AN EX Wirral salesman changed his career path to an unexpected role after he lost his job.

Mark Russel, 51, from Bromborough spent 20 years in sales before opening a driving school of his own.

In 2012, after a difficult winter that had brought all activity at the driving school to a halt, Mark was left looking for a secondary job to help support his family.

In a bid to supplement his income, Mark began work as a part-time driver with his local Co-op funeral care while balancing full-time roles in a local pub and at his driving school.

However, while on holiday in Spain Mark experienced a health scare which set in stone his decision for a new career change.

Mark told the Globe: “I had a moment of realisation about what truly matters when I returned from a holiday to Spain in 2015.

Wirral Globe: Mark Russel, 51, from Bromborough spent 20 years in sales before being a funeral driverMark Russel, 51, from Bromborough spent 20 years in sales before being a funeral driver

“I’d been bitten by a poisonous insect and was very ill for quite a while, which offered me the opportunity to reflect on the pace my life was running at during that time.

“In sickness, it became clear that only the Co-op truly cared about me as a person and were looking after me in my recovery despite only being on a 0-hours contract.”

Coming out of the hospital, Mark decided to put a stop to his old chaotic career and dedicate his time on a full-time basis to Co-op Funeralcare, applying for a role as a funeral service operative in 2015.

In 2019, Mark was offered the role of funeral service crew with the co-op North Wales mortuary working as part of the private ambulance team to collect the deceased and prepare the coffins for their send-off services.

Wirral Globe: Mark RusselMark Russel

Mark said: “I get such huge satisfaction from looking after families during their darkest times.

“We look after the families coming to us for help as if they were our own. We are trained to put a lot of care and consideration into every detail of our job, from collecting the deceased from the hospital or home, to making sure the funeral service team are fully supported in looking after the bereaved family with the greatest level of professionalism.

 

“It’s the type of career you get into if you truly care about your community.”