Dedication service at New Forest Crematorium
A special service has taken place in Hampshire to formally dedicate one of the most environmentally-friendly crematoriums in the country to the community it serves.
New Forest Crematorium opened in April 2022 to serve the communities of New Milton, Bournemouth, Christchurch and the wider area surrounding the New Forest.
It is part of Westerleigh Group, one of the UK’s largest independent owners and operators of crematoria and cemeteries, with 37 other sites across England, Scotland and Wales, all set within beautifully-landscaped gardens of remembrance which provide pleasant, peaceful places for people to visit and reflect.
It is Westerleigh Group’s tradition to dedicate a new crematorium to its community in the presence of funeral directors, celebrants, members of the clergy, other industry professionals and senior representatives from many organisations within the bereavement sector, usually about 12 months after its opening.
The service was led by Debbie Sellin, Bishop of Southampton, in the presence of Councillor David Hawkins, Mayor of New Milton.
Rev Martyn Douglas and Humanist celebrant David Hewitt also spoke at the service, and Choralia Milford, a local choir, sang two carefully-chosen pieces, You Are The New Day and Sing Gently.
After lunch, many visitors were able to ride in a superbly presented open carriage pulled by two Friesian stallions, Duke and Earl, kindly provided by Kim and Jimmy Searle, carriage masters.
New Forest Crematorium Manager Graeme Horobin said: “We’re very pleased to have hosted this special event and dedicated our beautiful crematorium to the communities we serve.
“We are proud of how we have engaged with bereaved families and our neighbouring communities since we opened in April 2022, and I believe we’ve already gone some way towards providing a positive presence in the area.
“We’re a welcoming place where people find comfort, not just on the day of their loved one’s final farewell but also at other times, to have a permanent place of remembrance for a loved one in our memorial gardens or just have quiet moments of reflection in the fitting and peaceful environment of our beautiful grounds.
“This is such a unique place where exceptional care is at the heart of everything we do. Our families are supported by a helpful team of crematorium colleagues, always on hand to support them through a difficult day by ensuring that the service is delivered with respect and dignity.
“We also work very hard with families to create uniquely personal services for their loved ones.”
New Forest Crematorium features advanced technology which helps to minimise emissions and makes it one of the most environmentally facilities of its kind in the country.
This approach ensures that it does not only minimise pollution in the local community, it also protects existing wildlife habitats and nature of the surrounding New Forest National Park.
