Cremations for Northumberland area are held
at Cowpen Crematorium, Cowpen Road, Blyth,
Northumberland, NE24 5SZ
Services may take place Monday to Friday between the hours of
9.00am and 3.30pm at 30-minute intervals and should be booked with
the crematorium at least three working days in advance. It will be
necessary to inform the hospital or medical practitioner who last
attended the deceased that a cremation is to take place. The
medical practitioner will then complete a statutory Form B setting
out the cause of death and other circumstances surrounding the
death. This Form B will then be passed to another qualified medical
practitioner who will examine the body and complete a confirmatory
certificate known as Form C before arranging for both forms to be
delivered to the crematorium. There is a charge for the completion
of both of these forms.
Where the Coroner has been involved in establishing the cause of
death and has issued a Coroners Order for Cremation Forms B and C
mentioned previously are not required. You will need to sign a
statutory Application for Cremation (Form A) in the presence of
another person who will be required to certify that you are known
to them and that they have no reason to doubt the answer given to
any of the questions on the form.
The crematorium will also need written instructions for the
service and disposal of the cremated remains. All statutory forms,
including the Coroners Order for Cremation or the Registrars
Certificate for Cremation or Burial, must be delivered to the
crematorium by no later than 10.00am on the working day prior to
the funeral service.
The full service, which will last approximately 20 minutes, can
take place in the crematorium chapel or part of the service can be
held in your own church with only a short committal ceremony being
held at the crematorium. Should you wish to have a longer service
or expect a large number of people to attend, it is possible to
arrange for additional time on payment of a small charge. As an
alternative, the full service may be held in your own church and
the coffin brought for cremation with no further ceremony. In this
case the coffin will still be brought into the chapel and be placed
on the catafalque before entering the crematory.
Whichever option is chosen it will be necessary to consult the
officiating minister to ensure that the appointment is suitable to
all parties.
It is not necessary to use a hearse to bring the coffin to the
crematorium. People arranging personalised funerals often use their
own estate cars or hire a van in lieu of the traditional hearse.
Similarly you may use a biodegradable (cardboard) coffin instead of
the usual chipboard coffin if you wish.
Please email hns@northumberland.gov.uk
with any enquiries and we will get back to you as soon as
possible.
