The trouble with pensions is that if you retire and then 3 years later get the bad cance and fall off your perch, the pension company has a great big chuckle and trousers your dosh. (Yours may ahve a widow's pension included, I don't know, I'm riffing here.)
Given the option I'd rather have the cash invested by my chosen broker/IFA so that I have a semblence of control and so the capital remains within my estate when I've gone.