Arranging a cremation is a deeply personal experience, and every family’s wishes are different. Our compassionate team is here to guide and support you at every stage, helping you create a meaningful farewell that reflects the life, wishes and values of the person who has died.
Whether you would like a simple cremation or a fully personalised service, we will take care of every detail with sensitivity, professionalism and respect.
We understand that arranging a cremation can feel overwhelming, especially during a time of grief. Our experienced team will guide you through the process clearly and gently, taking the pressure and uncertainty away.
We are available to take your call at any time. From the very first conversation, we will guide you through the next steps and explain everything clearly.
At this stage families may see a doctor who will confirm the death.
We will discuss your preferences and answer any questions you may have. Whether you would like a traditional service, an unattended funeral or help with booking a celebrant for the cremation, we will help create a service that feels right for you and your family.
Our team will assist with all the necessary paperwork and legal requirements, including medical and cremation forms, such as the cremation form 1, making the process as straightforward as possible.
We’ll also help with who to notify after a death.
We will look after the person who has died with the utmost dignity and care from the moment they come into our care until the day of the cremation.
You are welcome to visit the funeral home if you wish.
What once was a fairly traditional path has, in recent years, unfolded into a diverse and thoughtful range of cremation services, each offering its own way to honour a unique life. We set out the differences here:
Often a very traditional service is held at a crematorium, with family and friends dressed in black, and with pallbearers, a vicar or minister, and a hearse procession.
A direct cremation is the simplest of all the cremations, with no ceremony at the crematorium. It is unattended, and often chosen to reduce costs.
An attended cremation is similar to a traditional cremation but is often non-religious, short in length, personalised and modern.
With an unattended cremation, your funeral director will attend the crematorium without you to conduct the funeral. It will not include a ceremony before the coffin is cremated.
As cremation options blossom into a rich variety of choices, you can also choose a cremation followed by a memorial service at a different venue. This reflects the many different ways families now choose to celebrate a life.
If you have decided you do want a service or ceremony, we can help arrange every detail, including:
Every service can be tailored to reflect the individual’s life, beliefs and personality.
You can rest assured that the cremation itself will be carried out with the highest level of care and respect at your chosen crematorium.
Family and friends will arrive a few minutes before the service. You and your family may choose to accompany the coffin on entry, or the coffin may already be placed on the catafalque.
The service will be led by a celebrant or minister and may include readings, songs, prayers, eulogies, or a video compilation to reflect your loved one’s life. We will have discussed everything beforehand so everything will be seamless.
The service either ends with the committal, or family and friends file out with the coffin remaining in the crematorium, until the body is cremated.
Many people arrange a gathering after the service at a nearby pub or venue for refreshments and a chance to reflect on the service.
After the cremation, there are so many options to remember the person who has died such as scattering ashes in a meaningful location, keeping ashes in a chosen urn, interring ashes in a memorial garden or family grave, or creating a lasting digital tribute which is increasingly popular.
"We are seeing a cremation rate across our funeral homes of about 70% of all the funerals we arrange. This has not changed that much in recent years but the modern funeral is often shorter, more personalised, and more visually interesting, adding a truly emotive element."
You will usually make an appointment to attend a funeral home near to you to discuss the arrangements in detail. During this meeting, you will be guided through every aspect of the cremation and be able to ask about:
Costs are important when choosing a cremation.
When you receive your estimate, it will include professional funeral service charges and costs relating to the care and collection of the person who has died. There are other costs which are associated with the cremation itself or transport such as the crematorium fees, the costs of provision of a hearse, and the collection and delivery of the ashes.
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