Mick Pooley celebrates four decades of service at A.W. Lymn
Michael Pooley joined A.W. Lymn at just 17-years-old on a six-month trial after noticing a role in the stone masonry department while at a local school careers fair
Master mason, Michael Pooley, is celebrating four decades of service at family funeral directors A.W. Lymn, which makes him the longest-tenured current employee – second only to chairman Nigel Lymn Rose.
The company has described Pooley as “a cornerstone” of the Craftsmen in Stone part of its operations at Robin Hood House, Nottingham.
Pooley joined A.W. Lymn at just 17-years-old on a six-month trial after noticing a role in the stone masonry department while at a local school careers fair. While working alongside skilled masons in the wet shop and letter-cutters, he began mastering traditional hand-carved lettering to intricate memorial fixings.
He said: “I’m so proud to have worked for A.W. Lymn for 40 years. They’re a great company and I’ve always really enjoyed the work. When I started my trial, I didn’t know I’d stay here for as long as I have. It’s the longest temporary job ever!”
Over the years, Pooley witnessed and adapted to “seismic” changes in technology, as the late 60s saw the introduction of machine cutting which, along with the advent of computer stencils in the industry, reduced the time for lettering from potentially days to just minutes.
Among his most memorable jobs is his restoration of a damaged Venetian fountain in Nottingham’s Welbeck Hall in 1997, which took over 158 hours to repair and rebuild. The fountain, originally imported from Venice, had been damaged during a mishap at a nearby military academy.
During his 40-year tenure, Pooley has been credited with fixing over 50,000 memorials.
Nigel Lymn Rose said: “You only have to mention a name, and Mick will recall every detail – the lettering, the material, and even the cemetery location. He’s truly extraordinary and an invaluable part of our history. So much about our business has changed over the decades, but Mick has been a constant. His consistency in his work, producing quality year-after-year, adds a special touch to the communities we serve.”
