Family-run independent funeral directors T Cribb and Sons have served families throughout London and Essex for almost 145 years. With expertise gained through five generations, the Cribb family have earned an enviable reputation for high standards and outstanding service.
Founded in 1881 by Thomas Cribb in London’s East End, where the firm still has premises, the fourth and fifth generations of the family continue to run the business to this day. Great-grandsons Graham and John, John’s daughters Catherine, Sarah, and Nichola, and Graham’s sons, Jack and Joe, continue the high standards and values set down by the founder.
T Cribb and Sons recently took delivery of another brand new Vito from Superior UK Automotive Ltd, adding to the existing fleet of Mercedes-Benz removal vehicles supplied by Superior over the past 20 years.
Fifth generation, Jack Harris explains why the Superior Vito has been the firm’s preferred choice for decades, and how Superior Vitos are the hardest-working vehicles in the company’s fleet.
Jack commented, ‘With 20 busy branches across London and Essex, we rely heavily on our eight Superior Vitos currently in use for collections and funeral support. We also do a lot of repatriation work and have premises in Ghana, so we are constantly back and forth from Heathrow Airport. Long-distance removals is a massive part of our work all over the UK, from Scotland to Somerset. We have 180,000 miles on some of our Vitos, and they are still going strong—they are luxury items but true workhorses.’
He added, ‘We run Mercedes because we know they can be easily dealt with if we have any problems. Yes, the initial cost appears expensive, but you get what you pay for. The Vito and the Superior ‘Rise&Fall’ deck inside are built to last, representing good value for money for our business.’
T Cribb and Sons uses Superior Vitos for direct cremations when a family opts not to use a hearse and as support at funerals, carrying trestle tables and flowers etc. Presentation is paramount, as a family member may view the interior.
Jack commented, ‘They have that professional MPV-style luxury exterior presence you would expect from a Mercedes; when we open up the tailgate, the interior is also incredibly professional and beautifully presented, every aspect of the functionality being well thought out and useful. The team at Superior are lovely people to work with and as with the vehicles they supply, they never let us down.’
Superior MD Kevin Smith added, ‘We are incredibly proud to have worked with the Cribb family all these years. The Smith/Cribb family connection goes back to my father Peter Smith’s childhood and East London, where he attended school with Graham and John Cribb. I hope we continue our relationship for many years to come.’