About Us
Heartfelt Donations from Local Chepstow & Caldicot Funeral Director

Local Funeral Directors Ian Watts & Son were delighted to present a cheque to the Heart-2-Heart & Cardiac Rehabilitation Group which are non-profit making groups, helping those who have undergone heart surgery or medical treatment.
The groups meet every Monday & Friday at Caldicot’s Leisure Centre & are supervised by a NHS Registered Trainer. Members require a letter from their GP before joining stating that they are fit to excercise.
Each Club has a membership of 45 persons with members attending from Sedbury, Chepstow, Mathern, Caldicot, Magor, Rogiet & Newport.
Fundraiser Mr Tony Stephens said “we are very grateful to receive local support from businesses to maintain our increasing costs every year such as rents, insurance & equipment servicing.”
Martin Watts of Ian Watts & Son Independent Funeral Directors said, “we are delighted to be donating this money & hope it will help towards the funds required to run these groups. The Clubs need funds for items like room hire, new equipment etc. and if we can help in any way we will.”
Martin added, “part of the money we donated, had been awarded to us by Caldicot Town Council for having the Best Business Garden. We were honoured to receive that award and we immediately decided we would match fund it and donate it to a local Group.”
For more information about how you can donate to the Heart-2-Heart & the Cardiac Rehabilitation groups, contact Jo Hume who can put in touch with Mr Stephens.
The groups meet every Monday & Friday at Caldicot’s Leisure Centre & are supervised by a NHS Registered Trainer. Members require a letter from their GP before joining stating that they are fit to excercise.
Each Club has a membership of 45 persons with members attending from Sedbury, Chepstow, Mathern, Caldicot, Magor, Rogiet & Newport.
Fundraiser Mr Tony Stephens said “we are very grateful to receive local support from businesses to maintain our increasing costs every year such as rents, insurance & equipment servicing.”
Martin Watts of Ian Watts & Son Independent Funeral Directors said, “we are delighted to be donating this money & hope it will help towards the funds required to run these groups. The Clubs need funds for items like room hire, new equipment etc. and if we can help in any way we will.”
Martin added, “part of the money we donated, had been awarded to us by Caldicot Town Council for having the Best Business Garden. We were honoured to receive that award and we immediately decided we would match fund it and donate it to a local Group.”
For more information about how you can donate to the Heart-2-Heart & the Cardiac Rehabilitation groups, contact Jo Hume who can put in touch with Mr Stephens.
Restoration Gift
Martin Watts of Ian Watts & Son Funeral Directors & Monumental Masons was delighted to assist when Mathern Community Council recently approached him to ask if he would assist with restoration work to the St. Tewdric’s Well plaques.
The plaques, displayed at the site of the Well, detail the fascinating history of when King Tewdric’s wounds were washed in the Well after the battle near Tintern about 470 A.D., against the Pagan Saxons.
Martin Watts said, ‘we wanted to provide this as a gift to the Community Council. The people of Mathern take a great pride in the upkeep of their village and the Well is steeped in fascinating ancient history.’
Mathern Community Council’s Chairperson Cllr. Ovenden commented, ‘on behalf of Mathern Community Council we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Ian Watts & Son for doing this for us. The plaques have been beautifully restored. The Well is a significant historic landmark near to St. Tewdric’s Church.’
The plaques, displayed at the site of the Well, detail the fascinating history of when King Tewdric’s wounds were washed in the Well after the battle near Tintern about 470 A.D., against the Pagan Saxons.
Martin Watts said, ‘we wanted to provide this as a gift to the Community Council. The people of Mathern take a great pride in the upkeep of their village and the Well is steeped in fascinating ancient history.’
Mathern Community Council’s Chairperson Cllr. Ovenden commented, ‘on behalf of Mathern Community Council we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Ian Watts & Son for doing this for us. The plaques have been beautifully restored. The Well is a significant historic landmark near to St. Tewdric’s Church.’
Pictured here are:- Cllr. Christine Morton, Chairperson Cllr. Carolyn Ovenden and Martin Watts, (local independent funeral director).
Best Business Garden September 2017
Martin Watts is proud to have received an award from Caldicot’s Town Council for having ‘The Best Business Garden.’
The Award was presented by the Mayor Cllr. Philip Stevens and was part of several presentations by Caldicot’s Town Council. A certificate, a shield and a prize of £25 was awarded for their colourful garden at the front and rear of their Caldicot Funeral Home.
Pictured above is Martin Watts (son of the late Ian Watts) receiving the award from Cllr. Phil Stevens.
Martin commented, “it is an honour to have been awarded this. We feel passionate that our funeral homes should look pleasant outside as well as inside. Most people visit us at what is a difficult time in their life and we want them to feel comfortable and at ease when walking in. We are extremely grateful to those who took the time to nominate us for this Award.”
Martin added, “we shall be donating the prize money to a local charity and we will match fund this.”
Award for Popular Independent Funeral Director
Martin Watts Of Ian Watts & Son Independent Funeral Directors was delighted to be awarded Caldicot Mayor's Special Award this week.
The award allows the Mayor to choose a premises that contributes and enhances the appearance of the town.
It is in recognition of the dedication and hard work undertaken to make Caldicot a better place.
Martin said, "we are very grateful to local couple Dave & Denise Bradbury who kindly volunteer their time to help make our funeral home gardens in Caldicot look so attractive."
Pictured below here are, staff member Phil Sutton, Martin Watts & volunteer Dave Bradbury.
The award allows the Mayor to choose a premises that contributes and enhances the appearance of the town.
It is in recognition of the dedication and hard work undertaken to make Caldicot a better place.
Martin said, "we are very grateful to local couple Dave & Denise Bradbury who kindly volunteer their time to help make our funeral home gardens in Caldicot look so attractive."
Pictured below here are, staff member Phil Sutton, Martin Watts & volunteer Dave Bradbury.
Resomation Natural Water Cremation
Independent Funeral Directors Ian Watts & Son recently met with the directors of U.K. Leeds based company Resomation Ltd. – a company pioneering a Natural Water Cremation process.
Sandy Sullivan is the founder and director of Resomation Ltd. and he explained how his company see water cremation as the new alternative to flame cremation and burial.
The procedure uses a water based alkaline solution to speed up the natural process the body goes through at the end of life.
The deceased is contained in a woollen or similar type of natural container and placed on a tray & weighed to calculate the amount of fluid required and then the tray is carefully placed in a resomation chamber where water is added and potassium hydroxide (KOH) liquid. (Potassium hydroxide is used in everyday production such as for soaps, food thickeners, medicines, batteries, fertilizers and many other products so is not an unusual product).
The cremation takes between three to four hours.
People choosing water cremation can still have a funeral ceremony with the difference being after the committal, the body is reduced to ashes by water instead of by flame.
At the end of the process, the family have ashes returned in the same way as they would with a flame cremation.
‘This process is not yet available in the U.K.,’ Jo Hume, from Ian Watts & Son explained. ‘It is available in North America and Canada and there is growing interest in this country and Spain, France, The Netherlands, Belgium and China. It appears to provide a greener alternative with biodegradable coffins being used.’
Jo added, ‘I was surprised to learn that after the water cremation process, the remaining water is treated and assessed and then is safely returned to the water system.’
‘In terms of water cremation costs and subject to individual companies’ tariffs’ it is anticipated that the bereaved may expect to pay a similar fee for a water cremation as they would for a traditional one.
Talks are currently taking place with the UK government, the Ministry of Justice and others, to regulate what could become a significant part of the funeral industry.’
Derived from Greek and Latin ‘Resomation’ means the rebirth of the human body.
Jo added, ‘we will be in contact with this company to monitor their progress and will provide more details as this develops but for more information call Jo on 07977 092935.’
Sandy Sullivan is the founder and director of Resomation Ltd. and he explained how his company see water cremation as the new alternative to flame cremation and burial.
The procedure uses a water based alkaline solution to speed up the natural process the body goes through at the end of life.
The deceased is contained in a woollen or similar type of natural container and placed on a tray & weighed to calculate the amount of fluid required and then the tray is carefully placed in a resomation chamber where water is added and potassium hydroxide (KOH) liquid. (Potassium hydroxide is used in everyday production such as for soaps, food thickeners, medicines, batteries, fertilizers and many other products so is not an unusual product).
The cremation takes between three to four hours.
People choosing water cremation can still have a funeral ceremony with the difference being after the committal, the body is reduced to ashes by water instead of by flame.
At the end of the process, the family have ashes returned in the same way as they would with a flame cremation.
‘This process is not yet available in the U.K.,’ Jo Hume, from Ian Watts & Son explained. ‘It is available in North America and Canada and there is growing interest in this country and Spain, France, The Netherlands, Belgium and China. It appears to provide a greener alternative with biodegradable coffins being used.’
Jo added, ‘I was surprised to learn that after the water cremation process, the remaining water is treated and assessed and then is safely returned to the water system.’
‘In terms of water cremation costs and subject to individual companies’ tariffs’ it is anticipated that the bereaved may expect to pay a similar fee for a water cremation as they would for a traditional one.
Talks are currently taking place with the UK government, the Ministry of Justice and others, to regulate what could become a significant part of the funeral industry.’
Derived from Greek and Latin ‘Resomation’ means the rebirth of the human body.
Jo added, ‘we will be in contact with this company to monitor their progress and will provide more details as this develops but for more information call Jo on 07977 092935.’