The company was formed in 1974 by Nicholas O’Hara, with his parents Pat and Brenda, then alongside his wife Jackie, with son Anthony and daughter Natalie continuing to serve as Business Principals. When you need us, our family really is here for your family.
At Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors we believe in maintaining the highest levels of service possible, in all areas of our business; from caring for the deceased, to assisting and advising the bereaved with all due care and sensitivity. We understand that a funeral holds a special place in the memory and so we pay careful attention to every detail and request, to create a special day for those lost and those that mourn.
We operate a 24 hour, 365 days a year service, from our funeral homes in Wimborne, Verwood, West Moors, Westbourne (Bournemouth) and Canford Heath (Poole) and cover all surrounding areas. We are pleased to discuss your requirements in the comfort of your own home or at any of our offices.
With our many years of experience we are specialists in all types of funeral, from simple direct cremations; to funerals covering any wish you may have; religious, non-religious, multi-faith services; traditional burial or woodland burial; but always made personal and unique for the loved one you remember.
If you cannot find the information you require or have a personal matter to discuss, please contact us how you feel most comfortable.
If you would like to talk to us about planning a funeral, please come and see us in any of our funeral homes, or if you’d rather we can arrange a home visit. We’re also available 24 hours a day on the phone so if you need anything please don’t hesitate to call us.
Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors was formed in 1974 by Nicholas along with his father Alfred (Pat), a local police officer and his mother Brenda, a nurse and owner of Somerleigh Court Nursing Home which is where today the funeral head office in Wimborne runs from.
Jackie, Nicholas’ wife joined him in the business in the 1980’s and helped modernise the office set-up and create a new partnership. It was during this period that the business expanded to open further funeral homes in Verwood in 1983 and West Moors in 1987.
In keeping with the family business, son Anthony joined in 1997 and later that same year his sister Natalie. At certain times there has been 3 generations working together. Many family members have, and still do work within the business, including spouses, aunts, uncles, in-laws and many close family friends.
Then in 2022 the business moved into 2 new premises, Westbourne (Bournemouth) and Canford Heath (Poole) allowing the family business to serve an even larger part of the Dorset community.
In 2024, Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors became part of Funeral Partners Ltd, joining a nation-wide network of funeral homes committed to excellence.
A business full of traditional values, yet with a keen appreciation of the modern era, today Anthony and Natalie O’Hara along with their team thrive on making the business achieve the high standards that Nicholas envisioned when he first entered the profession and which Nicholas O’Hara are recognised for.
From our five funeral homes we can serve any area as there is no restrictions on where you live. We are proud to serve and care for the communities in which we are based but also: Ferndown, Merley, St Leonards, Ashley Heath, Ringwood, Alderholt, Fordingbridge, Cranborne, Sixpenny Handley. West Parley, Christchurch, Oakdale, Broadstone, Corfe Mullen, Sturminster Marshall, Blandford, Upton, Hamworthy, Lytchett Matravers, Wallisdown, Parkstone, Canford Cliffs. Sandbanks, Branksome, Winton, Bournemouth, Poole, Boscombe, Kinson, Bearwood, Longham.
Nicholas entered the funeral profession at 15 years old and by the age of 20 had gained diplomas in both Funeral Directing and Embalming. Nicholas started the business, along with his parents in 1974 and right from the beginning he established the ethos that we still adhere to today; an unwavering commitment to high standards and very personal levels of service afforded to every family we support. He believes wholeheartedly in the importance of making every funeral unique and special to the family and their loved one.
Nicholas is a keen football fan; he has sponsored local youth football leagues and Wimborne Town FC, where he was also Chairman and a Director for a number of years. Very much part of the Wimborne community, he also enjoys fishing, watching AFC Bournemouth with his son and grandson, cruise holidays and spending time with his family.
Jackie has been alongside her husband Nicholas since the beginning in 1974 but took a full time role in 1988. Jackie’s roles included accounts, payroll, staffing of funerals and helping make sure each day ran smoothly. Jackie retired in May 2022.
Business Principal
Anthony joined the family business in 1997. The following year Anthony gained his diploma in Funeral Directing and became a member of the British Institute of Funeral Directing (BIFD).
Anthony is now the Business Principal of the funeral business. As well as the day to day running he also gives guidance on memorials, looks after the companies social media, advertising and events. In 2013 he was invited to be part of SaifCharter’s working groups and was the Chair of the Voice of the Funeral Director group and was elected elected onto the SaifCharter national executive, as one of just eleven funeral directors representing almost 750 individual independent funeral businesses across the UK, where he served from 2017-2023.
He has served as the 2013/14 president of the Bournemouth and District Association of Funeral Directors.
The same year that Anthony joined the family business, he also became a father to daughter, Shannon and then again in 2000 to son Connor. Anthony is a huge Liverpool FC fan and an AFC Bournemouth season ticket holder with his son and father. Up to the age of 17 Anthony spent time playing at the Reading FC youth academy.
Anthony’s other passions include running, and playing with his English Bulldog “Buzz”. Anthony married Jane in Santorini, Greece in July 2021.
Business Principal
Natalie joined her parents and brother in late 1997 and left only to become a mum to her children Harley and Hope and then returned now they are both at school. Her main skill is computer design and she has helped create many of the Orders of Service family’s use today, memory cards, invitations and online donation pages.
Natalie also helps her brother in event planning, social media and in running the office day to day.
Natalie has two children called Harley and Hope.
Funeral Celebrant
Chris joined the business in 1993 after growing up locally and working on his family farm and then owning his own haulage business. After the loss of his mother, Chris had the calling to change to a career in Funeral Directing and he gained his diploma in 1995. Chris has been a past-president of the Bournemouth Association of Funeral Directors.
Chris also discovered a passion for officiating at funerals where a family do not wish to have a minister and he takes a huge amount of personal care and preparation to make each person’s funeral service as special as possible. This unique skill has lead Chris to becoming our own funeral celebrant.
Chris’ wife Bernie retired as our donations clerk in 2011. They have 3 children. Chris is a keen follower of Southampton FC and attends church locally.
Funeral Director
Philip the son of a Church Minister showed a calling to the profession Funeral profession from a very young age and throughout his school life always wanted to become a Funeral Director. His first discussion with a Funeral Director about his ambition was with Nicholas’ father Pat when he visited him at Somerleigh Court, having first spoken to him following a Funeral he had attended.
On leaving school Philip was fortunate enough to start work experience with a Funeral Director, after which he was accepted on a full time basis. Having been trained in the various aspects of the profession he then became a Funeral Director in 1985. Philip has now worked within the funeral profession locally for over 30 years. He gained his diploma in Funeral Directing in 1991.
When we needed an additional Funeral Director to join the business in 2010, Philip’s vast local knowledge and experience made him the obvious choice. He joined the firm in October of that year.
Outside of work Philip performed for many years with Wimborne Musical Theatre.
Philip is also in charge of the companies IT and telecommunications.
Funeral Director
Jon joined the funeral director team in September 2021. He had gained over 3 years experience in this role prior to joining us and has done many of the roles from operative to funeral director. Jon has a real calm nature which is one of his assests in helping families at their time of need.
Jon has lived locally all his life and his father was a Registrar for births, deaths and marriages.
Jon enjoys fishing and plays snooker in a league in his spare time as well as spending time with his family. He is also a Manchester Utd football fan.
Funeral Director
Rory joined the funeral directing team in January 2017. He already had gained experience working for a national group where he had many roles before rising to his role as a funeral director.
Rory was brought up and educated in Wimborne and enjoys walking, travel and supports Newcastle United.
Like all our funeral directing team his main aim is to give each family the service and support they require and to create a unique funeral day
Funeral Director
Anna joined us in February 2022 from another local funeral business and has over 10 years experience in the funeral industry mainly working as a funeral director. Anna will be helping people with arranging funerals and also conducting them.
One of Anna’s best assets is her attention to detail, to ensure all areas of the funeral are considered and planned with the families we care for.
Anna was previosuly a Theatre Nurse and is a Registrar for weddings at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Poole.
Funeral Director
Lauren joined us in May 2022 and has over 3 years previous experience working in the funeral industry, including working at a crematorium, she also has a background in marketing and design. Laurens passion for her role is to give each family the upmost care and support through the funeral journey, and the relationship she creates with them has seen her role change from funeral arranger to funeral director and conductor.
Lauren is based at our Verwood office. She also creates most of our design work used on our website and social media channels.
Mortuary & Theatre Team
Ian’s background was vastly different from his role today having worked in the print trade since school. He joined the company in 2012 as an operative and it soon became clear he had the skills to become an embalmer and spent one day a week for over two years training in London to gain his diploma.
Ian’s main role is as lead embalmer, running the mortuary and theatre. Ian also provides training to local nursing home staff, trainee nurses and carers in the work he does to improve knowledge and understanding of this important aspect to our work.
Ian’s wife Sally is also a community nurse and they have two sons.
Social Media & Website content
Jane O’Hara (Anthony’s wife) has taken up the support role of providing content for the companies social media and website blogs. Jane will also be helping plan events the company support within the community. Jane has had various admin roles which include working for M&S, a large international fitness chain, a leading local complementary therapy centre, a digital marketing company and she is also a qualified beauty therapist.
Branch Administrator
Teresa Arnold has a background in nursing and has taken over the role as Donations Clerk = which runs from our West Moors office. Teresa has been with us since 2008.
Branch Administrator
Michelle Fisher is the newest addition to the admin team and comes with a wealth of experience having previosuly worked at the RNLI, The Regent Centre in Christchurch and also another funeral business. Michelle will be based at our Westbourne office.
Tim joined the company in May 2024 having gained experience within the industry in a number of roles from funeral arranger to celebrant, over the past 4 years, but his real passion was to be part of the mortuary team. Tim has many out of work hobbies with his big passion being Roller Derby and in 2025 he will be part of the commentary team at an international event.
Funeral Operative
Celso Barreto has been with the company since 2007 and took over the role from his uncle. Originally from Madeira has now lived in the UK for over 20 years and has a real eye for detail and standards and is the Operatives Manager. Celso was previously a chef so enjoys cooking and is often the lead joke maker.
Funeral Operative
Ian Hobson started his funeral career as an operative with the business in 2015. Ian was educated and lives locally with his wife Hannah who is a community Sister and their two daughters. Ian enjoys camping, surfing, skateboarding, playing the guitar and is a VW fan.
Funeral Operative
Chris Nother-Bunce joined us in August 2020 and has gained experience working for a national funeral group for the previous 2 years. His background prior to this was engineering but has found the change into the funeral industry to be rewarding and loves his new career choice.
Funeral Operative
Ryan Golding started with the company in March 2022 having previously been the head groundsman at Wimborne Cemetery. The family business were always impressed with Ryan’s eye for detail when they worked together and he became an ideal person to join the operatives team. Ryan and his family have been in Wimborne for many years.
Funeral Operative
Jack Tayloris the baby of the bunch, joining us in 2022, and has had a few roles but is now one of the permanent operatives team. Jack has a twin brother so don’t worry if you see two of him!
We take pride in everything we do. Our aim is that everyone who works for Funeral Partners shares our values.
Our business exists to help the bereaved to make fitting arrangements for their loved one’s last journey and to provide lasting memories for family and friends. We do this with a positive, caring and understanding approach.
We value diversity and treat everyone with the same respect, courtesy and dignity.
We are a professional organisation and we strive to achieve the highest possible standards in everything we do and to improve upon these standards continuously.
We accept responsibility for our actions both as a company and as individuals.
We believe that we can only achieve our goals by working together in partnership with client families, suppliers and our employees.
Call 01202 882 134 visit branch or arrange a home visit
