Herefordshire Council does not provide a funeral directing service and is not able to collect a deceased and transport them to the cemetery. However it can provide help and advice on all of the available option whether you are using a funeral director or if you are arranging the funeral without the services of a funeral director. We have worked with a number of funeral directors who have agreed to support families with certain parts of the arrangements, which you might find helpful.

Cremation procedure

The crematorium is operated in accordance with statutory regulations and the Code of Cremation Practice issued by the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities (FBCA), a copy of which is available on request.

An appointment can be made, during office hours, to visit the crematorium, including the crematory and other non-public areas. During your visit you can discuss any issues of concern.

Paperwork required for a cremation

Once the booking has been made, the following paperwork must be completed, it is important that the required forms are completed accurately to ensure that the funeral can go ahead. The completed paperwork must be delivered to the crematorium office not later than 9.00am one working day prior to the service. 

Preliminary application for Cremation 

This form provides us with the information that we require for the arrangements you have requested. It confirms the date and time of the service and provides further details that were not given at the time of the booking. A member of the Bereavement Services team can help you to complete this form.

Form 1 (Application for Cremation)

This statutory form is normally completed by the next of kin or executor (one person may be both). If you are not the next of kin or executor but you are the person taking on the responsibility for the funeral, you will have to explain why you are completing the form and not the next of kin or executor. You must be aged over 16 to complete this form. You will also be asked various questions relating to the deceased, and whether the near relatives have been informed of the proposed cremation. You will also be asked whether the deceased had any implant placed in the body which may be hazardous when the body is cremated, for example, a pacemaker or radioactive device.

This form also detail your instructions for the release or disposal of the ashes. 
If the death is reported to the coroner, a Certificate for Cremation (Form 6) may be issued. This usually necessitates a post-mortem being carried out and, where appropriate, an inquest.

Reporting the death in this way is quite usual and you should not be alarmed. The Coroner's officer or other staff will keep you informed of progress by the coroner.

Registrars Certificate of Cremation

This will be required at all times, except when the Coroner's certificate is issued. You will need to visit the Registrar in the district where the deceased died. The Registrar will issue a Certificate for Cremation which should be passed to the Bereavement Services office as soon as possible.

Coffin

With cremation a coffin is essential to allow us to place the body in the cremator. A plaque or label containing the following information must be fixed to the lid of the coffin, or on the side of the coffin if the lid of the coffin is to be removed or obscured:

• The name of the person being cremated

Please note: Coffins for cremation must be obtained from an accredited manufacturer. In all cases the coffin dimensions should be no more than 88 inches long, 27 inches high and 40 inches wide.

‘Where to purchase a coffin’

Transporting the coffin

The transport of the coffin requires a van or large estate car, alternatively you may ask a funeral director to help you with this. ‘Support Services that can be offered by a funeral director’. You have a common law right as next of kin or as an executor to be given the body. You will need to speak to the mortuary staff to arrange for the collection at which time you may require an additional person with you for assistance. The mortuary staff will inform you of any necessary procedures, but you will require the Registrar’s or Coroner’s Certificate for Cremation.

Once you have removed the body, or if the deceased died at home, you need to consider how to proceed. The body can be retained at home up until the funeral, but the room must be cool. If you prefer, you might be able to hold the body at the mortuary (with permission of the mortuary staff and a holding fee) and collected on the day of the funeral.

Deciding on the type of service you want at the crematorium

The choice is really up to you as family. The service can be as simple as you wish, there are no right or wrong approaches to this, but we do suggest you need a simple structure to follow. We also suggest you have a look around the chapel prior to your service taking place.

Type of service do you want

At Hereford crematorium you have three options:

1. Direct cremation (A direct cremation is the term used for the simplest cremation available with no funeral service).
2. 30 minute service in the chapel
3. 45 minute service in the chapel

Who is going to lead the service?

Family, officiant, celebrant (religious or otherwise)

Eulogy: would you or family/friend like to pay tribute, say a few words about the deceased? 

Music 

The crematorium is able to provide any form of music as long as it is commercially available. We recommend at least three tracks per service, to cover the entry, reflection, and exiting the service.

Tributes

You can make use of large display screens to show photographs or tributes to personalise and celebrate the life of the deceased. The more content you have the more time might be needed.

1. A single photo is a picture of your loved one that can be shown throughout the service. This can provide families a focal point to reflect upon the life lived during the ceremony.
2. Music Tributes are a compelling way to show a life well lived. Our Music Tribute gives you the opportunity to set your photos perfectly to your choice of music. The video can be played at your chosen time during the funeral service for a truly powerful moment of reflection.
3. Basic Slideshow where you choose up to 25 photos and we will put these together as a tasteful slideshow, gently fading between each photo. This option does not include music.

Live stream

We understand that sometimes not everyone can make it to the service. We can professionally stream your funeral service and make it available for a further 28 days. This gives people the chance to attend and pay their respects, even if they can’t make it in person.

Other considerations

• Do you need to reserve seating for the immediate family?
• Do you have bearers to carry the coffin?
• Committal: when bringing the service to an end, do you wish for the curtains to close? Who do you want to close the curtains? They can be left open if you wish.

At the conclusion of your service, the chapel attendant will open the exit doors. This leads to the floral tribute area where any floral tributes will be displayed. You can exit the service room first or once the rest of the congregation have left. You can take the flowers away with you if you would like. Otherwise, flowers are kept for 5 days only, before being disposed of.