Neville Funerals, one of the longest-established funeral directors in the Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire region, and as part of the Neville Trust Group of Companies, has brought its 150th anniversary year to a close with a remarkable record of community support, sector leadership, and continued investment in bereavement care.
The family-run firm set out at the beginning of 2025 to make its milestone year one of meaningful contribution — not only by celebrating its long history, but by giving back to the communities it serves and reinforcing its commitment to the funeral profession.
At the start of the year, Neville Trust, including the team at Neville Funerals, challenged its staff to collectively contribute at least 150 days of volunteering in honour of its 150th anniversary. The response was overwhelming, surpassing all expectations, with the team reaching the 150 mark in October and a new target for the year set at 200 days – in support over a wide range of charities and community organisations.
Activities ranged from hosting football fundraisers and assisting scout groups, to knitting over 150 baby hats for special care units, reading with children, doing planting and gardening at local care homes and hospices, providing administrative and technical support for smaller and new local community initiatives and taking part in many fundraising events at local community groups. Each branch and team member was empowered to support causes close to their hearts, while also fundraising as part of a wider effort across the Neville Trust Group.
While the team has chosen its own charities to support, Neville Funerals has also been supporting the Trust’s four specific charities as their Charities of the Year – Dementia UK, Schoolreaders, Mind and Keech Hospice as well as supporting Cancer Research UK through the publication and sale of its 150th Anniversary Neville Trust Recipe Books with recipes collected by employees, members of their families, friends and members of the local community. In total, the group will have raised a significant sum in charitable donations in 2025.
Neville Funerals also marked the 10th anniversary of its volunteer-led bereavement support group, Talking Elephants, in 2025. These free, local meetups provide a safe and supportive environment for people to share their experiences of grief — a service that continues to grow in importance as the sector puts increasing emphasis on aftercare and long-term support for the bereaved. The business is particularly proud to have been recognised locally for this work in the recent Community Interest Luton Awards 2025 where it won Community Business of the Year.
The business has worked with hundreds of individuals through its Talking Elephants programme, underlining its belief that funeral care extends well beyond the day of the service.
Vicky Trumper, Director and fifth-generation Neville family member, commented: “2025 has been an incredible year for our team’s charity support. We’ve been delighted to see everyone’s enthusiasm and the wonderful work each team member has done across our local community.
“This anniversary year has reminded us not just of our history, but of our purpose. We are incredibly proud of the work our teams have done — not just in caring for the bereaved with professionalism and empathy, but in actively supporting the wider community. From volunteering and fundraising to the continued success of Talking Elephants, this year has been about making a tangible difference. And that’s a legacy we intend to build on.”
Neville Funerals continues to demonstrate that heritage and innovation can go hand-in-hand, with 2025 setting a high bar for the next chapter in its long-standing service to families, communities, and the profession.