The Vale Crematorium at Evesham

13/10/2025

A big thank you to all funeral directors and celebrants who attended our Obitus evening at The Vale. Helping to provide personalised services for families loved ones, in both music, visual tributes and the keepsakes.

09/10/2025

It’s been another productive week on site, with strong progress across several areas with City Gate Construction.

Inside the chapel, Obitus made a successful start yesterday with the installation of projectors, a lobby screen, and speakers. This week, the focus is on completing lighting and sound elements so that floor preparation can begin tomorrow.

Plasterers are back on site addressing walls now that the lighting is in place, helping to minimise future snags. Electricians and decorators continue to work efficiently alongside the mechanical team, who have confirmed that all commissioning should be complete by Friday.

Externally, all trees around the car park have now been planted, and work on the hedging has begun. The Floral Tribute area is complete and ready for fencing, with block paving and kerb work continuing. The entrance area is also being cleared, marking another step forward towards completion.

The site is really starting to take shape, and it’s great to see the teamwork and collaboration driving steady progress as we prepare to open towards the end of this month.

09/10/2025

Westerleigh Group has launched Westerleigh Funeral Plans - trust-backed plans designed to be fulfilled by funeral directors in partnership with Westerleigh crematoria.

Key benefits include fixed pricing, a low admin fee, and three plan options from full attended services to direct cremation.

To find out more email: fdplans@westerleighgroup.co.uk

Full details here: https://ow.ly/AEWE50WYG1V

08/10/2025

Curious about who’s joining us next on Before You Go?

Our host Matt Brook welcomes a range of guests for open and honest conversations about death, grief, and the way we remember — important topics worth talking about before you go.

Follow us on Spotify and be the first to know when new episodes drop: https://ow.ly/ytfs50X4eaa

07/10/2025

Last nights beautiful sunset in The Vales memorial grounds looking towards the Malvern Hill, credit to Louise one of our crematorium assistance for the fantastic photo

03/10/2025

Our new podcast Before You Go is now live — with the first three episodes available to listen to today from Dr Bill Webster, Emma Britton and Duncan Reynolds.

Hosted by Matt Brook, the podcast invites guests to share open and honest conversations about death, grief, and the way we remember produced in collaboration with Empica.

Listen now to all three episodes and follow us on Spotify to stay up to date with future episodes: https://ow.ly/KZNL50X4emh

02/10/2025

Westerleigh Group now offers Westerleigh Funeral Plans, created to help funeral directors provide those looking to plan ahead with peace of mind through fixed-price, trust-backed funeral plans.

These plans guarantee a cremation at any Westerleigh Group crematorium and include flexible options to meet families’ needs, all supported by low admin fees and straightforward onboarding for a funeral director.

If you’re a funeral director interested in offering these plans, please contact us at fdplans@westerleighgroup.co.uk or find more info here: https://ow.ly/Kt6n50WYG94

02/10/2025

As we countdown to the launch of our first three episodes of Before You Go, take a listen to our latest trailer featuring Duncan Reynolds, Managing Director of Odlings Ltd in Hull — a wholesale masonry business with a legacy of over 150 years.

In this conversation, Duncan and Matt explore memorial options, clear up common misconceptions about memorialisation, and discuss its environmental sustainability.

Listen now and follow Before You Go on Spotify so you don’t miss the full episode when it drops: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4RSuEVD6DiDu3r4k19mSRa?si=6lv0df-7RiSy52KdO8EtJQ

Before You Go · Episode

01/10/2025

In our latest Before You Go trailer, host Matt Brook sits down with Emma the Celebrant — a funeral celebrant from Bridgwater who has supported more than 800 bereaved families since training with the United Kingdom Society of Celebrants in 2020.

Before becoming a celebrant, Emma spent 13 years as a BBC local radio presenter across Somerset and Bristol.

Emma shares her story with honesty and courage: in April 2025, her life changed when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 ALK-positive lung cancer — a rare genetic cancer that is incurable but, thanks to modern medicine, can be managed.

Listen to Emma’s powerful conversation in the trailer now, and follow Before You Go on Spotify to hear the full episode this Friday: https://ow.ly/hT3f50X53uh

01/10/2025

A lovely video from Michael over at Babworth Crematorium today showing the process of our living memorials and how they’re carefully prepared for our loved one’s 🌹❤️

30/09/2025

On International Podcast Day, we’re proud to announce the launch of our new podcast ‘Before You Go’, produced in collaboration with Empica.

Hosted by Matt Brook, Before You Go invites a range of guests to have open and honest conversations about death, grief, and the way we remember — topics worth talking about before you go.

The first full episode drops this Friday, but you can listen to the trailer now featuring our first guest, Dr Bill Webster, a grief counsellor who turned personal loss into a lifelong mission to support others.

Listen to the trailer here: https://ow.ly/C5ci50X4emy

Read more about the podcast here: https://ow.ly/BXex50X4faZ

27/09/2025

Immersive funeral services are coming soon to two more Westerleigh crematoria!

Over the next few weeks, chapels in Vale Royal Crematorium and Sedgemoor Crematorium will be transformed with cutting-edge technology designed to create truly personal service experiences.

From seasonal landscapes and peaceful natural backdrops to the energy of a football stadium, families will have a wide choice of themes - each customisable to reflect the life being remembered in a unique and meaningful way.

This innovation will give even more families around the country the opportunity to celebrate their loved ones like never before.

Find out more: https://www.westerleighgroup.co.uk/blog/post.php?s=2025-09-26-westerleigh-group-name-two-more-funeral-super-venues

25/09/2025

We are pleased to be supporting Child Bereavement UK's Christmas Concert at The Grosvenor Chapel, Mayfair, on Monday 1st December 2025.

The concert will feature Adil Ray, Bear Grylls OBE, Dominic West, Naomi Simon (BBC Young Chorister of the Year), and Red Hot Strings.

Funds raised will help Child Bereavement UK continue their vital work supporting children, young people, and families coping with the devastating loss of a loved one.

As one of the charity’s partners, we have pledged to donate at least £100,000 over the next two years to support their work.

Tickets are £40 (early bird until 30 September) or £50 standard.
Find out more and book here:

Join us for an enchanting evening with special guests.

24/09/2025

This week marks 1 year of the Canvas Wall at Gedling Crematorium allowing us to host immersive funeral services for families to celebrate their loved ones.

It's an honour to help families celebrate their loved ones in a uniquely personal way and continue to bring the canvas wall to other Westerleigh Group crematoriums with the help of the team at Obitus.

24/09/2025

We have launched Westerleigh Funeral Plans - trust-backed plans designed to be fulfilled by funeral directors in partnership with Westerleigh crematoria.

Key benefits include fixed pricing, a low admin fee, and three plan options from full attended services to direct cremation.

To find out more email: fdplans@westerleighgroup.co.uk

Full details here: https://ow.ly/AEWE50WYG1V

23/09/2025

Another in our spotlight feature on celebrants 🔦

Tracy Fellows writesI have been a Civil Celebrant for 8 and a half years and absolutely love it. Being based in Worcester I regularly conduct funeral services at The Vale Crematorium.

Website: tracyfellows.co.uk

WHAT I DO.

Death can be something of a taboo subject with many people finding it very difficult to talk about.

So when a loved one dies we are then forced into decisions we may not feel comfortable with or needing some guidance.

I will help you along every step of the way to decide what type of funeral service you would like. We will also discuss individual or family beliefs and together we'll design a unique tribute to the loved one.

In today's society more and more people class themselves as non-religious, others may follow a certain spiritual path but are not necessarily religious.

There are no set rules to a funeral service but here are some of the options you could include:
Music
Readings/poems
Hymns
Tribute
Family tribute

Family and close friends may want to participate, I very much welcome and encourage all people who wish to express their sentiments and to say goodbye in their own way.

Because it will be a civil ceremony you can include anything you want to- light candles, release balloons, scatter petals or write messages on post-it notes. The choice is yours.

I will be there for you and your family throughout the whole process to support you.

I live in Worcester with my husband and two daughters. I was drawn to being a Funeral celebrant when a close family member died and a local celebrant conducted the service for us. I remember watching how comfortable she made everyone feel at this sad time and listening to the wonderful words spoken about my family member, made it feel so personal like she actually knew her. It was at that moment I realised I wanted to help and support people at a difficult time and make them feel exactly how I felt at that moment.
I am an honest, approachable and friendly person who strives to give the best I can at every funeral service I am part of.

I have completed my training with the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants where I am also a member.

19/09/2025

Beautiful photos from a recent service at Treswithian Downs Crematorium this week, featuring a horse-drawn carriage.

A touching and memorable way to celebrate a loved one’s life.

18/09/2025

Westerleigh Funeral Plans have now launched. These trust-backed funeral plans are designed to offer those looking to plan ahead peace of mind, with a guaranteed cremation at any Westerleigh Group crematorium.

The plans are offered, and the funeral conducted through local funeral directors and include:
• A range of service options – from traditional attended to direct
• Fixed pricing to protect against rising costs
• Low admin fees
• Dedicated account support and onboarding

If you're a funeral director and would like to find out more about how these plans can support your local community, please visit our website: https://ow.ly/VNKs50WYFYI

14/09/2025

Adam and Mike working hard out in the ground this week trying to tame the invasive penny wort w**d in the pond and Adam replanting the COVID dedication memorial.

10/09/2025

31/08/2025

The Vale Crematorium prides itself on accommodating every funeral for a loved one to make them as individual and personal as possible. Most recently a V W Camper Van supplied by Morton’s Funeral Hire attended a service.

31/08/2025

Next in our spotlight feature on celebrants is William Blow 🔦

Bill is a qualified, experienced and award-winning celebrant, based in Worcester. He routinely conducts funerals across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire but is happy to travel further afield where necessary. He trained with Civil Ceremonies, holds the NONC level three Diploma in Funeral Celebrancy and (being a firm believer in continuing personal and professional development) is about to start the level four diploma.
Bill is proud to be a member of the Association of Independent Celebrants and has adopted the Funeral Celebrant Accord.
When it comes to leading a service, Bill is known for the rich tone of his voice and the personal way he delivers each ceremony. Families he has worked with also comment on the empathy and compassion Bill displays both before, during and after the funeral.
Bill was recently nominated in the Funeral Officiant of the Year category in the Good Funeral Awards 2025.

William Blow Independent Celebrant
01905 953753
07962 531185
bill@williamblow.co.uk
www.williamblow.co.uk

25/08/2025

Another in our spotlight series on Clergy-led funerals 🔦

Church of England clergy are always honoured to be asked to lead a funeral. A Church of England funeral is available to everyone, regardless of whether or not they attend church, and ministry teams will support families every step of the way. The message at all Church of England funerals, wherever they happen, is one of hope. Although there is sadness because someone has died, in every funeral led by our clergy, there will also be a message of hope in life after death.

Our clergy team are based in churches around the local area,and all have significant experience in leading flexible and unique funerals and supporting families. The pastoral support continues after the service, through many different ways in which churches are there for those who are bereaved.

Find your local church at www.achurchnearyou.com or speak with your funeral director about a Church of England minister leading your loved one’s funeral.