Midhurst funeral arranger nominated for an ex-forces award

Tracie Sharp, funeral arranger at Co-op Funeralcare in Midhurst, has been selected as a finalist in the Outstanding Achiever of the Year category, which recognises outstanding business achievements in the last 18 months from individuals who previously served in the forces.

Tracie said: “I am not sure who nominated me, but I think whoever it was, did so because they know I can turn my hand to any job, which is why I’ve led such an exciting and turbulent life with many different careers.”

Between 1988 to 1995 Tracie worked as a data telegraphist for the Royal Corps of Signals in the army.

She spent most of her time in Germany but also served in the first Gulf War and Bosnia conflicts.

Tracie said: “Following my seven years in the army, I went on to work in the hospitality industry for 25 years, starting from the bottom in the sales ladder and working my way to the top.

“I also worked as a fishmonger and more recently even owned my own gin business.“

However, Tracie’s non-stop work life ground to halt when she was made redundant from her role as European head of sales.

Adamant she could not sit around and do nothing, Tracie was on the hunt for a new job and ‘jumped at the chance’ of a temporary contract at Co-op Funeralcare in Hampshire.

She said: “It didn’t take me long to realise that this was the industry where I wanted to be.”

Six months into her ‘temporary’ role, Tracie did a short stint as a mobile funeral arranger before finally being stationed as the new funeral arranger at Co-op Funeralcare Midhurst in December 2020.

Tracie said: “To work in this industry, you’ve really got to be a good listener and be sympathetic.

“But at the same time, the work itself is quite regimented, so all my prior career experience has really lent a hand to this new role and its demands.

“I’m so excited to see where this new role takes me. I’ve achieved some fantastic things throughout my different careers, and I don’t think this one will be different.

“I’ve got big plans to ramp up the community efforts in our local area to make Midhurst more community-oriented, so

“I’m eager to see how we at Co-op Funeralcare can facilitate this.”

The Ex-Forces in Business Awards are the world’s leading celebration of military veterans in second careers.

This year’s awards are set to take place at The Grosvenor Hotel in London this May, where Tracie will be judged against nine other finalists in her category.