Eastwood and Kimberley funeral firm bought by AW Lymn in major purchase
Award-winning East Midlands funeral directors AW Lymn has announced its biggest acquisition in more than 20 years by purchasing Gillotts Funeral Directors.
This officially now makes AW Lymn, which has operated across Nottinghamshire for almost 120 years, the largest independent funeral business in the UK, having also recently purchased GD Hall Funeral Directors in north Nottinghamshire, Serene Funeral Planning, Staffordshire’s Hammerwich Cemetery and Crematorium and Radcliffe-on-Trent’s MA Mills.
The deal will bring Gillotts' five funeral homes in Eastwood, Kimberley, Stapleford, Heanor and Selston into the AW Lymn group, while maintaining Gillotts’ strong independent presence, brand and identity in the communities it serves.
The deal has come about as Gillots owners Barry and Elaine Hutsby prepare for retirement.
Matthew Lymn Rose, managing director of AW Lymn, said: “Our family has always enjoyed a strong relationship with Gillotts, formed on mutual respect and admiration.
My father, AW Lymn company chairman, Nigel Lymn Rose and partner at Gillotts’ Barry Hutsby have both served as presidents of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD)
"As two East Midlands family businesses in the funeral industry, we have seen how our values, ethos and approach seamlessly and enduringly align.
“We are honoured to have been entrusted with the next chapter of their business.”
Gillotts has operated in the East Midlands for more than 150 years as a family business, and under the leadership of Barry and Elaine, has provided a complete funeral service since 1973.
Since 2001, Joanne Hutsby, Barry and Elaine’s oldest daughter, together with Anthony Topley who joined his father-in-law Jack Gillott at the business in 1986, have managed the day-to-day operations.
All Gillotts staff will remain part of the business.
Anthony said: “This new chapter in the history of Gillotts gives us an opportunity to bring together generations of family history and service to families from both businesses.
“Our two businesses have always respected each other and have much in common, and Joanne and I are excited to work closely with Matthew and his team to make sure that the service we provide remains second to none.
"We expect very little to change for our clients and staff except where we can work together to do things better and more efficiently, allowing the Gillotts team more time to dedicate to caring for the needs of our client families.”