But what about the ashes?
Recent disturbing incidents in the news continue to cause bereaved families across the UK worry and concern about whether they have been given the correct cremated remains of the person who has died. We thought it would be helpful to have some clear information in the public domain about exactly what you should expect when […]
How much does cremation cost in 2022?
With well over 3/4 of British funerals now culminating in cremation, and with the relentless promotion of direct cremation on mainstream TV channels, we thought it was about time to look at the cost of being cremated in 2022. The Competition and Markets Authority’s Funeral Market Investigation Order 2021 mandated that all crematoria must publish their prices, […]
A word from our patrons
Crematorium Attendant of the Year 2017
For such an important role, there were surprisingly few nominations in this category this year, resulting in just three finalists. The judges hope that next year far more celebrants and funeral directors will nominate these unsung heroes who oversee thousands of funerals each year, ensuring that everything goes to plan. Picking a winner from the […]
Best Crematorium in the UK 2017
This category had a good field of entrants this year, with 13 finalists and entries citing facilities, environmental issues, service times, fees, bereavement services, training, events and grounds maintenance. Selecting a winner from among these entries was not easy, and the judges ended up with three deserving runners up which all deserve mention. The winner […]
The future’s bright, the future’s…..
Editor’s note: Since writing this article, we have been informed of some serious misgivings about the Ecolation offer, and we would advise any readers to consider the points raised by Mary in the comments below. For clarity, the Good Funeral Guide does not endorse ecolation as a process as it is as yet unproven. We […]
Crematorium of the Year
Martin Birch of Thornhill Crematorium, Cardiff This year’s winner is particularly praised for addressing funeral poverty in imaginative ways, not least through participation in the pioneering initiative of the local authority funeral scheme, which challenges the rising cost of funerals, while making the funeral purchase more transparent. Approximately 12% of cremations carried out at this […]
Good news for Dignity shareholders
Bereaved families in the Oxford area may be a little less pleased to know that the cost of having a relative cremated at their local Dignity owned crematorium will be £999 from next week onwards. Just a short journey towards London, a cremation at South West Middlesex Crematorium will cost £490 (source Funeralbooker report on […]
Is this the worst crematorium in Britain?
Every year we celebrate the best of the funeral industry with the Good Funeral Awards. There isn’t a ‘Worst Crematorium of the Year” award but if there was such an accolade, we have a strong contender. Introducing our readers to West London Crematorium, as photographed on Thursday 30th June 2016. Decaying curtains, stained carpets, seating […]
Sacred Stones
“The barrow, its shape, its natural stone, its location, instantly gave me the same feeling of the past being an essential part of the present, of our lives being a shared history. Of peace and calm and connection. And I am drawn to the barrow as a place of rest and pilgrimage for exactly those […]
