Normally this would be arranged by an executor or the next of kin to the deceased either through a Funeral Director or directly with the crematorium should families wish to arrange a funeral themselves.

Both Orthodox Jews and Muslims do not cremate.

In general burial costs are higher however in addition to the cremation fee there are fees payable for medical certificates. These additional fees are not payable when the Coroner or Procurator Fiscal (in Scotland) issues a certificate. Even with these additional fees cremation tends to be less expensive.

Services can be of any type much as in a burial the only difference being the committal is in the Crematorium Chapel, not at the graveside. The main service can be held either in the Crematorium Chapel or elsewhere and the content can be whatever the family considers appropriate.

Either the Funeral Director or the Crematorium (should arrangements be made directly with them) would discuss the options available, in general most crematoria will hold the cremated remains free of charge for 28 days allowing a decision to be reached.

Cremated Remains can be interred in the lawns of the Gardens of Remembrance or strewn in the Woodland Walk. Alternatively they can be placed in an existing grave in a cemetery or a cremated remains plot may be purchased in which the remains can be interred. Should none of these options be appropriate the cremated remains can be collected from the crematorium and disposed of elsewhere.

Gardens of Remembrance are special areas set aside for the interment of cremated remains. They are continually used for this purpose and because of this it is not always possible to identify the exact area in which an individual set of remains were placed.

Memorial vases may be placed around the kerbs in the gardens of remembrance and are available on a 10 year lease system. Roses, both standard and bush are available on a 5 year lease system in the memorial rose garden. There is also the facility to place an entry in the book of remembrance. Where cremated remains are interred in private plots a headstone may be obtained from a monumental mason.

Upon arrival at the Crematorium you will proceed into the chapel you can either follow the coffin or the coffin can be placed in the chapel prior to your arrival. Alternatively you may be seated prior to the coffin entering the chapel. The service of your choice will then commence.

At the conclusion of the service after you have exited the chapel the coffin will be committed to the cremator.

Yes, this can be arranged if you ask at the time of booking the funeral.

Yes, it would be impossible to place a body into a cremator without it being in a rigid container.

The only time this would occur would be for a mother and infant or twin children.

Although items can be left on the deceased it is advisable to remove them, as they are not recoverable after cremation.

An identity card is issued for every cremation which stays with the coffin throughout the whole cremation process.

Once the cremation process has completed the remains are withdrawn from the cremator and placed in a cremulator to reduce them to a fine granular consistency. They are then disposed of according to the instructions given by the applicant for cremation.

The cremated remains of an adult would weigh between 2 - 4 kg.

Where cremated remains are strewn they are widely dispersed, as the highest biochemical activity exists at the surface of the soil. Chemical reactions resulting from exposure to elements quickly breakdown cremated remains so that little trace can be observed.

Clear instructions should be made in writing to your executor or next of kin. It must be remembered that your request is not legally binding however if you discuss your request with your family it should ease any difficulties at a later time.