When arranging a funeral, particularly a cremation, there needs to be a decision made regarding which crematorium to use. At present the county of Northumberland has only one crematorium. This is Cowpen Crematorium in Blyth and can seat approximately 50 people. There is no organ at this crematorium and the service times are every 45 minutes, but it does have wheel chair access.
West Road Crematorium is the primary crematorium in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and has two chapels (the East and the West chapel), both with wheel chair access. Service times are every 45 minutes here also and only the West chapel has an organ.
Other crematoria in the region are Whitley Bay crematorium & Tynemouth crematorium. Service times here are every 45 minutes.
All the crematoria mentioned here have a garden of remembrance. Cremated remains (ashes) can be scattered on the garden or removed by the funeral director to be scattered somewhere else. Ashes can also be interred (buried) if required. For more information please contact us via telephone or e-mail.
Committals for cremated remains
After the cremation, the ashes are given to the family of the deceased for disposal as they wish. Under current codes of cremation practice, non-ferrous metals are not salvaged. Disposal of cremation ashes is typically done in one of the following ways:
- Burial in small cremation plots
- Interment in a family grave (requires permission)
- Scattering of ashes in a garden of remembrance or similar named environment
- Scattering in another favourite place or at sea
- Storage in cremation urns or cremation keepsakes
In addition to books of remembrance, some crematoria and cemeteries have special cremation memorials including the following:
- Benches
- Remembrance through planted flower bulbs
- Memorial plaques
- Hymn and service book dedications
- Memorial vases and tablets
- Memorial vaults
Any of these can provide a comforting reminder of the life and personality of a loved one and a valuable focus for future contemplation and remembrance.
Where can you scatter human ashes?
Cremation laws (the Cremation Act 1930) put no restriction on where people can scatter the ashes of their loved ones once they′ve been cremated. The only constraints on scattering ashes are likely to be those relating to littering or their placement on private land without gaining permission. In practice, though few people are likely to have the contents of their cremation urn put into fireworks and launched into the sky like writer Hunter S. Thompson, the only limits are likely to be family wishes, available budgets and the imagination.