Nigel Lymn Rose, A.W. Lymn chairman, bestowed with ‘accolade of a lifetime’ in New Year’s Honour recognition

Nigel Lymn Rose, Company Chairman of A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service and fourth generation of the family business, which was established in 1907, has dedicated more than 50 years of his life to the bereaved in Nottinghamshire and South Derbyshire. He has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to the bereaved.

For more than half a century, Nigel has been at the forefront of the funeral sector, setting the standard for other funeral businesses with his forthright commitment to doing all that he can for the bereaved people in his business’s care. A former National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) President during the association’s centenary year (2005), winner of the Good Funeral Awards Lifetime Achievement award in 2015 and having been awarded the distinction of Honorary Membership of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) in 2019 – only the 30th individual to receive the honour in the association’s 116-year history – Nigel has continued to dedicate his time to his family business despite now being of retirement age.

Speaking of his inclusion in this year’s Honours list, Nigel said: “It was the most wonderful surprise to receive the letter and for a good while I simply could not believe it. My first thought was ‘why me?’ followed by how grateful I am and have been throughout my entire career for the support of my wonderful wife Penny and then how much I wished my father was here to tell because I know he would be so proud.

“It really is the accolade of a lifetime and one which I feel I am in receipt of on behalf of all of the dedicated, selfless and caring colleagues I’ve worked alongside at A.W. Lymn over the years. I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude and respect for each and every person who gives their career to serving the bereaved, because at a time of loss people are at their most vulnerable. What we do is offer kind, calm and considered words and practical services to help on the worst of days and to be recognised in this way for doing what I feel has been my life’s calling is truly humbling.”

Nigel always knew he wanted to give his life’s work to the funeral profession, having grown up surrounded by the care and dedication synonymous with his family’s business. Nigel qualified as an embalmer whilst still at Nottingham High School, at the young age of 17, after studying at the Midlands School of Embalming. He swiftly obtained his Diploma in Funeral Directing in December 1973. Nigel attended Warwick University, studying Management Science and was awarded his BSc in 1976. He was then articled with Deloitte Haskins and Sells Chartered Accountants, leaving to join the family business in 1979.

In 2007 A.W. Lymn celebrated its centenary year with Nigel at the helm. The business, which today has grown to operate 25 branches across Nottinghamshire and South Derbyshire, announced the formation of A.W. Lymn The Centenary Foundation, a charitable foundation established to support local individuals, causes and communities. Nigel has also spearheaded the use of Gift Aid across the business, to support local causes raising money for vital services. Amongst other causes, the business has helped to channel almost £400,000 to Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) Charity since 2018.

Speaking of his father’s contribution to the funeral sector, Managing Director and fifth generation Matthew Lymn Rose said: “Nigel has been instrumental in the growth of the business and lives and breathes his work, to the extent that he never ‘switches off’ from helping those in need. He still carries out funerals upon specific requests from clients whose families he has served for generations. One specific example of Nigel’s drive to always help others is when he gave an entire day of his holiday abroad to support a complete stranger in arranging the repatriation of her husband who tragically died suddenly while away.

“It is an honour to follow my father’s example of how to lead with dignity and compassion and to take guidance from him at times of challenge and also of success. I will always strive to mirror his ethos of ‘It will do, will not do’ which is often quoted at A.W. Lymn as Nigel’s raison d’etre and the founding principle of all his work, be it with families, staff, industry bodies or policy makers. We are incredibly proud of him being awarded an MBE and we couldn’t think of a more deserving person for this honour.”

For almost two decades, Nigel was the principal advocate for the NAFD in all things legislative. He’s given evidence to Select Committees, steered through projects (e.g. Cremation Certification Reform and Death Certification Reform Scotland) and been instrumental in headline news events, such as being a key witness in the Shipman Enquiry in 2002, in which he shared insight on the current death certification process in the UK. He has also been deeply involved in milestone changes and projects such as the Social Fund Funeral Expenses payment.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Nigel worked tirelessly and was always available to ensure families still received the service and care they deserved while grieving, to the best of the family business’s abilities. Alongside and constantly supported by his daughter Chloe Lymn Rose, Director and Company Secretary, Nigel ensured the business not only complied with safety guidelines in battling the virus but supported the national effort to fight it too.

A.W. Lymn was one of the first funeral directors in the country to take part in the national data-collection pilot scheme for Public Health England, designed to assess Covid-19 deaths in the community by determining the presence of the virus in the deceased. Nigel headed up this work with Chloe and his sister, Jackie Lymn Rose.

Nigel was instrumental in the formation of the All Party Parliamentary Funeral and Bereavement Group at Westminster and an industry representative of the Cross Party Parliamentary Funeral and Bereavement Groups in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from their inception as well as a member of the MoJ’s Burial and Cremation Advisory Group.

A.W. Lymn was established in Nottingham in 1907 and has grown to become one of the UK’s largest independent funeral directors, operating 25 branches across the region. Having recently acquired M.A. Mills and expanded into Leicestershire, it continues to grow its reach and network of talented funeral directors supporting the bereaved.