The personal touch is at the very heart of what Funeral Director Matthew Lucas loves to do, in the town where he has lived his whole life.

His kind, caring service along with his core values, resonate with Dorchester Nub News and we have partnered with Matthew Lucas Funeral Directors to launch our obituary page.

Matthew Lucas Funeral Directors is an independent, family Funeral Directors based in Poundbury.

Matthew has been a Funeral Director for more than 25 years and qualified with the BTECH Diploma in Funeral Directing. He launched Matthew Lucas Funeral Directors in association with Julian and Karen Hussey and Eric and Joyce Dunford, of Bridport Funeral Directors, A. G. Down, in 2013.

He said: "I've always lived in the Dorchester area, it's the town that I love and know well.

"Before opening our business on Poundbury, I worked with a family company in Bridport for 13 years. When the opportunity arose to open a Funeral Directors in Dorchester with the support and experience of A. G. Down, and the chance for us to work together, I was overjoyed and was pleased to have the opportunity to set up business in Dorchester."

Matthew has now been in Poundbury since 2013. Discovering the building as a new build, they were able to adapt this to meet their exact needs, enabling them to have all services under one roof, something that was important to Matthew, having the ability to offer a complete funeral service.

He added: "I am a great believer that families and individuals, should have the chance to feel empowered and be able to arrange what they feel, is most appropriate for their loved one. Therefore, if families want to be involved in a particular way, or have ideas on what would be most appropriate, then I see it as very much my role to make those wishes come together.

"Every family is different, everybody's needs unique to them and, therefore, it is right and proper that we as Funeral Directors cater for everyone we meet in an individual way.

"I feel it's very important to have that personal touch as a Funeral Director, I believe having time, face to face is important. I love that we are able to give people that. It's very important to me and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"We are very happy to go and see people in their own home, as they often feel more at ease but if they do want to get come and see us, they are really welcome to meet me in the office.

"We also have our quiet room where people can come and visit and spend time with their loved one if they so wish.

"We can offer all funeral related services - whatever anyone wishes." For more information on what services Matthew can offer, visit dorchesterfunerals.com

Before becoming a Funeral Director, Matt worked in the NHS as a nurse.

He said: "My grandad was a coffin bearer for a local company in Dorchester and, when nursing, I worked shifts, so when an opportunity came up, I took a role as a part-time bearer.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it and began to become increasingly interested in the profession. A job then became available as a trainee Funeral Director.

"For me, nursing is an excellent occupation to have before becoming a funeral director because it's still very much a caring profession and the aspects I enjoyed most about nursing are extremely vital in the role I play now."

Matthew has always loved being part of the community. In the past he has been a youth club leader, a past trustee of Brownsword Hall in Poundbury, he ran a youth football team, played football and cricket in the town, as well as being a director and chairman at Dorchester Town Football Club for many. He was also a trustee of the Dorset Youth Association and is currently chairman at Portland United Football Club.

"I have always been involved with the community and I find it a great honour to be able to do the job I love here in the town I love," he added.

Matthew is helped by his administrator, Sue Seal in the office, along with a team of dedicated bearers.

Matthew is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors, and also a member of the Good Funeral Guide and the Natural Death Centre.

For more information, call 01305 753533 or visit dorchesterfunerals.com

Don't forget to sign up to our newsletter below!

You can submit your own news straight to Dorchester Nub News by using the 'Nub It' button on our home page. This can also be done for events on our What's On page and businesses, groups and organisations on our Local Listings page , also by using the 'Nub It' button.

Please like and follow our online newspaper on your favourite social media channel. You can find us @DorchesterNubNews on Facebook and @DorchesterNub Twitter.