Barham Crematorium will Light up the Night

Barham Crematorium will be lighting up a November night with candles helping people to remember loved ones and support charity at the same time.

The crematorium has joined up with Cruse Bereavement Support to host a Light up the Night evening on Thursday 1 December from 6pm.

The event is free to attend but donations will be welcome for Cruse, the UK’s leading bereavement charity.

Barham Crematorium is part of Westerleigh Group, the UK’s largest independent owner and operator of crematoria and cemeteries, with 37 sites in England, Scotland and Wales, all set within beautifully-landscaped gardens of remembrance which provide pleasant, peaceful places for people to visit and reflect.

It is hoped that lighting up a dark December night with candles will help show off the natural beauty of the crematorium’s acres of manicured parkland in a new light.

Westerleigh Group’s regional support manager Darren Daughters said: “Light up the Night has been created to give friends and family an opportunity for shared remembrance of lost loved ones in a place of unique calm, peace, hope and community.

“The candles will be LED ones, so they are re-usable, which we know is important to people these days and helps reinforce Westerleigh Group’s commitment to being as sustainable and environmentally-friendly as possible.

“We look forward to showing visitors our beautiful grounds out of season, while supporting a very relevant charity.

“Cruse will also have their own bereavement support volunteers in attendance, should any visitors wish to speak to someone on the day.”

The event is open to people of all religions, or no religion.

The first Light up the Night event took place in Bristol in 2019 and saw a graveyard illuminated by thousands of candles in memory of lost loved ones, creating a rare sense of community, respect and reflection.

This year, a number of events are taking place in different regions all over the country, with several Westerleigh Group crematoria hosting them.

Darren added: “It should be a truly moving experience, open for anybody to drop by and walk, linger, light up an LED candle and remember family and friends, past and present.”

Cruse aims to ensure everyone who is grieving gets the support they need, when they need it.

The organisation has an army of around 4,000 volunteers, and its helpline answers 33,000 calls every year. In 2021, 27,000 people received individual support at one of the most painful and difficult periods of their lives.

Darren said: “Cruse helps grieving families through bereavement support, information and campaigning to try to ensure they are supported, respected and understood and we are proud to be able to support their work with an event which will be truly memorable.”

To find out more about the event, visit: www.cruse.org.uk/lightupthenight