West Wiltshire Crematorium Newsletter - April '26
Welcome
We are excited to introduce our quarterly newsletter, designed to keep you informed and engaged in everything happening at the Crematorium. Each edition will feature:
- Meet the Team: Get to know the people behind the work
- Team Member Focus: Spotlight on individuals making an impact
- Dates for the Diary
- Myth Busting: A chance to clear up common misconceptions surrounding cremation
- Around the Grounds: Updates on our beautiful gardens
- Updates from Site Manager Ben Edward
We hope you enjoy our newsletter and look forward to sharing updates with you every quarter.
Meet the team
Behind everything we do is a dedicated team committed to providing compassionate care and support. In this section, we’re proud to introduce the people who make a difference every day.
| Site Manager | Ben Edward |
| Assistant Manager | Lucy Derrick |
| Crematorium Assistant | Mel Whiloughby |
| Crematorium Assistant | Aneira Hopkins |
| Crematorium Assistant | Roz Browne |
| Gardener | Ian Mcpherson-Loriguillo |
Myth Busting
A lot of conversations we have with clients stem around questions surrounding the process after someone has passed away. People will generally start their questions with “This may sound silly” or “This might sound a little weird”! Well, we would like to put your mind at rest by firstly saying they are not “silly” or “weird” questions. The reality is, that if you don’t know about something but you hear comments made, you may start to wonder. So, every quarter we are going to answer some of those questions.
Question: Is the body taken out of the coffin prior to cremation?
No. Once the crematorium receives the coffin, it remains sealed at all times.
Question: I have been told the cremation process takes up to 10 hours. Is this correct?
No. On average, the cremation time is around 90 minutes. Time is then given to cool the remains down and then process them into ashes. Generally, the ashes would be ready around 3 hours after the cremation has started.
Question corner
As well as myth-busting, we have a lot of general questions asked by the public. In each edition, we will look to answer as many as we can. If you have a question you would like answered, please ask!
Are dogs allowed in the chapel?
Yes! We welcome all assistance dogs and well-behaved dogs. They must be kept on a lead at all times.
Team Focus
Lucy Derrick
Lucy joined the team in December 2021 as a Memorial Advisor and was promoted to Assistant Manager in 2024. With over three years of experience in the bereavement sector, she supports families with care and compassion. In her role, Lucy helps oversee daily operations, supports colleagues, and ensures the highest standards of service. She is dedicated to guiding families through their journey of saying goodbye with dignity and respect.
Dates for the diary
- 30th Birthday Community Day, Saturday 16th May, 10am - 4pm
- Summer Thanksgiving Service, Thursday 16th July, 6pm - 8pm
- Community Open Day, Saturday 3rd October, 10am - 2pm
- Christmas Memorial Service, Thursday 10th December, 6pm
Click the events above for more details.
Around the grounds
West Wiltshire Crematorium was designed in sympathy with traditional Wiltshire architecture, and overlooks the pastures bordering the Kennet & Avon canal at Semington.
The grounds have been arranged to offer areas of formal design, alongside areas of unspoilt natural beauty, and every effort has been made to create a tranquil atmosphere in which to remember a loved one.
Key stats-
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We have 521 trees in our care and 40 different species.
- Over 10 years, the benefits our trees provide include:
- Sequestering 253,140.28 kg CO2 Equivalent.
- Intercept 10,414.24 Cubic metres of rainfall.
- Remove 86.70kg of nitrogen dioxide from the air.
- Remove 18.81 kg of sulphur dioxide from the air.
