IDENTICAL twins Emma Stevens and Victoria Smith launched their own small business that is real example of a Love Local. One that is at the heart of the community.
The pair have started the headstone cleaning and grave care called The Graveside Sisters.
They offer a personal and respectful service in and around the Southampton area. The services include deep headstone cleaning, re-lettering, grave refurbishment and general grave up keep.
Victoria said: "We were walking in a local cemetery last year and we noticed a lot of the graves, although not very old, were dirty or had no flowers, which saddened us. "We came to the conclusion that either the family no longer lived in the area or in some cases due to disability or illness were unable to care for the graves.
"As a result we decided to start a grave cleaning business.
"We've been amazed by the response, people are often surprised because we are women.
"Many of our clients who are unable to maintain their loved ones graves very are grateful for our services.
"We clean the headstones and can even take flowers and tidy on a regular basis."
- Read more: These are some of the firms still offering servies across Southampton
- Love Local Business: City of Culture bid comes at a crucial time
- Love Local Business: City's independents will be key, says BID chief
Emma added: "We will begin restoring lettering when the weather warms up. We always leave fresh flowers on every grave we tend even if, as sometimes happens, the wild deer eat the flower heads.
"There are always robins supervising us.
"We both find the job emotionally rewarding and it's so nice to hear how happy we've made the families when they see the results of our work."
For more information, email vicky.jane.smith@gmail.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here