This week is Baby Loss Awareness Week, a time for families and communities to come together and remember the precious babies that lit our lives for such a short time. Now in its 22nd year, this annual event provides a safe and supportive space for anyone touched by pregnancy and baby loss, to share their experiences and know they are not alone. Pregnancy and baby loss is a deeply personal experience, and for many, it can feel isolating. By breaking the silence and encouraging open conversations, we hope to offer comfort and a sense of togetherness to those who need it.

With the darker mornings, colder days and longer nights fast approaching, those who are a bereaved may find this time of year a particularly challenging time, both mentally and emotionally. Many will be struggling, reminiscing about times gone by, and remembering those that are no longer with them. Those feelings are very personal and can be hard to deal with. However you choose to cope with that grief, please remember that our team, as well as specialist counsellors, are always here to help you.

As your trusted local funeral director, we feel it's important that families are fully aware of what an unattended direct cremation entails. A standalone direct cremation, as you might see advertised on television or in press, involves no service for family and friends. It is simply the collection of your loved one, followed by their cremation, and the return of their ashes. In some situations this option can be a positive choice, saving unnecessary cost and allowing mourners to arrange their own tribute. But for some, it does deny an opportunity to say a final goodbye, which often gives closure.