A 120-year legacy of trust and compassion at William Wallace & Son

The Herald Scotland

12-05-2025

But the West Kilbride firm's reputation for reliability and quality – along with its deep roots in the community – can also be attributed to its success, says managing director Gordon Wallace, the fourth generation of the family at the helm of a business that has continued to innovate for over 120 years.
With two full-time and four part-time staff, the company has a strong commitment to sustainability and has an 'eco hearse' – a Mercedes E300de hybrid vehicle – as part of its fleet. 'Full efficiency and low maintenance costs are huge benefits,' says Gordon. 'The hearse is silent, and mourners can walk behind without breathing in fumes.' 'We fitted solar panels and batteries, during the lighter months the hearse can be charged without using the grid.'
He adds that the firm has always been resilient and moved with the times, highlighting that all the company's administrative tasks are now conducted electronically as a great time-saver.
However, the personal touch has not changed – even though technology has, Gordon notes. 'We prioritise our customers over everything,' he says. 'You have to be very patient and explain things clearly to people who are going through a difficult time – but we also have to remain practical.'
William Wallace & Son is a member of the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), who have been an invaluable guide leading up to the adoption of the Scottish code of practice introduced by government on 1st March 2025.
People can choose to use the firm's in-house chapel/service room if they so wish with seating for 70. Another option is a funeral plan, as Mr Wallace explains: 'A funeral, depending on what you want, can cost up to £4,500 so many people choose to plan ahead,' he points out.
'This can be for various reasons – perhaps someone is moving into a care home, for example, and they want things to be organised, or they don't want their family to take on the burden. Others want to ensure that their wishes are followed and opt for a bespoke plan which ensures that everything happens the way they want, right down to where they go for a cup of tea afterwards. All our costs and professional services are guaranteed, even if our prices go up over the years.'
Perceived as traditionally a male-dominated industry, the tide is changing in the funeral business as more women choose to enter the profession and at William Wallace & Son, Carly Brown is blazing a trail as a funeral director.
Carly, who joined William Wallace & Son as a funeral director nine years ago, is an empathic young woman who supports and liaises with families to plan their loved ones' funeral services. 'I make arrangements on their behalf, working with all the third parties involved, and deal with required paperwork,' she explains.
'Continuity of care is so important – a familiar, comforting presence for the family from their first contact with us until after the funeral is crucial.' 'Gordon and I are involved in a Christmas service for the recently bereaved at West Kilbride Parish Church which also holds a well-attended bereavement support group.'
For Carly, helping families through the most difficult of times is a 'privilege' and she finds her job extremely rewarding in that respect. Remarking on how much change she has witnessed in the industry during her time with William Wallace & Son, she notes: 'Funerals are definitely becoming much more personalised, moving away from more formal, traditional funerals to services that celebrate the life of the deceased.'
There are also many more environmentally-friendly options available now – from wicker coffins and woodland burials and even mushroom pod caskets which biodegrade in 45 days.
'I think that if we continue to embrace and adapt to change while still serving families with kindness, compassion, and the high standards we are known for, our business will continue to strive and hopefully still be operational in another 123 years," Carly says.
www.williamwallaceandson.co.uk
2-4 Hunterston Rd, West Kilbride KA23 9EX. Tel. [phone]
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Innovation throughout the decades
FOR William Wallace, leaving school at 16 to help his mother run the family carriage business when his father died was a pivotal moment in the history of a revered Ayrshire business – founded 123 years ago in 1902 – as he 'grew up fast' and took on a huge responsibility for someone so young.
His grandparents William and Helen had taken over the carriage business which ran from the stable of the Wellington Hotel in West Kilbride which is where the long-established funeral business – William Wallace & Son – remains today.
In those days, the horses that pulled the carriages were stabled upstairs, accessing it via a ramp. During the first war some horses were taken for the war effort.
Mr Wallace Snr visited Connemara to replace them. His son John bought cars from London during the second war to help prevent vehicles being destroyed in the blitz.
Fast-forward to the early 1950s – two world wars later – and Mr Wallace, a man with strong business foresight, had the opportunity to establish the business as funeral directors, as the last of the local joiners / funeral directors retired. 'In those days, undertakers had other professions. We supplied them with carriages, so it seemed like a natural progression for us,' he recalls.
Over the years, the business modernised and expanded in size after the purchase of an old bakery at the back of the Wellington premises. That enabled the company to build a funeral parlour, embalming room, a bigger viewing room and office. 'My wife, Barbara, was a sister in the Royal Infirmary and it was easy for her to get involved with the business,' says Mr Wallace.
Mr Wallace recalls the days when a funeral would cost £54 – a far cry from today's prices. 'Most people have cars now, in the 40's it was not uncommon for a funeral to involve five following cars.' The changes in the funeral industry over the years include the regulation that's been introduced, in light of some recent events this should be welcomed.'
www.williamwallaceandson.co.uk