Gedling Crematorium installs ‘post box to heaven’

Gedling Crematorium near Nottingham has installed a memorial post box in its grounds to allow people to send letters to their friends and family who have passed away.

Gedling’s memorial post box was unveiled at its Christmas Remembrance Service in December 2022 and within the first few weeks, over 100 letters were posted in the post box with over 1,000 people liking the crematorium’s post on facebook regarding its installation.

The original idea came from Gedling’s memorial advisor, Leanne Handy, whose father passed away in 2003 and mother in 2017 and whose young daughter Matilda had said she wished she could send birthday and Christmas cards to her grandparents.

Gedling is part of the Westerleigh Group which is now making plans to introduce the post box at all of its crematoria, including Mercia Forest Crematorium and Arun Crematorium, opening this summer.

Handy said: “I’m thrilled by how well the post box has been received and I feel very proud. We’ve had amazing comments from members of the local community who have used it. I am so pleased that local people are using it, and taking some comfort from it, as another way of feeling connected to their loved ones.

“Knowing that a similar post box will soon be installed across the other 38 Westerleigh Group crematoria to serve wider communities is beyond belief. Matilda and I couldn’t have wished for a better result and are delighted that many more bereaved people will be able to benefit from it in a similar way.”