Bristol-based crematorium group unveils world’s first experiential funeral venue
Westerleigh Group, which has its headquarters in Bristol, has unveiled a world-first which enables families to experience the funerals of the future, today, thanks to state-of-the-art technology.
Gedling Cematorium in Nottinghamshire can now uniquely personalise services to an unprecedented level, using the projection of dynamic theming in the chapel, accompanied by harmoniously coordinated soundscapes and lighting.
Discussions have already started about how to make the experience available at other Westerleigh locations in the future.
Westerleigh Group is one of the UK’s largest independent owners and operators of crematoria and cemeteries, with 41 sites across England, Scotland and Wales, all set within beautifully landscaped gardens of remembrance which provide peaceful places for people to visit and reflect.
The innovative experience is the result of a partnership between Westerleigh Group and the UK’s leading audio-visual provider to the bereavement industry, Obitus.
Obitus is a ‘customer first’ company dedicated to delivering more ways for bereaved families to say goodbye through high-quality, personalised music choices, visual tributes, live streaming and keepsakes for funeral services.
Thanks to this pioneering research and development project by Obitus, Gedling Crematorium can now offer the first stages of a ground-breaking, immersive, celebration of life experience.
Families can start their remembrance as they gather in the waiting room prior to the service by viewing the Gallery - a collection of 25 digital frames uploaded with images of their loved one.
Inside the chapel, the Canvas service allows personalised visual tributes to be projected onto the front wall, making it part of the theming that surrounds the wider wall space, creating a thoroughly immersive visual and audible experience. The Canvas transforms the whole area around the coffin into a themed backdrop.
High-spec audio equipment and customisable lighting have been installed by Obitus at Gedling Crematorium, enabling the team and families to uniquely tailor the chapel, waiting room / area and entrance areas to reflect the life of the loved one being remembered.
To begin with, there is a choice of ten dynamic backgrounds, from Country Hills and Waterfall to a Gentle Glimmer and a Football Stadium, but over time, Westerleigh Group and Obitus plan to signficantly increase the background options available, as well as further develop the capabilities of the Canvas technology’s uses in funeral services.
Debbie Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Westerleigh Group, said: “We’ve always been committed to making the services we host as uniquely personal as possible, which is also an ambition of our partners at Obitus.
“Now, thanks to their research and development, our shared vision has become a reality, and we’re extremely excited to be able to offer the funerals of the future, today, transforming the way the bereaved say their final farewells.
“This offers the opportunity for family members and friends to come together, not only to mourn and grieve but to become fully immersed in celebrating the lives of their loved ones in a way that nobody else in the world can do.
“Some families have already experienced the new technology and the initial feedback has been extremely encouraging, with people telling us they have been able to give their loved one a memorable send-off they would have loved.
“We would like to thank all the Funeral Directors and celebrants who have supported us and bereaved families through the introduction of this exciting development.”
James Crossland, the founder of Obitus, said: “We launched this project in response to the growing public demand for more personalisation at funerals.
“It’s taken several years to get to the stage where we’re ready to start using this, but even so, we’ve only scratched the surface of what is possible, and this is something that will continue to evolve and expand.
“We can’t wait to get more feedback from families who choose to incorporate this innovative service and will use their responses to help drive its further development.
“While there are ten backgrounds at present, what we’ve got here is a essentially a blank canvas with almost endless opportunities moving forward. The system is extremely flexible and adaptable.
“We’re excited to be working with Westerleigh Group to use the latest technology to take funeral services to a new level, and plan to continue the development project.”
Debbie added: “Moving forward, in partnership with Obitus, our aim is to make this technology as accessible to as many families as possible and we’ve already been discussing and planning which of our other crematoria will be the next to have this technology installed.”
Gedling Crematorium’s new service options of canvas and gallery can be seen by visiting: www.gedlingcrematorium.co.uk/personalising-a-funeral or www.obitus.com/canvas, and can be booked through funeral directors.
The bereaved, families and funeral directors who may be interested in hosting a funeral at Gedling Crematorium which includes the new immersive theming should contact the team via gedling@westerleighgroup.co.uk or 01158 714 107. It’s available at Gedling Crematorium for anyone to use, regardless of where you live – and until it comes to a Westerleigh Group crematorium near you in the future.
