A J Wakely & Sons Ltd, Sherborne

53 reviews

Call 24 hours

A family owned business serving communities across Dorset, Somerset and Devon for over 125 years

Funeral arrangements

  • Home visit
  • 24 hour telephone support
  • On-site parking
  • Chapel of rest
  • Hearse
  • Limousine
  • Horse-drawn hearse
  • Bespoke vehicle
  • Coffin
  • Personalised coffin
  • Casket
  • Headstone / Plaque
  • Urn
  • Memorial jewellery
  • Floral tributes
  • Charitable donations
  • Newspaper announcement
  • Online obituary
  • Memorial book
  • Order of service sheets
  • Music
  • Video tribute
  • Funeral webcasting
  • Catering
  • Dove release
  • Balloon release
  • Fireworks

Types of funeral

  • Traditional burial
  • Simple funeral
  • Traditional cremation
  • Green funeral
  • Direct cremation
  • Burial at sea
  • Non-religious funeral
  • Anglican funeral
  • Roman Catholic funeral
  • Muslim funeral
  • Jewish funeral
  • Sikh funeral
  • Hindu funeral
  • Buddhist funeral
  • Children’s funeral

Financial arrangements

  • Financial advice
  • Wills & probate
  • Pre-paid funeral plan

Additional services

  • Repatriation
  • Bereavement counselling
  • List of mourners

Location

16 Newland
Sherborne
Dorset
DT9 3JQ

Open map

Opening Hours

Day Hours
Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Professional Standards

  • NAFD Member

    Members agree to a published Code of Practice and can be held to account through the Association if something goes wrong.

    What they do

    • Inspects member premises to check standards are being met
    • Runs a complaints and resolution service for bereaved families
    • Provides funeral training and professional qualifications
  • SAIF Member

    Businesses are checked before they are admitted to SAIF and work to the Society’s Code of Practice.

    What they do

    • Inspects businesses before granting membership
    • Represents independent and family-owned funeral directors
    • Offers free, independent arbitration if something goes wrong

About Us

A J Wakely & Sons is a family owned business with branches operating throughout Dorset, Somerset and Devon, having first Established in Bridport in 1897. The Sherborne Funeral Home opened in 1999, serving the bereaved for over 25 years.

A J Wakely’s highly trained staff have extensive knowledgeable of local community resources and will do their best to help cater to specific requests, from arranging simple or traditional services, to elaborate and highly personalised, bespoke funerals.

Together with Catherine, office manager, the Sherborne branch is run by Funeral Director Richard Wakely, who has a Diploma in Funeral Arranging and Administration (DipFAA) and has been working for A J Wakely & Sons since 2014. They are supported by Matthew Patterson, manager of the Yeovil branch and operating as Funeral Director at A J Wakely’s Sherborne, Crewkerne and Wincanton offices.

Whether pre-need or at-need, call A J Wakely & Sons Sherborne today to request a quote, engage their services or set a plan for the future.

What Families Say

AI Summary

Many families emphasise the professionalism and sensitivity shown by the team throughout the arrangement process and funeral day itself, describing how staff made what could have been overwhelming easier to navigate at an emotionally difficult time.

Several families highlight how willing the team were to listen carefully to their wishes and adapt arrangements to meet their specific needs and requirements, handling all the practical details and liaisons so that families could focus on their loss.

A number of reviews mention the approachability and availability of staff, noting that questions were answered promptly and that families felt supported and guided through each stage from the initial meeting onwards.

This summary is generated by AI from recent verified reviews.

Verified Reviews

Verified Reviews

  • 5 Claire Mason 29th Oct 2025

    Excellent in every aspect!

  • 5 Rita Barnes 8th Oct 2025

    Cannot thank A.J.Wakely and Sons enough for the perfect send off we had for my late mother Shirley. They went above and beyond to help, any questions were responded to quickly. Highly rate the service they provide and will be recommending to other people! Thank you x

  • 5 Katherine Potts 6th Oct 2025

    Excellent throughout. Everyone was supportive and helpful throughout what was a very sad time . 
    Thank you to all 

  • 5 Stefan Rooks 6th Oct 2025

    Beautifully Done 🕊🕊

  • 5 Linda McLaren 29th Aug 2025

    Excellent service from the Sherborne office at the most difficult time in our lives. Thank you

  • 5 Penny Wilson 28th Aug 2025

    Everyone from Wakely’s that I have contact with very helpful and respectful 
    Would highly recommend using them 

  • 5 Peter Robshaw 27th Aug 2025

    Matthew was very helpful and professional when it came to the details of the funeral. On the day he lead me through the whole process, for which I’m very grateful.

  • 5 Marcus Cliffe 2nd Aug 2025

    I would thoroughly recommend Wakely’s, they have handled the passings of my Grandparents, and most recently, my Mum. They’ve been attentive, sensitive, compassionate, understanding and extremely professional. 

    Thank you, Richard, and the team 🤝

  • 5 Tom Hayes 30th Jul 2025

    Professional, compassionate, fully understanding and able to adapt to the very difficult time. 

  • 5 Charlotte Pennycook 1st Jul 2025

    Thank you for supporting us to arrange a fitting tribute to our beloved Father. You were calm, professional, understanding and supportive. It is a big event for a family and you guided us through it all very sympathetically, without judgement and with advice and support as we needed. I would not hesitate to recommend. Thank you so much.

  • 5 Sylvia Riding 25th Jun 2025

    Everyone at Wakely’s has been helpful and understanding at every stage from the moment our mum died right through the funeral and beyond. 

  • 5 Wendy Rashid 10th Jun 2025

    Right from the first meeting at wakelys , we received nothing but respect , consideration and every attention to detail , while handling and organising my dear father’s funeral . 
    We gave him a beautiful send off thanks to wakelys& sons . Would highly recommend . 

  • 5 Roger Buckland 3rd Jun 2025

    We were very happy with every aspect and arrangements of our son Neil's funeral from the early planning to the final funeral day. Matthew discussed every detail in a compassionate professional caring way and Karen's helpful support from the Sherborne office certainly helped the funeral run smoothly with no regrets. We can certainly recommend Wakely's and would like to thank all their staff involved.

  • 5 Alison Hole 3rd Jun 2025

    Everyone involved were wonderful, kind and extremely helpful and respect full.  It was much appreciated and made easy at a difficult time.

  • 5 Allison Burns 2nd Jun 2025

    Everyone at wakely&sons  are absolutely superb . They go above and beyond to make your time of sorrow so much easier and less of a burden . Fully dedicated to managing your last farewell for a loved one . Myself and my family would highly recommend .

  • 5 Jonathan Pearcey 2nd Jun 2025

    I couldn’t rate AJ Wakely undertakers more highly. Having used the firm before they were our only choice. Richard was very professional and listened carefully to our requirements offering experienced advice along the way. All arrangements were impeccable. Thank you so much. 

  • 5 Allan Rodger 2nd Jun 2025

    Could not have been faulted.

  • 5 Sathya Caddick 2nd Jun 2025

    We returned to Wakely for our father’s funeral care as we had received an excellent service a few years ago when our mother passed away. 
    Their attention to detail, compassion and kindness all while being thoroughly professional was appreciated by all of the family. 
    The whole team at Wakely was excellent again. Thank you all. 

  • 5 Judy Hayter 2nd May 2025

    I cannot fault the excellent and professional service given by Wakeleys throughout making the arrangements to the day of the funeral. Very approachable and easy to deal with. Understood our requirements. Very professional on the day. A small funeral but all of the attendees commented on the thoughtful way everything was handled and as one said "an excellent choice of company ". Would highly recommend . Thank you to Wakeleys.

  • 5 Niall Hoskin 1st May 2025

    The team at Wakely's dealt with my mother's funeral arrangements in a professional and empathetic manner. They were efficient in liaising with clergy, florist and monumental mason, and self-effacing and respectful towards family and others attending. Richard Wakely was an exemplary point of contact

  • 4 Jane Davies 31st Mar 2025

    Well organised and sympathetic staff provided guidance and support throughout the process allowing us to ensure a suitable service for our mother.

  • 5 Margaret Bedding 31st Mar 2025

    A J Wakely and Sons provided an excellent service . I felt that they listened to all my requests and that they carried them through, with understanding, patience and kindness. I felt reassured throughout all the stages of the funeral arrangements,and as a family, we are extremely grateful for the service that all members of the staff provided .

  • 5 Sally Taylor 25th Mar 2025

    All the staff were kind, respectful and helpful. Each step before, during and after the service was fully explained and professionally carried out with care and friendliness. I cannot recommend them highly enough. 

  • 5 Nicholas Durkin 23rd Mar 2025

    Thank your team for all the care and kindness before, at, and following the funeral.

    All involved were wonderful and made what is a difficult time much easier for me and my daughters.

  • 5 Roy Rawles 15th Mar 2025

    Excellent service from the start. Explained and guided me through the whole process. Every step was carried out to my wishes and treated with great respect. Would highly recommend.

Address
16 Newland
Sherborne
Dorset
DT9 3JQ

Open map

Opening Hours

Day Hours
Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Professional Standards

  • NAFD Member

    Members agree to a published Code of Practice and can be held to account through the Association if something goes wrong.

    What they do

    • Inspects member premises to check standards are being met
    • Runs a complaints and resolution service for bereaved families
    • Provides funeral training and professional qualifications
  • SAIF Member

    Businesses are checked before they are admitted to SAIF and work to the Society’s Code of Practice.

    What they do

    • Inspects businesses before granting membership
    • Represents independent and family-owned funeral directors
    • Offers free, independent arbitration if something goes wrong

Latest Verified Reviews

Claire Mason 29th Oct 2025

Excellent in every aspect!

Rita Barnes 8th Oct 2025

Cannot thank A.J.Wakely and Sons enough for the perfect send off we had for my late mother Shirley. They went above and beyond to help, any questions were responded to quickly. Highly rate the service they provide and will be recommending to other people! Thank you x

Katherine Potts 6th Oct 2025

Excellent throughout. Everyone was supportive and helpful throughout what was a very sad time .  Thank you to all 

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