Derbyshire hearse driver retires after 18 years working for family-run funeral service

A Derbyshire hearse driver is retiring after 18 years working for a family-run funeral service.
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A.W. Lymn are celebrating the retirement of Ian Witham, who was based at Bennerley House in Cotmanhay and first began working for the South Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire funeral firm nearly 20 years ago.

His funeral career started at Ilkeston Co-op Funeral Care in 1998, but he joined A.W. Lymn in 2003 when the business purchased the Ilkeston Co-op funeral group taking over six sites in the largest acquisition completed by the Lymn Rose family.

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The family-run funeral service that has 27 funeral homes across the East Midlands has cared for the bereaved in the region for over 100 years.

Ian Witham has retired after 18 years of service as a hearse driver with A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service.Ian Witham has retired after 18 years of service as a hearse driver with A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service.
Ian Witham has retired after 18 years of service as a hearse driver with A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service.

Ian previously managed pubs and worked as a taxi driver before entering the funeral industry.

Aside from doing ‘as little as possible’, the hearse drivers hopes to spend his retirement going on day trips with his wife Fran and plans to continue his work as a casual driver bearer a few days a week.

Nigel Lymn Rose, company chairman of A.W. Lymn, said: “We wish Ian all the best in his retirement.

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"We are very grateful for his service over the years as he has been a crucial member of the A.W. Lymn team, providing a quality service for our clients.

“It’s always a pleasure to have colleagues work for the company for a long time, adding to the heritage and continuity of our family business.

"They play a vital role in building connections with the families we work with over the years, and it’s always good to be able to rely on a friendly local face that people can recognise.”

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