Test Valley Crematorium is opening its chapel doors to bring families and friends together to commemorate Mother's Day.
This comes as a host of crematoriums from Westerleigh Group are welcoming people in across sites in England, Scotland and Wales for a special service of remembrance on Sunday, March 27.
For those unable to attend in person, or who may still be apprehensive because of the pandemic, a recorded service of remembrance will also be available to view on YouTube, with details released on the website and Facebook page of each crematorium.
Westerleigh Group is the UK’s largest owner and operator of crematoria and cemeteries, with 36 sites in the UK, all set within landscaped gardens for people to visit and reflect.
Its sites include Aylesbury Vale, Test Valley, Wessex Vale and West Berkshire Crematoria.
The service of remembrance is being recorded in advance at Waseley Hills Crematorium in the West Midlands, Westerleigh Group’s newest facility which only opened a few weeks ago.
The service is expected to last around 45 minutes and will include readings, music and poems.
Debbie Smith, chief executive officer of Westerleigh Group, said: “Mother’s Day can be a particularly poignant time for those who have lost their mum or cannot be together on this day.
“Due to the exceptional circumstances families have endured as result of the pandemic, and lockdown restrictions, this year we wanted to open up our chapels on Mother’s Day, in order to give families an opportunity to gather and remember their mum or mother figure while visiting our beautiful sites.
“Some people will find it a great comfort to be able to come to our tranquil crematoria and watch the specially-recorded service in the company of others, or have a quiet moment of reflection in our chapels.
“But those who are not able, or who do not wish, to attend in person will not miss out, and can view the service online via YouTube, so that they can still honour their lost loved ones in a special way.”
The service will be provided in partnership with Huntington’s Disease Association, one of Westerleigh Group’s corporate charities for 2022.
The HDA provides care and support services for people with Huntington’s disease living in England and Wales, educates families and professionals, and champions people’s rights. You can support their work by donating here: justgiving.com/campaign/westerleighgroup.
Cath Stanley, chief executive of the Huntington's Disease Association said: “We would like to thank the Westerleigh Group for choosing us as their charity of the year.
“We are delighted to be part of this year's Mother's Day service. Thank you to the member of Huntington's disease community who wrote the poem in honour of her Mum which will be shared during the service.”
For details of what is happening at Test valley Crematorium, or how to view the service of remembrance on the Group's YouTube channel, visit: testvalleycrematorium.co.uk/events/.
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