Independent, Family Owned, Serving South Manchester,
Trafford and Cheshire for over 75 years

TEL: 0161 973 1515

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In 1960, the family moved from Sale Moor to Thorley Lane in Timperley. Then, in 1963, after the death of Robert's mother, he and his father moved to the current family home at Manchester Road, Altrincham. Robert mainly operated the garage repair centre, petrol sales, MOT centre and chauffer hire side of the business from the Sale Moor Garage, whilst Arthur built up the Funeral Service side of the business. Operating an Austin Breakdown Truck, a Land Rover Estate and, later, a Land Rover Recovery Vehicle, the company offered an extensive 24 hour breakdown service to its clients, the A.A. and the R.A.C., whilst at the same time offering a 24 hour funeral service.

Robert married his wife, Margaret, in 1971 at St Alphonsus Church, Old Trafford and had two children, David and Helen.

Margaret had trained as a nurse at the M.R.I. and after taking her S.C.M. course in Liverpool, she specialised in Midwifery. She took a Sisters post at Stretford Memorial Hospital before undertaking two years voluntary service in Nigeria.

On returning home, she resumed her duties at Stretford, being promoted to Senior Midwifery Sister before getting married. Margaret became Robert's co-director when she received her father in law's shares as a gift. Arthur had decided to pass the company on to his son and daughter in law.

Arthur Gresty Ltd Cars

Arthur and Robert have always recognised the need for Private Rest Room Facilities and this is an aspect of Funeral Directing which the company has particularly pioneered, not only in its own area, but also nationally. During the 1950's, planning permission was obtained from Sale Borough Council to use a room at their Sale Moor premises for this purpose, thus the company provided the first approved private Rest Room covering Sale and Altrincham. This room, while being the best available at that time, was not ideal and the company tried hard to provide better facilities, making several applications to Altrincham Borough Council.

Arthur Gresty Ltd

Both Arthur and Robert were amazed to find that they encountered total opposition. Every application was rejected and from their numerous meetings and discussions it became clear that neither the Councillors nor officials could understand the service required by the modern funeral director.

They also encountered political opposition from certain Labour Councillors who publicly stated that rest room facilities should not be allowed in the hands of private companies and should be 'municipalised'. The Council built a barren, windowless, unplastered room at Hale Cemetery as a supposed Rest Room. This structure was never used for its intended purpose and is now a store room for gardening equipment.

When the Council made the unacceptable suggestion that the only site they felt suited rest room facilities was 'the disused Council slaughterhouse near the gas works', the company directors were compelled to research the Town and Country Planning Acts. They found that the purposes of an “undertaker” were included in a Class 1 Shop. This section of the Act, however, had never been tested in law. The company then purchased a shop in Ridgeway Road, Timperley and renovated it for rest room use.

The Council served an ‘enforcement’ notice on the company to prevent them from using it for the purpose of a chapel of rest. After lengthy legal proceedings and a public hearing, the company successfully appealed against the notice, creating a planning precedence which has been reported nationally and quoted all over the Country by Funeral Directors, ranging from small one man businesses to large multiple organisations. Arthur Gresty Funeral Services

On appealing for costs, the Minister further ruled that the Council had acted irresponsibly and that they should never have served the initial order against our company.

 
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