Two Stafford cemetery open days to give residents chance to learn more

Two open days in Stafford will give residents the chance to learn more about local crematorium and cemetery services, including behind-the-scenes tours and help finding graves.

Stafford Crematorium and Cemetery on Tixall Road is holding an open day from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 27 June. The borough council-run site is inviting residents and visitors to find out more about what happens at the crematorium and the wider bereavement service.

A guided tour will include the chance to get close to the cremators and see a demonstration of how the process works. A golf buggy hearse and Mini Cooper hearse will also be on site, along with more traditional hearses.

Staff will be available during the day to talk about grave-digging, memorial safety and eco-friendly funerals. The council says previous open days at the crematorium have proved popular, with many people finding it reassuring to ask questions at a time when they are not dealing with the grief of losing a loved one.

The Tixall Road site has been awarded Gold status by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management. It has also held Green Flag status for more than a dozen years, recognising it as one of the best open spaces in the country.

A second open day is also set to take place at Eccleshall Road Cemetery on Saturday 15 August. Friends of Stafford Cemeteries will be by the main chapel between 10am and 2pm, giving tours and highlighting some of the interesting residents buried there.

The friends group says it is also happy to help people search for graves. Anyone looking for a grave can send the group names and dates and volunteers will do their best to help.

To RSVP to the Stafford Crematorium and Cemetery Open Day, click here.