¨ We were delighted to accept a recent donation from The Colchester Medical Society with the planting of two Redwood trees in the Oxford burial ground to mark their 250th anniversary.

¨ In response to notification of benches being in poor condition we have completed an inspection throughout the Cemetery and have removed 17 unsafe benches. Unfortunately the majority of these were not purchased through us and therefore we don’t have contact details to be able to advise respective owners of our actions.

¨ Following the completion of the memorial safety testing programme, we are continuing to send letters to last known grave owners advising what to do next. If, in the meantime, you action repairs to your memorial please make the Office aware.

¨ If you would like to be buried near to existing family members in the older parts of the cemetery please get in contact or let your Funeral Director know, we can’t promise anything but we will definitely look into it for you.

¨ The previously heavily compacted bare areas behind the Beech trees in the Gardens of Remembrance have responded very well to the works that we have carried out. Hopefully you will all see a significant difference next Spring.

¨ Works to lay a new perimeter road in the Oxford Burial Ground is behind schedule. The completed areas show an enormous improvement on the previous road so as disappointing as the delay is, it will be worth it. Our continued apologies for any inconvenience this causes and thank you for your patience.

¨ The process of digitising our Books of Remembrance has begun, the volumes containing the months January to August have already been collected. We’re really pleased that entries will soon be able to be viewed online.

¨ Our rockery memorial bed on the flower patio has been completed. Its design has taken inspiration from Beth Chatto gardens and once established should look amazing. The bed features memorial slate boulders with granite plaques.

¨ We have a new memorial brochure which largely copies the information shown on our website,  colchestercrematorium.co.uk .

¨ We have completed the installation of a circle of 14 above ground memorial vaults around the second water feature in the Queen Elizabeth memorial gardens. For more information please contact the Crematorium Office.

¨ Our website contains some helpful information regarding the legal grave ownership transfer process, we also have staff available to assist you through what can look a complicated process.

¨ Following last years hugely successful Carol Service, we can announce that this years Service will be held on Thursday 12th December @ 2pm. Further information will be shared and advertised in the coming months.

¨ We have begun an intensive programme of tree works in the scatter lawns of the Gardens of Remembrance, the serious overcrowding over many years has left us with some dead trees along with others in desperate need of crown raising.

¨ If anyone has a bit of spare time and would like to join our existing volunteer in carrying out some litter picking around the Cemetery please get in contact with us.

¨ We will soon be trialing a new soil product that has been designed solely for crematoria which is scientifically proven to offset the toxicity in cremated remains, releasing essential nutrients that allow plant life to flourish. We are hugely optimistic that this will massively improve the health of our roses and shrubs.

¨ Following recent redecoration and improvements to the Waiting Room we are now awaiting a delivery of new furniture to complete the refurbishment project.