Ray Thornalley of Thornalley Funeral Services has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in recognition of his services to the bereaved and the wider community.
Born and raised in Clenchwarton, Ray began his career as a carpenter’s apprentice with local builder and undertaker F. Mee and Son in Tilney All Saints. In 1981, at the age of 24, he started his own funeral business in Clenchwarton. Two years later, he moved the business to St James Street in King’s Lynn, before the construction of a purpose-built funeral home on Austin Street in 2011.
Over the years, the family-run business expanded with the acquisition of Chapmans Funeral Services in Swaffham, the opening of a new funeral home in Dersingham, and the development of Breckland Crematorium which opened in 2019.
Throughout his working life, Ray has dedicated himself to supporting families through bereavement with dignity and compassion. He also helped facilitate a support group ‘Friends in Bereavement’ for many years, alongside a team of kind-hearted volunteers, offering vital support to those coping with the loss of a loved one.

Reacting to the honour, Ray said:
“When I was told my name had been put forward and that I was going to receive the British Empire Medal, I was shocked and very humbled. I’m truly grateful to those who nominated me – and, of course, overjoyed.”
Ray is proud of the success of the family business which has been achieved through hard work with the help of his wife Shirley and son Andrew, alongside their wonderful and dedicated team of staff.
Andrew and his wife Abi manage Thornalley Funeral Services whilst Ray and Shirley’s daughter Rachel, and her husband Nathan, manage Breckland Crematorium. A commitment to care and dedicated service to the bereaved lies at the heart of both businesses.