The Good Funeral Awards names 2017’s winners

Sometimes called 'The Death Oscars', the Good Funeral Awards celebrate the hard work and compassion of the people within the funeral sector. In 2017, the annual event took place on 7 September at Porchester Hall in London. Judges make their section based on nominations from members of the public and people working within the profession. Winners receive a statue of Anubis - the Egyptian god of embalming - presented in a miniature cardboard coffin. Nigel Lymn Rose, of AW Lymn The Family Funeral Service, was delighted to have received an award in 2017. He commented: "The whole Lymn Rose family is immensely proud of its family firm and was honoured when it received the nomination, particularly as it was for the “Best Traditional Funeral Director”. The family was also delighted that two of its employees, being Louise Cook from its Long Eaton office and Dominic Lister from its Bingham office, received individual nominations. We believe these came quite independently from a minister of religion and a client that they had served. "We did sit awaiting the announcement of the final result with some trepidation as all three nominations were for the same award. We were however delighted when our company, A W Lymn The Family Funeral Service, coupled with its employees Louise and Dominic, was announced as winner of the national award. Although Louise and Dominic were specially mentioned we could not have achieved this without the support and dedication of each and every member of staff, who as Matthew, my son and managing director, often says, go the extra mile on a daily basis. "I would like to thank A.R. Adams Funeral Service for its sponsorship of the award, and Brian Jenner and Fran Hall of the Good Funeral Guide for arranging the ceremony." The complete list of winners is as follows: Most Significant Contribution to the Understanding of Death Joint Winners: Liz Rothschild and Lucy Coulbert Runner Up: Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief – It Takes a Village. Supplementary Award for Innovation J.C. Atkinson for the Pathway coffin Best Death Related Public Engagement Event Winners: Life, Death, Whatever and BrumYODO Runner up: Home Funeral Network (Funerals to Die For) Most Helpful Funeral Advice Website Winner: Nelson’s Journey Youth Panel’s Smartphone APP Runner up: Veterans Bereavement Support Services Doula of the Year Winner: Felicity Warner Runners Up: Lizzie Neville, Nett Furley, Jane Henderson & Anna Lyons Anatomical Pathology Technician of the Year Winner: Dr. Wendy Birch Runner Up: Lara-Rose Iredale Care of the Deceased Award Winner: Cara Mair and the team at ARKA Original Funerals Runner Up: Kirsty Sailes Coffin Supplier of the Year Winner: Ecoffins Runner Up: Earth to Heaven Funeral Florist of the Year Winner: Rebecca Sharp of Dazzle Me Daisy Do Runner Up: Rosie Orr, of Flowers by Rosie Orr Minister of the Year Winner: Fr. Christyan James Runners Up: The Right Revd. Charles Muglestone & Emma Curtis Celebrant of the Year Winner: Justine Wykerd Runners Up: Kathryn Sansom, Stuart Preston & Wendy Coulton Highly Commended: Terri Shanks Gravedigger of the Year Winner: Martin House of Eden Valley Woodland Burial Ground Runner Up: Julie Hillman of The Eternal Forest Best Burial Ground in the UK Winner: Heatherley Wood, Greenacres Runner Up: Eden Valley Woodland Burial Ground Best Crematorium in the UK Winner: South Oxfordshire Crematorium and Memorial Park Runners Up: Kettering Crematorium, Mortlake Crematorium and Seven Hills Crematorium Crematorium Attendant of the Year Winner: Richard Hooker at Mortlake Crematorium Runners Up: Paul Jansen at Golders Green Crematorium and the team at Cardiff Crematorium Thornhill Best Direct Cremation Provider Winner: Holly’s Funerals Runner Up: Respect Direct Funeral Services Best Low Cost Funeral Provider Winner: Fosters Funeral Directors Runner up: Memoria Low Cost Funerals Ltd Most Eco-Friendly Funeral Director Winner: Leverton & Sons Runner Up: Woodland Wishes Funeral Arranger of the Year Winner: Lorraine Aitken (Youngs Independent Funeral Services) Runners Up: Barbara Scrimshaw (Edd Frost & Daughters) & Persephone Salway (A. Monger Funeral Directors) Most Promising New Funeral Director Business Winner: Compassionate Funerals Runners Up: Crescent Funerals and O’Dwyer Funeral Directors Most Promising Trainee Funeral Director Winner: Sarah Ellis (Bewley and Merrett Funeral Directors) Runners Up: Rhys Askham (Rosedale Funeral Home) and Sarah Tully (Compassionate Funerals) Best Modern Funeral Director Winner: Full Circle Funerals Runners Up – Dandelion Farewells and Bewley & Merrett Best Traditional Funeral Director Winner: A. W. Lymn – The Family Funeral Service (with especial mention of two staff members, Louise Cook and Dominic Lister) Runners Up: Bungard Funeral Directors and Southall Funeral Service Best Funeral Caterer Winner: Rocket Catering Runner Up: Tea and Sympathy The ‘What to do with the Ashes’ Award Winner: Sacred Stones Willow Row Runner Up: Ann Bates Ceramics The Lifetime Achievement Award Clive Leverton The Outstanding Achievement Award Jon Underwood

The Good Funeral Awards names 2017’s winners

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