Our People

Anne joined the funeral profession at the age of 16 and had to wait until her 18th birthday before she could receive her Diploma in Funeral Directing.  She was a founding Funeral Director of Rosedale and is now one of the most highly qualified funeral directors in the country.  Alongside her role at Rosedale, Anne is a Mental Health First Aid Instructor for Mental Health First Aid England, trains potential funeral directors for the National Association of Funeral Director’s Diploma in Funeral Directing and has also been a VQ Assessor and lecturer for the Foundation Degree in Funeral Services at Bath University. 

Anne takes great pride in encouraging everyone on the team to continually grow and develop and realise their full potential. Anne is passionate about supporting bereaved children and has served as a trustee of local children’s bereavement charity Nelson’s Journey.  There is a natural cross over between this role and the bereavement resources provided at Rosedale, that include reading lists for children of all ages, memory bears and work books to help families talk about their grief.

Anne and her husband Simon have three children, Harriet, Thomas and Victoria Rose and three grandchildren. Anne was born and bred in Diss and now lives in Scole with the two youngest children, their dog, ponies, chickens and cats. Anne is a member of the Diss Business Forum and Rotary International and enjoys running and cycling endurance events. Her idea of a perfect day would be a picnic at the top of the Langdale Pikes, a swim in the tarn on the way down and a hearty meal with the whole family back at the bottom.

The things that Anne enjoys most about her job is reading the reviews that bereaved families leave after the funeral.  Although we have won many awards, for our environmental ethos, for customer service and for our corporate and social responsibility, it is knowing that we have helped someone who is bereaved that really drives her.  Empowering and supporting people to organise the funeral that they would have wished to have, and that we have done it sensitively and professionally is what makes everything worthwhile.

Simon was born and raised in Old Catton, moving to South Norfolk as a young adult, and now lives in Scole, near Diss.

Before entering the funeral profession Simon worked as a milkman, taxi driver and electrician as well as spending time as a driver the Royal Air Force. From Rosedale’s conception Simon was responsible for refurbishing each of the funeral homes to an extremely high standard ensuring a homely and comfortable environment for families to make funeral arrangements. His eye for detail extended to his care of the company fleet and Simon also took a keen interest in the induction of new staff, ensuring that everyone bought into Rosedale values and exceptional standards.

Simon has three children, Harriet, Thomas and Victoria-Rose and three grandchildren who can often be seen in tow at Rosedale community and fundraising events. Simon pioneered Rosedale’s Cooking for One project which gave him an opportunity to spend more time in the kitchen testing and tasting the recipes that are now included in the recipe book.

When Simon’s not at work, as well as being a motorcyclist, private pilot and keen chef he is currently building an RV12 light aircraft and learning to carriage drive with Charlie a 9 year old 11 hand Welsh section two pony.

Derrick Leeder was one of Rosedale’s founding Funeral Directors and was the inspiration behind the name Rosedale.

Born and educated in Diss, Derrick spent most of his married life with Sandra and their three boys in Bressingham.   Derrick was an accomplished musician and could play any brass instrument from the smallest to the largest and he was the Bandmaster of the Diss Salvation Army Band for many years. 

Derrick passed his Diploma in Funeral Directing in December 1976 and was admitted to membership of the British Institute of Embalmers in February 1978.

When the funeral home he worked at shifted from the care of the families, Derrick left to become a founding Funeral Director of Rosedale Funeral Home.

Having served bereaved families for more than 50 years, Derrick saw many changes in the profession from arranging funerals in his little black book, where the choice of coffin amounted to solid for burial and veneer for cremation and arranging funerals to take place within just a few days, even the next day sometimes. Derrick embraced change every step of the way, keeping abreast of new technology as on-line memorials and visual tributes became the norm, alongside colourful and eco-coffins, personalisation and fingerprint jewellery.

Derrick had built up a professional reputation that was second to none and he was respected by members of the clergy, local doctors, his professional colleagues, and of course the bereaved families in the community that he served in Diss and the wider area of South Norfolk and the Waveney Valley.

He was a calm and patient man, totally unflappable and set the highest of standards of care for the deceased and bereaved alike. He was mentor to many, often taking new staff under his wing and was always so generous with the sharing of his wisdom and experience. He was a much loved and respected Christian gentleman who remained true to his values throughout and will be sadly missed in the profession.
 

Richard Green is a founding member of Rosedale from its inception in 2004 and is our Funeral Consultant. He has a wealth of experience exceeding 30 years in the funeral profession serving bereaved families.

He was born and educated in Diss and is a well known face in the town, due to his time running the cycle shop WS Cobb and Son with his brother Graham and managing the Tudor Bakehouse in Diss and Eye.

Richard is married to Julie and they have 2 sons Simon and Thomas, and 3 grandchildren Reggie, Ruby and Evie.

Richard enjoys most sports, mainly watching now rather than participating! He also enjoys listening to all kinds of music including attending live concerts. He is a musician himself and plays principal cornet in the Diss Salvation Army band.

Born in Wrentham, brought up in Shadingfield and attending Beccles School, George Ling is very well known in the area. George has been married to Thelma for over 50 years and they have two children, a daughter, Jan, who lives in the town and a son, Mike, who lives in Australia. They are also proud grandparents of four grandchildren.

He is interested in sport, having played in goal for Beccles FC, is a member of Bungay and Waveney Valley Golf Club and is a keen gardener.

He retired in March 2026 at the age of 89 but continues to remain in close contact with his Rosedale colleagues.