A WOMAN has achieved her childhood dream of becoming a funeral director - after a family tragedy when she was 12 left her wanting to help others.

After witnessing the compassionate way her uncle’s funeral was organised when she was a child, Becky Taylor, from Bedale, set her sights on joining the trade so she too could “look after families” during tragic times.

Now she has completed her BTec Diploma in funeral directing and been promoted to the role of funeral director at HW Carter inc Harbottles in Stokesley.

She said: “When my uncle died when I was 12, I was curious as to what happened from the day he died to the day of his funeral.

“I remember waiting at his home for the hearse to arrive. The tension seemed to subside once the funeral director arrived and I remember how caring he was with my family.

“From that day I decided I wanted to be able to look after families like he did. It became my ambition, so when the opportunity arose for work experience when I was 15, I asked the teacher if I could go to a funeral home.

“She wasn’t very optimistic but I managed to secure a place with Wilson Willoughby and Wetherills.

“I knew this was the job for me.”

Becky returned to the Northallerton funeral firm Wilson, Willoughby and Wetherills at the age of 18, for her first job as an administrator, and in 2009 moved to the Stokesley firm where she is now a funeral director.

She said: “Gaining this qualification has meant more to me than I could imagine.

“I have achieved a lifelong goal at the age of 23".