Insight

Staff and representatives of the Royal British Legion commemorated the outbreak of World War One.

Bentley Crematorium remembers war heroes

Bentley Crematorium held their annual open day and paired it with a Commemoration Service to mark the centenary of World War One, inviting local people to attend and mark the significant date.

The event took place on Saturday 26 July, with the dedication service taking place at 1pm in the crematorium’s chapel to remember those that had fallen protecting Britain and its interests between 1914-1918. The service was conducted by Reverend Andrew Bryant and was followed by a speech from deputy mayor, Roger Keeble. The day also included a Dedication of a new Armed Services Memorial Garden with the flagpole and headstone, and two British Legion Standard Bearers, Sydney Bryer and Tony Motley, were in attendance. To mark this important date further, president Brian Kitchener presented the exhortation and “The Last Post” reveille was held with two minutes silence.

Michelle Hales, the manager of the crematorium, explained: “When designing the Memorial Garden, I wanted to create something very simple, but stunning at the same time. I wanted the headstone to look like a traditional war grave, but chose a hand painted poppy which makes it more unique. The garden was designed with the idea that if anyone wanted to have a loved one’s ashes laid to rest within this garden, they could. I had so many compliments on the day to say how lovely the garden has turned out.”

 

There were more activities in the crematorium, with a local florist putting on a live flower arranging show and light refreshments were available for the guests. Throughout the day there was the opportunity to write memorial tags and fasten them to balloons for a small donation. They were released at 3pm with the special messages attached. There were also two charity stalls at the event; The Royal British Legion, Brentwood and The Essex Air Ambulance. The money raised was split between the two stalls as well as St John’s Ambulance.

Michelle added: “The Essex Air Ambulance is a charity very close to my heart as they saved my son’s life back in March. It was fantastic to be able to have the three charities present and the money raised was split equally between them all.”

The successful event was topped off with the British Legion volunteers stating that they would like to hold an annual remembrance service at Bentley Crematorium. They also suggested that when a funeral of an ex-serviceman takes place at Bentley, the flag can but put at half mast, a wonderful way for the crematorium, its staff and its guests to pay their respects.