After listening to local residents who wanted to commemorate family members who have been cremated, South Tyneside Council has created a new form of memorial in Whitburn Cemetery.
Whitburn Ward councillors Tracey Dixon, Peter Boyack and Sylvia Spraggon were asked to investigate how a permanent memorial could be provided in the cemetery.
Discussions between the councillors, local residents and the Council's Bereavement Services have resulted in the development and introduction of a new scheme in the form of a boulder memorial which can be engraved with an inscription and have a photo affixed to it.
The boulder memorials have been placed on a sandstone plinth around the chapel in the cemetery grounds.
Councillor Tracey Dixon said: "We are pleased that we have been able to work with local residents to create a tasteful and lasting memorial to deceased relatives who have been cremated. The boulder memorials have been set up around the chapel to create a peaceful area of remembrance where families and friends can visit at any time during opening hours. This has been welcomed by local people who have written to than the Bereavement Service staff and local councillors. We received a really nice letter from Mrs Vera Richardson, who said thank you for the lovely memorial. She will now be able to walk through the cemetery and reflect on the treasured memories she had with her late husband."
The boulder memorial scheme has now been inaugurated and anyone wishing to lease a boulder memorial with an inscription and photo included should contact Bereavement Services, South Shields Crematorium, John Reid Road, South Shields NE34 9DT, Tel: 0191 427 3190 or e-mail: bereavementservices@southtyneside.gov.uk
Boulder memorials normally take approximately six weeks from ordering to delivery for placement in the cemetery.
Pres/ns/cs/b/abpr507ck
