A. W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service

01/09/2025

✨ Celebrating 10 Years of Leadership ✨

This month marks 10 years since Matthew Lymn Rose became Managing Director of A.W. Lymn. This is a bittersweet anniversary as he first stepped into the role as acting Managing Director during 2014 when his father, Nigel, became unwell. In 2015, he officially took the role as the fifth generation of the Lymn family to lead the business founded by his great-great-grandfather.
Since joining full-time in 2005 after studying Business at Sheffield University, Matthew has worked in every department, qualifying as a Funeral Director, Embalmer and Memorial Mason. Today, he leads the company while remaining hands on with funerals.

In the past decade, Matthew has:
✅ Expanded the business with new funeral homes, M.A. Mills, Serene Pre-Paid Plans, the purchase of Hammerwich Crematorium and Cemetery and plans for a cemetery in Calverton
✅ Represented the profession as NAFD Midland Area President and Chairman of SIFH Europe
✅ Guided the company through Covid-19
✅ Appeared on Channel 4 and BBC1
✅ Won Next Generation Family Business Leader at the Midlands Family Business Awards
✅ Raised money for charity – even spending a day locked in jail, running a half marathon and abseiling down QMC!

Alongside his professional achievements, Matthew has also become a true family man with his marriage to Alanna and the birth of two gorgeous daughters.

Here is to the next chapter in the A.W. Lymn and Lymn Rose family story.

13/08/2025

🌿 Bagthorpe Gardens on BBC Gardeners’ World! 🌿

We are pleased to share that Bagthorpe Gardens, which includes our little plot off Hucknall Road, will be featured on BBC Gardeners’ World this Friday 15th August at 8.00pm on BBC Two 👉 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002h43k

Do not worry if you miss it — it will be repeated on Saturday 16th August at 9.05am and Thursday 21st August at 8.00am.

Our connection to this green space goes back to around 1947, when our family business purchased Geo. Musson Funeral Directors premises on Hucknall Road. The house came with the small funeral office, family residence, a garden and another small plot of land being one of the enclosures known collectively as Bagthorpe Gardens. A. W. Lymn's grandson Douglas lived in the house until the early 1970’s. It was then lived in by a few employees before being sold, but our family company kept the small allotment at the back.

For many years, we’ve let this allotment to the Loscie Gardens Trust for a peppercorn rent. The programme will showcase the collection of gardens as a whole, but we are proud to have our own little piece of history in the mix.

📺 We hope you can tune in and enjoy the feature!

Monty is cutting back in the Cottage Garden to make room for annuals.

13/08/2025

These last few weeks, we've been showcasing some members of our team who've joined us after retiring from previous trades.

But what about those who have been with us since apprentice level?

Jonathan Baker was our first ever apprentice back in 2001 - and he's still with us today. Now Senior Funeral Director for Mansfield, Jonathan came to us while studying for his A-Levels, and never looked back.

Colum O'Shea also started out as an apprentice. He's since had numerous roles in the company, including being a Funeral Arranger, before becoming a Civil Celebrant. He was also one of the youngest examiners to serve on the board of the National Association of Funeral Directors.

And of course, one of our current apprentices Elle Walker, who is undergoing her four-year training programme. With a passion for the profession and a keen willingness to learn, Elle is committed to developing her skills and providing compassionate support to the families we serve.

Our staff have come from a wide range of backgrounds, but they are united by their diligence, compassion and commitment to their roles, and we are proud of them all.

12/08/2025

Our Nottingham-based usher Neill Buckley joined us some five years after retirement - but why join a funeral directors?

"I now need to occupy my time a little more usefully," Neill explains.

"I came to Nottingham in 1972 and attended Clifton Teacher Training
College. Not my best decision and I ended up taking a temporary job with the Civil Service that ended 22 years later. They however gave me the opportunity to use my teaching certificate when computers were given to the startled typists in the 1980s.

"Finally, a proper teaching job as a lecturer in IT at Nottingham College. It was time to go when students knew more than I did."

Neill now works with us as an usher, a very different role to that of his previous career.

"I hope I can represent A.W. Lymn by upholding the reputation of the company," says Neill.

We're very grateful for your efforts, Neill ✨

11/08/2025

Usher Jane Turner joined us at our Long Eaton funeral home after having retired from her previous role as a social worker, which she had held for over 30 years.

"I wasn't actively looking for a return to employment", Jane explains, "but I did find the lack of a routine difficult to adjust to in the first few months. Coming to A.W. Lymn gave me a new focus and a sense of purpose.

"My sister was a Funeral Director at A.W. Lymn and through her, Jackie Lymn Rose asked if I would be interested in becoming an Usher. I was - and I'm still doing the job 14 years later.

"I like the teamwork that goes into preparing and delivering a funeral service and how all the roles of arrangers, funeral directors, driver/bearers (and me) come together to provide a caring, supportive experience for families.

"I particularly enjoy welcoming people, giving out service sheets and helping to put them at ease if they are uncertain about what to do or how things happen."

Jane frequently goes above and beyond for A.W. Lymn, not least when our Long Eaton Funeral Director Louise Bramman had broken her leg - Jane came in to the funeral home every morning to help in the office, cleaning and making frequent cups of tea. Thank you for all you do, Jane ✨

07/08/2025

Cheryl O'Neill now works for A.W. Lymn as an usher, but her previous profession was something very different indeed - selling rock 'n roll clothing.

Before joining A.W. Lymn, Cheryl ran a business with her husband and son for over 40 years. The company specialised in tailor made rock 'n roll clothing, such as drape jackets and cowboy boots. "We made drapes for Showaddywaddy," Cheryl explains. "We'd go to all the rock 'n roll festivals and meet ups."

Devastatingly, Cheryl retired from the business after her husband died and her son was tragically killed.

So how did she come to work at A.W. Lymn?

"A friend suffered a loss," Cheryl says, "and I wanted to help out. So I came on board to help and then never looked back."

Now, Cheryl attends multiple funerals a week in her role as an usher, a role that she thrives in.

"I'm a real people person," she says, "I love talking to people and making them feel at ease."

We think it's fair to say that Cheryl does a fantastic job at that - thank you for all that you do, Cheryl.

06/08/2025

When our Arnold Funeral Arranger, Jessica Raynor, was asked by professional artist Elliott if he could paint his grandmother’s coffin, there was no hesitation to fulfil his request.

She contacted General Manager at A W Lymn The Craftsmen in Stone, Ryan, and his team, who were quickly on hand to offer a quiet space in the stone store where Elliott could paint in privacy, with the A.W. Lymn team available to support when needed

The final result was a beautiful creation of designs, adding a personal and meaningful touch to the coffin.

We’d like to thank Jess for making these arrangements, as well as Ryan and the masons for creating such a supportive and friendly environment.

You can see more of Elliott's designs on his Instagram

05/08/2025

We are now on TikTok!

We are pleased to continue evolving whilst staying true to our traditions.

.w.lymn 2 Followers, 0 Following, 2 Likes - Watch awesome short videos created by AWLymn

05/08/2025

Bottesford-based Funeral Arranger Andy McFeeters joined us last year after retiring from a previous role in a very different world - as a tennis coach 🎾

"I was involved in tennis for most of my working life," Andy explains. "I was a Development Officer for the Lawn Tennis Association for 18 years developing programmes and facilities in partnership with clubs, schools and local authorities across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

"I retired from the world of tennis but always knew I wanted to do something different. I wasn’t ready to fully retire from either a financial or personal point of view."

Sadly, Andy had three close family bereavements in a short space of time and became all too familiar with the role of the Funeral Arranger.

"It was a role that I could relate to and felt that I may have something to offer."

Andy got in touch with us at A.W. Lymn, and following the completion of a 16-week training course, he became a Funeral Arranger with us at the then-newly opened Bottesford branch.

"I have met some fantastic people who have always been happy to share their knowledge and experience. Whilst I work on my own at the Bottesford branch, I still feel very much part of the wider team.

"At a local level I have been warmly welcomed by the community in Bottesford and feel privileged to be able to help people at what can be the most difficult time of their lives."

04/08/2025

Just how do former tennis coaches and cowboy boot sellers end up in the funeral profession years after retirement?

At A.W. Lymn, we're proud to welcome team members from a broad range of backgrounds - and this includes many who have previously retired from very different careers.

Stay tuned throughout August as we take you through some of our team's fascinating backstories, from civil servants to IT lecturers.

If this has inspired you or made you wonder whether a similar move could be right for you, head to the link in the comments below ⬇️

01/08/2025

Well done Greg

A Milestone Moment for Greg!

Today, Greg conducted his very first funeral as a fully qualified Funeral Director.

Greg’s journey has been anything but ordinary: from teacher, to owner of a pet party business, to funeral arranger, and now a diploma-qualified Funeral Director.

Please join us in congratulating Greg on this fantastic achievement.

Well done, Greg! 👏

31/07/2025

🚗 We were delighted to lend 1 UJ to Mat Watson from carwow so he could put it head-to-head with the Škoda Superb Laurin & Klement.

Two very different cars… yet similarly priced. So how did they stack up? Was luxury and tradition a match for modern tech and practicality?

👉 Read the full article here: https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/9315/rolls-royce-phantom-vs-skoda-superb-mat-watson
🎥 Or watch the full YouTube review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=nT8a-Pz4IGY

Let us know which one you’d choose in the comments 👇

Change your car with Carwow: https://bit.ly/Change-Your-Car-28-07Which offers the best value for money - a £50,000 top-of-the-range Skoda Superb, or a £50,00...