Westerleigh crems to host Xmas carol and memorial services

Westerleigh Group has announced it will hold Christmas carol and memorial services across its network of crematoria in December, offering communities a chance to remember loved ones during the festive period. 

The programme covers all 42 sites in England, Scotland and Wales, with individual events running from 3 to 19 December.

The seasonal gatherings will include a mix of readings and Christmas carols, with some chapels offering live performances from choirs or soloists. Several sites will also provide activities such as writing messages on memory tags, lighting commemorative candles and using white memorial post boxes for people wishing to send a Christmas card to someone they have lost.

Westerleigh Group, which describes itself as one of the UK’s largest independent owners and operators of crematoria and cemeteries, said many services will be available online through its media partner Obitus, either live or for up to 28 days after each event.

Debbie Smith, chief executive of Westerleigh Group, said: “Whether people are living in, working in or just visiting, the communities surrounding our crematoria and cemeteries, the doors are open for anyone and everyone to join us for our popular seasonal memorial services.

“The run-up to Christmas is a time when families and friends are foremost in our minds, possibly more than any other time of the year, and that means the loss of a loved one can be felt even more.”

She added: “Our services bring people together in our warm and welcoming chapels, in the company of others who are also remembering and honouring those they have lost.”