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History
The Belgroves Story:
 Mary Belgrove was born into slavery on Christmas
Day in 1827. In 1867 she moved from Barbados to San Fernando,
Trinidad. At the corner of St. James and Victoria Streets she
settled with her young sons where it is rumoured that she traded as
a funeral agent. However this claim has not been substantiated.
Her son Joseph traded as a wheelwright, cabinet
maker and operated a haberdashery store as well as a funeral agency.
He hung out his shingles on August 15th, 1888 at 86 Coffee Street,
San Fernando. Joseph Belgrove was listed in the Collins’ Year Book
of 1904 as a prominent San Fernando funeral agent. After his death
his son Vondyke Belgrove assumed the mantle of leadership.
In Vondyke’s era the success achieved by his father
waned but he continued to persevere until his sons Eric, Roy and
Lionel joined him in the funeral business; Roy opened another branch
on New Street near the original hospital, Eric moved to Tunapuna
near the railway station depot, while Lionel stayed with his father.
During the 1940’s Eric closed his branch and migrated to New York,
and Roy sold his business and followed Eric soon after. Lionel
persisted through his father’s death in 1952.
A new period of
growth in the funeral agency business
was about to begin. Lionel eventually
closed the haberdashery, wheelwright and
cabinet-making businesses started by his
grandfather Joseph Belgrove in circa
1945, concentrating primarily on the
funeral agency. The agency named,
‘Lionel Belgrove Funeral Agency’ was
located at 94 Coffee Street, San
Fernando until 1956 when it was moved to
our present location. This strategy was
responsible for the growth of Lionel’s
business. Lionel Belgrove Funeral Agency
gained market share steadily and became
known as a “grass roots” organization.
Lionel was a perfectionist and he
carefully remodeled the business from
1956 to 1965. By 1972 Lionel traded
under the name ‘Belgroves Funeral Home
Company Ltd.’; ably supported by his
brother Sydney and his sons Carlyle and
Edmund.
Lionel retired in 1974 successfully
passing the baton to his son Keith who
was by this time a qualified funeral
director and embalmer.
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The Belgroves Story:
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Mission Statement
To transform the Belgroves Group of
Companies into a world class, customer driven, funeral solutions
provider, distinguished by a dynamic team of professionals,
continually setting standards for the industry.
Core Values
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Holistic |
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A
whole system view of living and dying. |
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Excellence: |
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Not
as an accomplishment, but as a spirit that dominates the life
and soul of every Belgroves employee. |
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Integrity: |
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Ethical and honest behaviour at all times. A profound respect
for the rights and dignity of each and every individual, in life
as well as in death. |
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Performance: |
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High productivity, value for money and competitiveness. A bold
pursuance of methods to improve our product and service
offerings so as to add value to the Belgroves Group of
Companies and our valued customers. |
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Measurement: |
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Each day, in every way, holding every Belgroves employee
accountable to our Vision, Mission, Core values and Service
Pledge. |
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Unity: |
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A
oneness, whereby we don't work for Belgroves, we are
Belgroves. |
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Legacy: |
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A
sense of history, tradition, responsibility and contribution to
te funeral industry, that has been passed on and built on, from
generation to generation. |
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Purpose: |
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A
definition of our aims, in terms of our sense of contribution to
a higher purpose. The communication of our valued purpose, the
connection between our very being and our work, and the benefit
from the energies released. |
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Qualifications/Affiliations
- U.S. Qualified Funeral Directors
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- International Federation of Crematorium Association
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- National Funeral Directors Association
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- Qualified Bereavement Counselors
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- Cemetery Management Association
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International Awards
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National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) of USA for excellence in Funeral Service in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998.
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Specially recognized by NFDA of USA for excellence in Funeral Service in 1999.
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Awarded the Eagle award for excellence in Funeral Service by National Funeral Directors Associations of USA in 2002.
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Coffee Boys and Girls Association of New York for outstanding contributions to the development of Coffee Street, San Fernando in 2004.
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Business Initiatives Directions (BID) of London awarded the International Quality Crown Award in 2004.
Local Awards
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By National Funeral Directors of Trinidad and Tobago for contribution over the years - 1993.
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By St. Clements Parish, Order of St. Clements for Philanthropic efforts - 1996.
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By San Fernando City Council for
Enterpreneurship – 1998.
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By National Joint Action Committee for contributions to the Afro-Trinidad community - 2003
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