St Luke’s goes behind the scenes at The Park, our city’s new crematorium

15th August 2024

The Park, Plymouth City Council’s new crematorium

Saying the final goodbye to your loved one after their death is never easy but doing it in a way that is personal to them – and meaningful to you – can make it all the more special and perhaps even a little easier to bear.

Recently, we had the privilege of going behind the scenes at The Park, Plymouth City Council’s new crematorium, before its official opening. Joined by colleagues from our Education team, several St Luke’s nurses took a tour of the state-of-the-art facility, which will provide a calm and comforting space for the people of Plymouth and surrounding areas to remember and pay tribute to their loved ones.

Compared with most UK cities, Plymouth has a particularly high percentage of people choosing cremation over burial for after they die. Set in 17 acres of peaceful greenery in Plympton, The Park offers flexible spaces with modular seating, along with the latest audio-visual equipment, ensuring each cremation service can be personalised in line with the deceased person’s wishes and those of their nearest and dearest. Complemented by its own cafe and wake venue, The Park also offers families the chance to host a wake or gathering after the cremation service at the same location.

A blank canvas, embracing all faiths

St Luke’s Specialist Nurse Debbie Hutchinson said: “It’s obvious a great deal of thought has gone into all aspects of the building’s design and decor, with calming colours and wood on the inside reflecting the beautiful surroundings outside.

“The Park is a blank canvas, embracing all faiths. We saw just how easily adaptable the space is and heard how all manner of personal touches can be incorporated in a cremation service to make it truly bespoke, from favourite music to lights that colour wash the walls in keeping with the person’s much-loved football team. That’s a feature Plymouth Argyle fans might well appreciate!

“Personally, as well as professionally, it was helpful learning more about what a cremation involves, and very reassuring to hear that the system all crematoriums use is entirely foolproof – no-one ever need worry that the ashes they are given are anyone’s but those of their loved one.”

Direct cremation

Hosting St Luke’s tour was Graham Smith, Head of Plymouth City Council’s Bereavement Service, who explained that The Park also offers people the option of having a low-cost direct cremation. At its simplest, this is where a cremation takes place with no service and often no attendees. However, Graham was keen to emphasise a service that perhaps people are unaware of. “In Plymouth you can request with your funeral director for the direct cremation to take place in the city, the deceased remains in the city and not taken outside the county and gives the added option of having four people attend the crematorium for five minutes”.

These direct cremations take place daily at 8.30am and 8.45pm.” Graham also emphasised the importance busting myths that surround cremation. He said: “It’s important for people to understand that we deal with cremations respectfully. Talking about cremation should not be taboo and we are here when people want to ask us their questions. We’ll be holding an open day soon so they can chat to us and have their own tour of The Park’s facilities.”

Advance care planning

St Luke’s End of life Programme Lead Cathryn Goodchild said: “Reading about a place is no substitute for visiting it yourself, and as a team we were keen to see The Park in person and find out about the services it provides for families whose loved one has died. This is important because our work at St Luke’s includes doing all we can to gently help prepare patients’ relatives and friends for saying that final goodbye.

“As part of the advance care planning St Luke’s encourages – which is all about giving terminally ill people the opportunity to plan their future care and support – we also have conversations with them about their wishes for after they die, including what type of funeral service they want, or whether they want one at all.”

Plymouth’s sole crematorium

Replacing the crematoriums at Efford and Weston Mill, The Park – which is located in Merafield Road, Plympton opposite Gables Dogs and Cats Home – will be Plymouth’s sole crematorium. The Cafe at The Park will be open seven days a week, offering refreshment for those who wish to simply sit and relax in a welcoming and peaceful space as well as dedicated modern rooms for hire with bar to facilitate a wake or other family events.

To find out more about our city’s new crematorium – and the importance of making your own end-of-life wishes known – watch our video or visit their website.

The Park crematorium St Luke’s advance care planning

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