Sandwell Berevement Services

Sandwell Bereavement

Services

Bereavement Services, Memorial information, “One stop shop” Registrars

Sandwell Council’s Bereavement Services provide a caring, sensitive and high quality

service for people at a difficult time in their lives. Losing a loved one presents many

challenges, and the Bereavement Services staff can give helpful advice and guidance

about all aspects of funerals and memorials.

The team is responsible for ensuring the high standards of service and care appreciated

by the visitors to our cemeteries and crematoria. The main office is situated within the

grounds of West Bromwich Crematorium.

It is our intention to offer a high standard of care and options, which enable each member

of the community to arrange a funeral, which is meaningful to them and their family.

An important part of this service is to care for the environment and use nature and wildlife

to enhance our cemeteries.

The service has adopted the Charter for the Bereaved, issued by the Institute of

Cemetery and Crematorium Management. The Charter is a commitment to improving the

services offered by confronting rather than disguising the death experience and by

reducing ignorance. It defines the rights of the bereaved and offers greater influence

over funeral arrangements, thereby controlling costs and potentially improving

satisfaction levels.

The majority of people know little about funerals and how they can organise a funeral to

satisfy their belief, lifestyle or other needs. We are committed to giving you the

knowledge that you require at this most distressful time, to be in control when a funeral

needs to be arranged. We can advise you about how to organise the funeral, and instruct

a funeral director to meet your personal and financial needs. A series of free leaflets are

available, going through various issues in more detail.

Each member of the team takes pride in the fact that all funeral services conducted within

the cemeteries and crematoria are done with the utmost respect and reverence to both

the deceased and the bereaved. We offer a flexible approach in order to incorporate as

many of the bereaved wishes as possible, while still upholding the ethical and legal

requirements as laid down by the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977, the Code of

Cremation Practice and the Charter for the Bereaved.

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Bereavement Services, West Bromwich Crematorium, Forge Lane, off Newton Road,

West Bromwich, B71 3SX Tel: 0121 569 6700

“Tell us Once”

About the Service

We recognise that in addition to coping with a bereavement, you are also faced with making

many arrangements and notifying a large number of council departments and government agencies.

This process can be confusing, distressing and time consuming.

Sandwell Bereavement Support Officers are available to offer a notification service at this difficult time

and will assist you by signposting you to additional organisations you may need to contact.

How we can help

The Bereavement Support Service can assist you in a number of ways, we can notify, on your behalf, a

number of Sandwell Council and Central Government departments about the death, provide you with

information and advice about a range of services, who else you will need to inform, information on

probate, counselling and other support services.

How to book an appointment

You can book an appointment to coincide with your appointment with the Registrar when registering the

death in Sandwell.

Alternatively we can book you an appointment for a time and date convenient to you. Appointments are

held at:

Highfields, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8RJ

To book an appointment please contact our Bereavement Support Officer on the number below:

Registrars (to register a death) Tel: 0121 569 2480

Bereavement Support Officer Tel: 0121 569 2492

At the appointment

Your appointment will be with a Bereavement Support Officer and should last no more than 30 minutes.

During this time they will be able to gather the necessary information from you in order to inform the

relevant organisations on your behalf.

It would be helpful if you could have the following documents or information with you when you arrive for

your appointment:

• The deceased’s National Insurance number

• A death certificate (unless you are registering the death at the same time)

• If you are the next of kin and are in receipt of, or may be entitled to benefits, please bring your

National insurance number

• If you are representing the next of kin, then a signed consent form (from the next of kin) giving

you permission to carry out these duties on their behalf

2 Bereavement Services, West Bromwich Crematorium, Forge Lane, off Newton Road,


Crematoria: Sandwell has two crematoria, West Bromwich Crematorium which is situated on the Newton Road, West

Bromwich, and Rowley Regis crematorium is situated on Powke Lane, Rowley Regis. West Bromwich

Crematorium is the larger of the two offering space for up to 200 mourners.

Your funeral director will advise and guide you on the format of the service and will inform the Crematorium

of any specific requirements in advance. If you are not using a funeral director, it is best to speak to the

Bereavement Staff as early as possible so that we can assist you with any of the necessary procedures.

If you are using a funeral director it is important to make your wishes clear what you want done

with the remains. Cremated Remains can be scattered in a garden of remembrance or in a favorite

spot (subject to the landowner’s permission), interred in a churchyard or cemetery, or kept.

If no wishes have been expressed, it is the responsibility of the funeral director or crematorium staff to

contact the relative before disposal. Arrangements can be made to purchase a memorial plaque at both

crematoria where the cremated remains can be placed, again Bereavement Services Memorial staff can

advise.

We allocate about 20 minutes for a service although some can be as long as 40 minutes (at an extra cost). Cremated Remains When choosing cremation, it is important to consider what to do with the remains. The crematorium

will place the cremated remains in an inexpensive container which can be taken away. This will weigh in

the region of 2kg (5-7lbs). Many people scatter them in a spot of special significance to the decreased and

the family. There is usually no restriction although in theory you should seek the permission of the

landowner. Others may choose to scatter or bury them in their own garden, but this option should be

considered in the light of possibly moving house and whether you wish cremated remains to be eventually

placed together, such as with a husband and wife. Some people wish to place cremated remains in a

cemetery or churchyard and you will need to check on the type of container that is acceptable to the

location. West Bromwich and Rowley Regis have their own Gardens of Remembrance. Crematoriums also

have their own Gardens of Remembrance, which although not consecrated, are dedicated to the dead of all

religions and non-believers. Bereaved people can visit these gardens for some quiet solace and

contemplation and memorials in the form of tree or shrub planting may be available. Placement of the

remains by either spreading over the garden or burial in the garden is usually free of charge if the cremation

took place there. Memorials in the form of a Book of Remembrance or a memorial plaque may also be

available.

War Memorial Powke Lane



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Memorials

—————————————————— Sandwell Bereavement Services staff are here to provide both guidance and support to those who are

experiencing a loss.

We will offer guidance both before and after the funeral service in areas, such as the legal requirements in

the disposal of cremated remains, memorials in cemeteries and crematoria, and any general concerns that

families may have in relation to the loss of a family member.

Sandwell Bereavement Services recognise the importance of memorials for families after bereavement.

We offer several forms of memorial, from an entry in the Book of Remembrance to a Granite Sanctum Memorial.

We try to meet the various needs of families. Should you wish to discuss any issues related to memorial

within the Crematoria, or in any of the Cemeteries within Sandwell please contact the main office to arrange

for an appointment with one of our dedicated memorial team. We offer appointment slots throughout the

day Monday to Friday, and from 10am to 3.00pm on Saturday 10am to 12pm. Should you not be able to get

to the office a team member can call at your house by arrangement.

Memorials at West Bromwich Crematorium

—————————————————— Book of Remembrance

The Book of Remembrance is displayed in a glass-fronted cabinet, in the anteroom, which is close to the

area where Funeral Floral Tributes are displayed. Entries in the Book of Remembrance are usually

inscribed under the date of death, but by request at the time of ordering anniversaries or birthdays are

acceptable.

The Book of Remembrance is on display every day of the year, and once an inscription is inscribed it

remains there for all time.

It is also possible to purchase Miniature Remembrance Books and Cards with an individual inscription to

keep at home.

Prairie Memorial Memorial tree stake ( available West Bromwich)



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Memorials Continued

—————————————————— The Sanctum Memorial Squirrel Walk

Parents embracing grief choose a path that meet their particular

needs. Several memorial options are available.

Trained staff are available should you have any concerns or wish to

discuss any questions.

If you have chosen cremation rather than burial for your baby. The cremated remains will

be scattered in the Alice Garden, at the West Bromwich Crematorium. This is an area

that has been specifically set aside for scattering the remains of babies and very young

children. As you are entering this special place you walk under an arch bearing the

inscription “When a loved one becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure”.

The character of the White Rabbit checking the time on his pocket watch meets you.

A reminder to us all of how precious time is, especially that spent with our loved ones.

The central turfed bank is where the cremated remains of the little ones are scattered.

Watching over them lays Alice with her book, staring wistfully into space. What is she

daydreaming about? Maybe it is about what is to be or what could have been if the little

ones had been granted more time.

The garden in itself is a fitting memorial for the little ones whose remains are scattered

here. We are aware, however, that some families like to visit a specific location. For this

reason we have included the opportunity to have a specific memorial.



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Mushroom Memorial (Alice Garden)

Next to the oak tree, with it’s seating, are the granite mushrooms. Each mushroom bears,

a number of individual commemorative plaques. Should you want to purchase one of

these, they can be leased for a number of years. We endeavour not to restrict families as

much as possible, but there are some common sense rules, which we ask you to follow

for the benefit of all the visitors in this special place.

Flowers and mementoes

We do appreciate that some families wish to leave items near the

location of their loved ones. These do cause maintenance

problems, especially glass items, which can distress other visitors

and make the garden untidy. Especially when the items encroach on other peoples memorials.

We therefore tidy the garden weekly and remove any items to the

Wendy House Sanctuary, where you can also place cards.

After a short period if these are not collected they are disposed of.

Genealogy:

The Bereavement Services Office holds all the registers relating to burials and

cremations that have taken place within Sandwell (This includes the records from

boroughs that have amalgamated to form Sandwell). Bereavement Service staff can

conduct searches of the registers for you, at a charge, or you may visit the office to view

the registers. If you are unable to visit a cemetery to see a grave or Crematio memorial,

Bereavement Service staff can take a digital photograph of it and email or post it to you.



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Burials: New Graves In the event of a death families will usually arrange for either a Burial or a Cremation

through a funeral director. It will be at this time that a decision will be made in regard to

the preference of Burial or Cremation.

If a burial is required then the purchase of a grave will be arranged by the funeral director.

Individuals may if they wish, purchase a Burial Plot prior to a death. This will be a

Pre-Purchased Grave. To find out more about a Pre-Purchased Grave, contact the main

office at West Bromwich Crematorium.

Registers Office:

Sandwell Register Office is located at Highfields, a Grade II listed building (Circa 1830)

set in its own grounds and could provide the perfect setting if you are planning a Civil

Marriage, Civil Partnership, Naming Ceremony, Commitment Ceremony, Renewal of

Vows or Citizenship Ceremony. Ceremonies can be held in a choice of two rooms, each

with a different seating capacity creating the perfect atmosphere for either the smaller,

more intimate ceremony or larger gatherings of up to 90 guests.

Sandwell Suite Weddings and Civil Partnerships

We offer a choice of ceremonies for which different fees are payable.

If you would like to view the room before deciding on your venue

please contact the Registrar.

The Sandwell Register Office is available for ceremonies on

weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays and Public Holidays.



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Getting Copy Certificates

We can supply certificates for births, marriages and deaths that

occurred in the Sandwell area.

In order to apply for a copy certificate you need to complete an application form.

Register Births

Births can be registered at Sandwell Register Office. The birth must be registered, by law,

within 42 days of the baby's arrival. The birth must be registered in the district where it

occurred.

Register Deaths

The death must be registered in the District Register Office where it occurred.

The Register Office operates an appointment system - if you wish to make an

appointment telephone the office.

Nationality Checking Service

The Register Office now offers an optional service to those applicants who wish to take

advantage of it. For a modest fee, they will check that applications for British nationality

are completed correctly and have been submitted with all the necessary supporting

documents and the correct fee.



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Citizenship Ceremonies

In Sandwell approximately 500 people apply for British Citizenship each year.

At the ceremony, every applicant for British Citizenship is required to swear an oath of

allegiance to the Crown and make a pledge to uphold the values and laws of the United

Kingdom.

For any further information, please contact;.

Sandwell Register Office, Highfields, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8RJ

Tel:01215692480

Fax:01215692473

Email: [email protected]

Opening Hours:

Monday - Wednesday 9.00am - 4.30pm.

Thursday 10.00am to 4.30pm

Fridays 9.00am - 4.00pm

For Weddings and Civil Ceremonies, please contact the Superintendant Registrar and

for Civil Partnerships, please contact the Civil Partnership Registrar.











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Cemeteries:

The Council provides cemeteries at West Bromwich, Tipton, Oldbury, Smethwick, Wednesbury and Rowley

Regis, along with Crematoria at West Bromwich and Rowley Regis.

Sandwell Bereavement Services

West Bromwich Crematorium

Forge Lane

off Newton Road

West Bromwich

B71 3SX

Tel: 0121 569 6700

Fax: 0121 567 5165

Email: [email protected]

Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 9.00am - 5.00pm, Friday 9.00am - 4.30pm

Thursday 10.00am - 4.30pm (4.30 - 6.00pm Appointment only)

Friday 9.00am - 4.30 pm

West Bromwich Cemetery Heath Lane

West Bromwich

Opened 1858

Tipton Cemetery Alexandra Road

Tipton

Opened 1873

Smethwick Cemetery Manor Road

Smethwick

Opened 1890

Rowley Regis Powke Lane

Rowley Regis

Opened 1921

Wednesbury Bee Road

Fallings Heath

Wednesbury

Opened 1938

Sandwell Cemeteries have provision for burials of various denominations, with a separate Muslim section at

West Bromwich Cemetery.

Thimblemill

Thimblemill Road

Smethwick

Opened 2007 Wood Green

Wood Green Road

Wednesbury Opened 1868

Oldbury Cemetery

St Pauls Road

Smethwick

Opened 1873

Documents

Sandwell Berevement Services