Grantham funeral firm taken over

Well-established funeral directors Robert Holland has been taken over by another company.

But Mr Holland, who has run his business for 17 years in St Catherine’s Road, says little has changed as he will remain in charge and there will be no staff changes.

Mr Holland told the Journal that he had been approached by a much larger corporate funeral business last summer, but had turned them down because he did not feel they would run the business in the same way and with the same family values.

Mr Holland’s business has been sold to Beverley Funerals Ltd after negotations were concluded in December.

Mr Holland said: “It was hugely important to me that I found a like-minded partner who would continue to operate the business in the same way and with the same family values as when I first started some 17 years ago.

“I was keen to avoid a more corporate, less flexible culture. However, in Beverley Funerals Ltd, I feel I have now found a business that shares the same high standards and ethics, and we have successfully forged a mutually agreeable partnership.”

Mr Holland added: “It was vital to me that any such partnership would continue to deliver the same high standards of localised funeral service to the people of Grantham and surrounding villages, while at the same time supporting existing staff, and not losing our unique local business identity.”

Mr Holland set up his own business in St Catherine’s Road in 2001 after working for his father, David, in London Road. His father’s business was taken over and later Mr Holland decided to set up on his own. Robert Holland Funeral Directors is now conducting 500 funerals a year.

Mr Holland said: “All of my staff, some of whom have been with me for many years, remain in place, allowing me to continue to arrange, direct and conduct funerals as I have done in this town for over 40 years.

“I have absolutely no intention of retiring from the job I love so much. People can be assured that all aspects of funeral service that they have come to expect from Robert Holland Funeral Directors Ltd will remain the same.

“It really is business as usual.”