Memorial post box at Gedling Crematorium - update
The act of writing and putting words down on paper is one of the ways in which people can find comfort during bereavement. When Gedling Crematorium, near Nottingham, which is part of Westerleigh Group, installed a memorial post box in their grounds before Christmas, little did they know about the overwhelming sense of appreciation by the community near and far that it was going to receive.
The post box allows families and friends to write and post messages, cards and letters to their loved ones in ‘Heaven’.
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 and hundreds, from across the country, leaving a positive comment.
Owing to the success of the post box at Gedling Crematorium, Westerleigh Group is now making plans to introduce the post box at all of its crematoria, including Mercia Forest Crematorium and Arun Crematorium, opening this summer.
The original idea came from Gedling Crematorium’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.
Leanne 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.”
For updates on the ‘Project Post Box’, and all the latest news at your local Westerleigh Group crematorium, visit the news pages on its website and also follow the site’s own facebook page:
Aberystwyth Cemetery & Crematorium - website and facebook
Arun Crematorium - website and facebook
Aylesbury Vale Crematorium - website and facebook
Babworth Crematorium - website and facebook
Barham Crematorium - website and facebook
Basildon and District Cemetery & Crematorium - website and facebook
Borders Crematorium - website and facebook
Cam Valley Crematorium - website and facebook
Charing Crematorium - website and facebook
Cromer Crematorium - website and facebook
Forest of Dean Crematorium - website and facebook
Forest Park Cemetery & Crematorium - website and facebook
Gedling Crematorium - website and facebook
Great Glen Crematorium - website and facebook
Howe Bridge Crematorium - website and facebook
Langstone Vale Crematorium - website and facebook
Llanelli Crematorium - website and facebook
Mercia Forest Crematorium - website and facebook
New Forest Crematorium - website and facebook
New Southgate Cemetery & Crematorium - website and facebook
North Wiltshire Crematorium - website and facebook
Parndon Wood Cemetery & Crematorium - website and facebook
Sedgemoor Crematorium - website and facebook
Sirhowy Valley Crematorium - website and facebook
Stirlingshire Crematorium - website and facebook
Test Valley Crematorium - website and facebook
The Vale Crematorium - website and facebook
Torbay Cemetery & Crematorium - website and facebook
Treswithian Downs Crematorium - website and facebook
Vale Royal Crematorium - website and facebook
Waseley Hills Crematorium - website and facebook
Wessex Vale Crematorium - website and facebook
West Berkshire Crematorium - website and facebook
West Lancashire Cemetery & Crematorium - website and facebook
West Lothian Crematorium - website and facebook
West Suffolk Cemetery & Crematorium - website and facebook
West Wiltshire Crematorium - website and facebook
