Over the past nine decades, Walter H. Squires & Son has built an enviable reputation as one of Devon’s most popular and respected Funeral Directors. Founded in Tiverton in 1933, the family-run independent with four busy branches is now run by 3rd-generation Ryan P. Squires and his wife Melanie.
The firm has run a fleet of Mercedes-Benz funeral vehicles supplied by Superior UK Automotive Ltd for the last 20 years. One of these vehicles is a 2006 reg Superior Vito removal vehicle, which now has an astounding 300k miles on the clock and is still working hard for the business.
Ryan P. Squires explains how their beloved Vito, fondly referred to by staff as ‘C8’, has become an integral part of their company, and how the firm’s relationship with Superior UK, their ‘go-to’ fleet supplier, began.
Ryan commented, ‘Back in the early 2000s, we were looking through one of the journals and admired the shape and style of the new E-Class Binz Mercedes vehicles, which were new to the UK at the time. Superior was under the company name ‘Binz UK’ back then, and the company was run by Peter Smith, father of Superior UK’s current Managing Director, Kevin Smith.’
He added, ‘We got in touch and were impressed with both the vehicles and the family-run ethos/personal service Superior was providing. We made the switch, ended up with a full fleet of their vehicles, and never looked back.’
In 2006, the Smith family began building bespoke Mercedes Vito removal vehicles; they designed and engineered their market-leading ‘Rise&Fall’ deck, which was new to the industry, and Kevin took the demo vehicle down to Ryan at W. H. Squires in Devon.
Ryan commented, ‘We loved it, we had been hesitant about the move from estate cars to a Vito removal vehicle, but the covert MPV style exterior was sleek and professional, and the deck was so well designed and functional we had to put in an order.’
Ryan and Melanie soon took delivery of the third Superior Vito ever built. They requested a walnut deck to achieve a more hearse-like appearance so that families could experience the most dignified and reassuring first call possible.
Ryan commented, ‘It was delivered, we gave it our personal plate ‘C8 WHS’, and it has been ‘bomb-proof’ ever since. Of course, we have had small bits of work done over the years, but our trusty ‘C8′ has never let us down. With almost 20 years in service, 300k miles on the clock, and a few signs of wear and tear, it still works perfectly.’
He added, ‘Our ‘C8′ Superior Vito is an invaluable workhorse, we would be lost without it, and we can’t see it retiring any time soon.’