About Us

The foundation of our family company was laid in June 1888 by Mr George White in Wood Street, Walthamstow, opposite our current funeral home at number 99. His mission was to care for the local community with Dignity, Compassion and Respect.

Over the years, the business expanded, and a second branch was opened in Hoe Street, Walthamstow in March 1908, which also became the White family home and head office.

Building on the growing reputation of his father, Bert Harold White took over the business in 1923. He was the first of the family to be admitted a member of The London Association of Funeral Directors in February 1944 followed by his son Harold (pictured), being admitted in 1947.

Harold White subsequently took over the business from his father Bert in 1958 on his return from serving alongside Montgomery and other Military campaigns and Humanitarian Aid after the war’s end.

In 1979, Harold White passed the family business onto his son, George Harold White who alongside his Mum, Rosina White, continued the traditional service, family values and supporting the community.

Over the past 32 years, Gary Richards Clugston, who started out as a young apprentice progressing to Lead Funeral Director at the age of 22 years, was appointed our Executive Director in March 2017 and to this day, Gary continues to follow on the traditions set out and valued by the White family.

Harold White Funeral Directors were the largest traditional Horsedrawn funeral home in East London with some 40 horses and carriages to convey families to and from cemeteries and churches, stabling them in Walthamstow Village.

The horses were grazed on the Chestnuts field located behind the Waltham Forest Town Hall, and the Founder Mr George White, gave the borough a recreational Park named after him in Billet Road, Walthamstow.

The company went on to own an impressive fleet of Rolls Royce hearses and limousines before changing to a more environmentally friendly Mercedes fleet used today, whilst still offering the traditional Horsedrawn service which Harold White Funeral Directors is renowned for.