Cannock Chase Crematorium Behind the Scenes Tour
Overview
Yes, you did read the title correctly, we are offering a group of Spice members the chance to explore all areas of this new and very modern Crematorium. We received such positive feedback from our visit in March (see below), that we decided we must offer another group of Spicers the opportunity to book.
The Manager of this Crematorium is Jo Walker who is a Spice member and is also very keen to promote a healthy understanding of the bereavement industry. Jo tells us that when talking to other members on events, she often hears myths and misunderstandings of what happens behind the scenes at a crematorium as well as meeting those who find the whole subject difficult to engage with, ‘taboo’ even. However, it is a sad fact that most of us will have to organise a funeral at one point in our lives and it is a lot easier if you have had the opportunity to learn about such things and ask all the questions you want to ask, before you are emotionally involved.
For that reason, Jo has come to us with the idea of running an ‘access all areas’ tour to dispel the myths and hopefully make the subject of death a little less taboo. It's also hoped that our tour might help to make some difficult conversations with our loved ones easier. Jo has been in the cremation industry for over 6 years and previously worked in hospices so she has a wealth of bereavement knowledge to share.
We hope you will also be impressed and reassured by the levels of care, respect and dignity that are demonstrated by everyone who works in a crematorium – particularly those that we wouldn’t normally meet, but are trusted with the final journey of our loved ones.
Please read all details below including the sample itinerary to check whether or not this event is right for you.
Includes
Guided tour of the memorial grounds and the facilities inside, tea and coffee will be provided at the end with the opportunity for a Question and Answer session with a Funeral Director.
Extras
Although there is no charge for this visit, the Crematorium will be collecting for Cannock Food Bank. Please place a financial donation in the box at the end of the visit.
Plus any drinks at the pub afterwards!
Location & Itinerary
- Upon arrival, we will enjoy a tour of memorial grounds whilst appreciating the architecturally striking building from the outside.
- Once inside we will be able to access the main areas of the building such as the waiting room and ceremony hall with a chance to see the current music and video tribute options that are available.
- We then enter the area that very few people get to see. The cremation hall itself. The processes and equipment will be explained, including the complex systems that ensure that increasingly strict environmental standards are met
- We can now relax with a much-needed tea or coffee.
- Our tour will close with one of the funeral directors being invited in for a question-and-answer session. A donation box will be present at the end for monetary donations to Cannock Food Bank.
For those wanting to socialise and unwind afterwards, there is a good traditional pub just up the road called The Five Ways Inn. They don’t generally serve food but can offer a pork (or vegetarian) bap and chips if given prior notice. Those booked will be contacted closer to the time to take any orders.
Although our visit will be made as informal and gentle as possible, it is still at a crematorium, and we will be faced unequivocally with the stark realities of death. We are very aware that this could be very upsetting for some, especially those that have recently been through a significant bereavement. Our aim is simply to bring you better knowledge and understanding, not to cause further upset. So please do not book if you think it might be too much or too soon. Our guides have a wealth of experience dealing with sensitive situations and will of course be compassionate and mindful when delivering the tour.
We are hoping to arrange further tours throughout the year should you wish to book on a later date.
| Type | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Free (Members only) Cash donation on the day | £0.00 | Available |
Not enough spaces left for you? Join the waitlist
Host & Everything Else
Feedback from our visit in March 22
· This visit was really amazing - it was such a powerful session and it was a real privilege to be invited behind the scenes to witness the things that we saw. It was definitely a very unique opportunity to be able to ask questions to a group of professionals in a very safe space so well done all round and to Spice for putting it on.
I can't praise the crematorium staff enough - they made us feel at ease and were so understanding and empathetic they made it clear that we could ask anything at all. What brilliant people. They were well prepared and their professionalism and respect for their roles shone through.
It has definitely changed the way I feel about dying and death and will help me start conversations in my family - I can use what I have learned to open the subject and I might even use the funeral planning checklist we came away with to talk through with my parents. I no longer get that knot in my stomach when I think about funerals now - literally it has had an overnight effect. I would actually like to come again because I have since thought of more questions.
· Really enjoyed the evening, found it absolutely fascinating. Spice host friendly, staff at the crematorium were exceptional at making you feel welcome and at ease. I would definitely book this type of event again as it’s a chance to visit places that you wouldn’t get to see normally. Joining details spot on, the whole evening was very pleasant and informative. 10/10 for the staff, superb.
· Hi there Last night I was fortunate enough to attend the behind the scenes visit to the crematorium in Cannock. It was a very informative and inspiring visit and the staff there, were so compassionate and professional. The only criticism I have (and it’s not spice or Cannock Crematorium’s fault) was that a lady in the group sneakily took a photo on her mobile phone of the coffin as it was being prepared for the crematory. I found this hideously in appropriate and it stopped me going to the pub after.
· Really enjoyed this event, it was very well organised and the staff were very passionate and informative about their jobs, which we all know can be a difficult subject to talk about.
· I found the whole event to be extremely interesting and informative and given the subject matter, it was dealt with in the most respectful and dignified manner.
All the staff/speakers were lovely and were happy to answer any questions that were asked.
I liked the fact we were given a helpful ‘checklist’ at the end of the evening of things to consider regarding our own deaths and I shall be certainly looking at this to make the whole process easier for my loved ones.
· I was a little apprehensive about attending the Spice event because of the subject content. I needn't have worried. Jo and all the various members of the presentation team really put us at our ease by being warm, friendly, and managed to come across as being light hearted but retained the utmost respect for their profession.
The Crematorium was easy to find- even in the dark. We were welcomed with tea, coffee hot chocolate and introduced to one of the managers, a local funeral director, Jo herself, and the gentleman that works the Cremator machine. We were split into three groups. Mr O'Malley, a local funeral director talked to us about what services they can provide. Jo talked us through various options that could be chosen for a funeral at their Crematorium. I found it appealing that there is one hour between slots and not the usual half an hour at the council run Crems. Jo was very sensitive and explained that we could leave the tour at any time if we felt overwhelmed and sit in a quiet room. Liam and Dan explained in detail the process of cremation and explained how the cremator works. We were able to see the machine and ask questions. It was a little noisy in the room!
There was no charge for the event but a voluntary donation for Ukraine was encouraged. Afterwards we were invited to have a yummy pork bap and chips for the princely sum of £5 at the Five Ways Inn which was only a 2 minute drive, a fitting end to a most enjoyable evening.
I would thoroughly recommend the experience.
· I found this event very informative and helped to dispel a lot of myths about cremation. I was made very welcome and Jo the manager of the crematorium was very pleasant and put us all at ease in a very unusual situation.
I would very much recommend this event to anyone who feels they may be able to cope with this event, I myself was apprehensive but now pleased I attended.
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