The southern part of the UK is one of the most densely populated parts of Europe. Consequently, arranging for funeral services to be staged at crematoria at busy times isn’t always the easiest thing to sort out, especially when you do not live in this part of the country. That’s why it is often a good idea to turn to a funeral planning service to help take the hassle out of making all the necessary arrangements.

According to one such service provider, Newrest Funerals, the first thing to do is to book suitable funeral directors in the area. To do this, you can search online with terms like ‘funeral directors Sussex’, ‘London funeral directors’ or ‘funeral directors for cremations in Hampshire’. However, you will often get overloaded with results from different firms all with similar sorts of services and pricing. If you cannot attend each business in person to decide which one to choose, then use a professional planning service that should have the right funeral contacts to make a well-informed choice for you.

Remember that choosing funeral directors for a cremation in the South of England isn’t just about them conveying the body of the deceased to the crematorium for you in a dignified manner. There may also be embalming or certain religious funeral rites to be observed before then. The way the body is prepared for a cremation is very important in the Hindu faith, for example. So, when you have found your preferred funeral directors in Kent or wherever it may be, it is also advisable to confirm that the firm has the necessary experience to deal with the particular rites you would like to be observed. The same goes if you want a horse-drawn hearse because not all funeral directors in the South still offer this service and they may need to contact specialists to be able to provide one.

The next step is to book a crematorium. Most council-run crematoria are geared up to meet the needs of all faith communities in the UK including people who have no religious belief whatsoever. If the person you will be cremating had no faith but you would still like a professional officiant to oversee the service, then it is a good idea to contact Humanists UK – formerly the British Humanist Association – who will be able to match you with an officiant in the locality concerned. They operate all over southern England.

The next thing to do is to inform people of the time and place of the cremation service. Local newspapers are still the traditional way to do this. Londoners will often place an advert in the Evening Standard, for example. Give the essential details as well as the name of the funeral directors in the South of England you have booked. Nowadays, many people prefer to place a social media notice instead of a traditional one in the local press. Either way, you’ll want to let people know where they can send flowers or condolence messages if they won’t be able to attend in person.

By Manali