Notts funeral firm celebrates its sister act

A Nottinghamshire funeral directors raised a toast to family values when its newest and youngest recruit celebrated her first year with the firm after following in her sister’s footsteps.

Gillotts Funeral Directors has praised 22-year-old Danni Allen after she joined the company as receptionist and funeral arranger at its funeral home in Nottingham Road, Selston, in March last year.

Danni’s older sister, Amanda Outram, fulfils a similar role at Gillotts’ premises in Abbott Street, Heanor, and is also celebrating a work anniversary, having joined the firm exactly a year before her sister, in March 2015.

Danni says that although she has always wanted to work in the funeral profession, her sister’s experience of working in Heanor was instrumental in her applying to work at Gillotts too.

She said: “I thought that I would probably be too young to be considered for this position but after Amanda told me what the job involved it made me more interested in working in funeral service, and more confident about my ability.

“I’m very grateful to have been given this opportunity to work in this role, and I have really enjoyed my first year. I have gained valuable experience in how to help people at such a difficult time, especially when they need support when dealing with the loss of someone close to them.”

Danni and Amanda are not the only two sisters in the business – funeral director Joanne Hutsby and her sister Alison work together at the company’s Eastwood funeral home.

Partner and funeral director Anthony Topley, who works closely with both Amanda and Danni, added: “We have a number of landmark anniversaries among our staff this year but Amanda and Danni’s anniversaries are notable because as sisters they reflect our company’s family values.

“Danni has shown herself to be very capable and has been a key part of the success at Selston, just as Amanda has at our Heanor funeral home.”

Gillotts Funeral Directors operates premises in Eastwood, Kimberley and Stapleford as well as Heanor and Selston. For more information visit www.gillotts.co.uk.