Carlisle Cemetery & Crematorium

Carlisle singled out as one of the best in the UK

Carlisle's Cemetery and Crematorium has been singled out as one of the best in the UK.

Carlisle City Council, who owns and manages both facilities, will find out if they have been successful when the finalists are announced on Tuesday, 11 September. The eventual winner will be announced at the Institute of Cemetery and Cremation Management (ICCM) Annual Conference on Tuesday, 16 October.

The Dalston Road and Richardson Street based facilities are the current holders of the national award. This year's awards, now in their 10th year, were devised to raise standards in burial grounds and reward those who work hard to maintain our local burial sites.

Awards Administrator Maria Jose Ovalle said:

Cemeteries provide an essential public service and it's important to remind people that their role extends far beyond the burying of the dead. The Cemetery of the Year Awards aim to give our burial grounds the recognition they deserve, through setting standards for excellence and rewarding those that make a valuable and recognisable contribution to their community. We are extremely impressed with the quality of this year's applicants, and wish all the finalists the best of luck.

The competition also aims to increase public awareness of the importance a cemetery can play within a community and encourages cemeteries to give the public more memorial choice, whilst working within the parameters of what is safe to put up in a cemetery.

Entrants are assessed on a range of aspects including design, maintenance, facilities, memorial choice, environmental initiatives and involvement in the local community.

Carlisle City Cllr Ray Bloxham, Portfolio holder for Environment & Infrastructure said:

The Cemetery and Crematorium both provide a top quality service for the local community and they deserve all the plaudits they receive. To be singled out as one of best in the UK recognises the excellence displayed on a day to day basis within its buildings and through the hard work of all the staff. I'd like to be the first to pass on my congratulations.

A new Babies' Memorial Garden, which opened at the Richardson Street Cemetery on Wednesday, 7 March this year, has also been put forward for an award. Carlisle City Council invested £8,000 in the new garden and worked with Columbaria, a specialist memorial company, to create the new features.

As part of the judging, cemeteries were assessed in two parts:

• a desk based assessment of the application form and supporting material; and
• field assessment which is made on a single day against the set criteria. Entrants were nor advised on the judges visits in advance.

The Institute of Cemetery and Cremation Management (ICCM) sponsored the Cemetery of the Year Awards. The ICCM is an Institute that has represented professionals working in burial and cremation authorities and companies throughout the UK since 1913. Its aim is to improve standards of services to the bereaved by providing professionals, authorities and companies with Policy and Best Practice Guidance and Educational and Training programmes.