¨ Moving forwards I have decided that these newsletters will become quarterly, so for 2026— March; June; September; and December. Other specific items will still appear as separate articles in the News section of our website.

¨ The project to install electronic Cemetery gates is progressing well, completion is expected by the end of January.

¨ The additional planting of nearly 50 trees and shrubs in the Oxford Burial Ground has been completed.

¨ Thank you to everyone who attended our Carol Service on Wednesday 12th December, we hope you enjoyed it. The service can be watched via our music supplier Obitus. https://watch.obitus.com.  Username – hivo7105; Password – 551937.

¨ We would like to politely inform everyone that we retain ashes for 6 months before contacting families to see if final arrangements have been made.

¨ Our website, colchestercrematorium.co.uk contains a wealth of information from opening times, maps, scheduled funerals, memorials, news and bereavement support groups. In addition to the link to our Online Book of Remembrance, there is now a link to a short virtual tour of the Crematorium.

¨ In October we completed our well communicated memorial safety programme with the careful laying down of unsafe memorials. This follows nearly 18 months of testing, letter writing and re-testing. We have made every effort to ensure that we have communicated the legalities of carrying out this project, however we still appreciate that seeing a headstone laid down can be distressing.

¨ Our programme of essential Winter tree works has continued, with works in the Gardens of Remembrance and Cemetery. The tree team will next be working on the Muslim burial section. The majority of the debris is chipped and recycled on our memorial beds.

¨ In November our Living Memorials improvement programme saw another 50 replacement standard roses planted each with a bag of our new soil that balances the historic chemical affects presented by ashes being scattered or interred.

¨ Through the metal recycling scheme we were delighted to present a £10,000 cheque to the Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation.

¨ We are always trying to provide the best possible grounds, facilities and location for holding funeral services, and are pleased to announce that our music system has been upgraded and includes a hearing loop amplifier which is permanently on.

¨  The installation of another columbarium niche unit and 3 granite benches has now been completed.

¨  Planning is well underway to host an Open Day in May of next year, further information will be shared on our website.

¨ We will soon be introducing various biodiversity projects into the Cemetery & Crematorium grounds, including log pile habitats, hibernaculum and bug boxes.

¨ If you encounter any anti-social behaviour, see any dangerous trees / branches or notice any damage please report it to the Cemetery & Crematorium Office.