 GCSEs at school before achieving a Triple Distinction Star at Bexhill College in Health and Social Care Studies. She then moved away to Portsmouth to study Childhood and Youth Development at University and achieved a classification of 2:1.

Eleanor joined Towners in 2017 and has enjoys all of the challenges and responsibilities that come along. She works well under pressure and loves the comradery with her colleagues.

Eleanor enjoys travelling, spending time with her friends and family and watching psychological thrillers. She also loves reading, tattoos, cocktail bars, animals and going to restaurants.

Gill came to live in Hastings when she was 5 years old and has remained here ever since, apart from a four year stint living in Ibiza in the early 1980's.  She has been working as a part-time receptionist for Towners since October 2012.  Before that she worked as an Admin Assistant for a local housing association in their Lifeline department, a post she held for 20 years.  Gill is married with two grown up children and a step son.  At weekends Gill and her husband enjoy getting involved with anything the Hastings Old Town has to offer.  Gill's hobbies include going for long walks with her Cavapoo "Badger", doing crosswords, playing Candy Crush and sailing.