Devon - Plymouth and far beyond

To make an enquiry please fill in the form below with your preferred date and number of people attending the scattering, please make sure you include a contact number as the boat company will call you directly to discuss your requirements:

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Their other craft are shown below

To make an enquiry please fill in the form below with your preferred date and number of people attending the scattering, please make sure you include a contact number as the boat company will call you directly to discuss your requirements, you will receive a automated response that will contain the boat operates number if your need is urgent:

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To make an enquiry please fill in the form below with your preferred date and number of people attending the scattering, please make sure you include a contact number as the boat company will call you directly to discuss your requirements:

The post Dartmouth: River Dart appeared first on Scattering Ashes.

To make an enquiry please fill in the form below with your preferred date and number of people attending the scattering, please make sure you include a contact number as the boat company will call you directly to discuss your requirements:
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We’re very excited to have teamed up with a leading Devon Jeweller who specialises in using your heirloom jewellery into something that suits your style and taste.  Perhaps you have been left a very special ring or pair of ear-rings and you want to wear them as they are so special but they don’t really work with your other jewellery… Our jeweller can design you something using the gold and silver from your jewellery and create a unique piece of memorial jewellery that you are happy to wear everyday.

Here are some pictures of the type of things he does but if you want more information or some prices then email info@scattering-ashes.co.uk

Use your loved one’s jewellery to make something totally unique that you can wear everyday.

The post Upcycling Your Heirloom Jewellery: Meet your Maker series appeared first on Scattering Ashes.

Do you have an idea of what type of memorial jewellery you want but can’t find it anywhere?  We’ve teamed up with one of Devon’s leading jewellers and he is working with our amazing glassworks to create completely unique works of art for you to wear and keep your loved one with you.

You can have your loved one’s ashes put into glass in a colour you choose and then have that incorporated into the design or you can ‘upcycle’ your gold or silver heirloom jewellery into something that suits your style.

Prices start at around £120 and increase with the type of metal and stones used as well as the time taken to complete the design.

Email info@scattering-ashes.co.uk for more information

Unique Memorial Glass and Silver Jewellery Handmade in Dartmoor, Devon

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Beth hand makes all her vessels in the beautiful coastal town of Dartmouth in Devon. Walking with her dog she collects natural materials and earth pigments which she incorporates onto the surfaces of the urns. The landscapes of her walks inspire both textures and images on the urns.

The urns can be embellished in many different colours and textures, they can have images, photographs, words, and poems…they can hopefully be whatever your heart needs…

Hand made vessel urn inspired by summer walks in Dartmoor Devon

Spiral vessel Urn inspired by walks in Dartmoor Devon

Poetry Vessel Urn inspired by walks in Dartmoor Devon

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We are extremely proud to be working with Jenny as she is a local rising star who is helping us to provide lasting tributes for those who have no ashes to scatter.  We often gets calls from people who want to do something with their loved one’s ashes but for some reason either don’t have access to them or who have already done something and have nothing left to have in the home with them.

Our talented glassmaker will be able to make you a stunning piece of glass art using an idea or sketch you have of your loved one, perhaps they had a favourite place in the garden or a particular flower they loved.  She will design something completely for you and when you are happy will cast that into glass and send it securely to you.

Sandcast Memorial Glass – a lasting tribute when you don’t have the ashes

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To make an enquiry please fill in the form below with your preferred date and number of people attending the scattering.

Please make sure you include a contact number as the boat company will call you directly to discuss your requirements

You will receive a confirmation email containing the boat companies phone number in case you need to contact them urgently:
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To make an enquiry please fill in the form below with your preferred date and number of people attending the scattering.

Please make sure you include a contact number as the boat company will call you directly to discuss your requirements

You will receive a confirmation email containing the boat companies phone number in case you need to contact them urgently:
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The post Devon: Teignmouth to Torbay appeared first on Scattering Ashes.

This story form sunny Devon highlights the unforeseen cost of choosing to bury the ashes of a loved one in a family plot. A lady, called Phyllis Bishop, a long time resident of Torquay, passed away and her wish was to be buried alongside her husband at their family grave in Torquay. However the family ended opting for cremation as the cost to reopen the grave for burial was very expensive ordinarily £725, but because Mrs Bishop had spent her last two years in Newton Abbot (stones throwing distance) the family needed to pay an extra £1000 as she was deemed to be from outside the area (ouch!).

They chose to have the ashes buried at the family grave instead, which wasn’t cheap either – the cost to have a hole dug for the urn – £500. Why this so high we are not sure and it is unclear what percentage (if any) the local authority make, and compared to other authorities it does seem high. We conducted a straw pole of half a dozen authorities chosen at random, the costs for interning ashes varied between £100 and £215, which seems a little more reasonable.

I am not what percent goes to the private company operating the cemetery and what to the authority  I am guessing it all goes to the company.   If authorities choose to outsource to private companies these by their very nature must make a profit, but it is the Authority that set this tariff not the company – the company will wish to negotiate a good rate so it can make money – but all these should be reasonable and as this is in effect a monopoly public service transparency wouldn’t go a miss either. The spokesman for Torbay council response was a little underwhelming:

‘When the council transferred the management of the cemeteries and crematorium to Westerleigh, they also took on the pre-existing operational arrangements which included charging double fees for out-of-area residents.

‘We do keep our arrangements under review and will continue to work with Westerleigh on this matter.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1374875/Great-grandmother-buried-alongside-husband-council-doubled-fee-moved-nursing-home.html#ixzz1JEz8xvIP

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An old war veteran from Exeter passed recently, he had suffered from a war wound all his adult life after standing on a landmine in France in 1944. He told the family he had a ‘bullet’ in the knee. He didn’t complain about it, but just asked the grandchildren not to sit on it. After he was cremated the family was given a contaier with the shrapnel in it weigh about 6oz!

The story reported in the Telegraph, then picked by a number of news outlets in the States is one of humility and stoic suffering of that generation and perhaps a small mirror to the whinging we hear from every side today.

His daughter Ms Madden of Exeter, Devon said: “I don’t think he ever realised all that was in his leg – it weighed about six ounces.

“He’d said there was a bullet in his leg but I was imagining one romantic piece of metal.

“But when we went to scatter his ashes we asked whether the bullet had been found and they gave us this bag full of metal.

He received the injury whilst serving in the East Yorkshire Regiment, two months after D-Day

She went onto say: “He would travel overseas to Australia and America and he was always setting off scanners as he walked through.

“We always thought it was a bullet in the knee but when the funeral directors gave us this bag of shrapnel they had taken out we were shocked at how much there was.

“We are all very proud of him and what he did for all of us. The bits of metal in him just show how horrible the war was.

“I suppose it’s a bitter-sweet memory for us because it symbolises everything he did and how he suffered.”

I totally agree with Ms Madden.

The article also said that workers at Exeter and Devon Crematorium carefully sifted through his ashes and found the metal pieces.

Now this is my small concern. Looking at the picture it appears contain amongst other things, Philips screws? And wire, is that landmine ordnance? I not saying it isn’t and I am certainly not taking away anything away from the sentiment, or suffering of the soldier. It just left scratching my head about what they asked, what they got and how it was described, as it doesn’t quite add up: the amount and the type of material. In my head I think I can see how it may have worked. Ms Madden sought to recover the ‘romantic’ bullet, which was translated could the metal components from the crematoria be recovered. After all the crematoria staff are unlikely to able to distinguish shrapnel, so perhaps better to hand back everything metallic and let the family consider what to keep. So when Ms Madden received the bag containing almost 6oz of metal and said something like ‘My goodness! Was all this from my dad’s injury?’ What is the funeral director to say? Either no Madam this is the metal constituents removed after crematorium it contains all metal items that were placed inside the cremator we couldn’t separate the element you wished to reclaim, or… Absolutely, that is exactly what they are. Now maybe I am wide of the mark. However, as with a lot of writing on this most sensitive subject matters I truly don’t want to cause distress or offence, but my role as I see it, is to look at these matters though a different lens.

The post Shrapnel found in War Hero after cremation appeared first on Scattering Ashes.

A customer dropped us a note about their experience:

“June passed away late last year after a being ill for a few months, she had chance to put her affairs in order and she said that she wished to be cremated and we had a lovely service at the church even though she was not what you would call practising, and just close family at the crem. What we really hadn’t thought about or discussed was what she wanted doing with her ashes. She was a very free and loving person with a great sense of humour and a love of the English countryside and the outdoors. After collecting the ashes I choose to keep them under the bed, it seemed right in some ways but not in others, but I knew that I would need to set her free at some point. I wasn’t in a rush, it was after a conversation with my son where we were just reminiscing about things she loved and he started talking about her passion for crime novels, especially Agatha Christie, she loved those books although Miss Marple was her particular favourite. It was this that put the seed of an idea in my mind, we both loved Devon and had holidayed down there many time when the kids were little. I came across your website by chance and saw you offered boat trips on the river Dart that goes past the Dittisham estate where Agatha Christie lived. So we booked the trip for a weekend in May, we managed to get all the family together, which was no mean feat in itself. We debated whether to bring the grandkids along (we decided to bring them in the end and I am glad we did). We conducted our ceremony on a lovely spot on the river near the estate which was bitter sweet as you might expect, the weather threatened all day but held. We all said our good-byes and set off for Totnes for a family meal. I am so glad we did this – it felt right.”

This was taken from Mr Scott’s email and published with his consent. We would love to here from you about your experiences as it nice to know were are helping and it also helps others too.

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 Handmade in Devon

Completely handmade here in Dartmoor, Devon, by our talented craftsman Simon, our wooden urns have been especially designed to look natural and rustic in your home. Simon crafts them in solid oak from wood that shows off it’s natural character and beauty.

They are all hand finished either with Danish oil, to give a subtle sheen, or a natural beeswax made from Simon’s own bees, he also makes fabulous honey, let us know if you want us a add a jar to your order!

Wooden Urn range

We have worked closely with Simon over the last year to design a range that has the full range of urn sizes.  There are two designs of companion urns (the Bearacleave and the Pullabrook) with a removable divider so the you choose to have two sets of ashes together or side by side.  There are three designs of standard urns that will hold a single set of adult ashes, two with a top lid – the Haytor and the Teign, and one with a sliding lid – the Yarner, that complies with Natural Burial Standards and can be buried in any natural burial ground. And finally we have designed two keepsakes sizes, a memorial jewellery box with a discreet false bottom for keeping heirloom jewellery or other keepsakes as well as a token amount of ashes, and the Little Teign which will hold a small amount of ashes.

The Teign – handmade in Devon natural wooden urn

The Haytor – handmade in Devon natural wooden urn

Memorial Jewellery Box – handmade in Devon discreet jewellery box with hidden ashes compartment

Handmade Yarner Wooden Urn handmade in Devon, England

Simon and Amber at the Contemporary Craft Fair

Exhibiting his work for the first time

We’ve struggled to get our very talented but camera shy Simon to pose for some photos but we did manage to when we exhibited some of his beautiful wooden urns at the annual Contemporary Craft Fair here in Devon.  He is pictured here along with Amber who hand makes the ashes bags that you can use to transfer the ashes safely from the ashes container to the wooden urn.

#devon #scattering ashes #craftfestival #madeinbritain

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The Naval Chaplaincy Service carries out Committals at Sea Ceremonies for all former Service personnel and their dependants.

The Royal Naval Chaplaincy Service regularly undertake committals of ashes at sea from our Base Ports in Scotland on the Clyde (Faslane), Plymouth (Devonport) or Portsmouth, though only in Portsmouth do they have a boat going out each week (Wednesday afternoons).

There is no charge for the committal, it is done in grateful recognition for someone’s service to the nation.

Who is eligible? 

• All former members of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy and RAF) and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
• The service is available  for spouses of anyone who would have been eligible.
• Merchant Navy are considered on a case by case and certainly any war service would count. They also consider Sea Cadet Leaders and those who have worked in the Dockyard or Maritime Defence.
• There’s no length of service required, but they do need a short Service History and Service Number for checking with the records.  

Ash containers / urn?

There are specific requirements for their preferred choice of casket which will are able to provide (Royal Navy Committal Urn £125), however the Chaplaincy understand if cost is an impediment they would accept these water urns. You are not required to purchase these through Scattering Ashes, your Funeral Director may be able to assist  although we are we are happy to supply them should you wish.

Further information can be sent to you on request by calling 023 9272 3000 during normal office hours. Alternatively complete the contact form below and this will go directly to the Committals Officer who will get in touch with you.

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Ashes scattering service in Beer Devon

The post

We're happy to launch our new #ashesscattering service in #Beer #Devon pic.twitter.com/lEkqUUKmm9

— Scattering Ashes (@ashesscattering) August 17, 2015

South Devon Business Excellence Awards

We’ve been nominated as finalists for this year’s most innovative business in the South Devon Business Excellence Awards! To say that we’re feeling a bit excited is a bit of an understatement!

As a completely independent family firm based in Dartmoor in Devon we are feeling very humbled to be nominated. Richard set up the website in 2009, after scattering his Dad’s ashes in 1993 he had always been plagued by the fact that nobody offered any advice about how to scatter ashes. Many cremations later, more than three quarters of the British public are cremated every year, there was still no advice and the choice of products were somewhat funereal. So Scattering Ashes was born, we offered advice at first and then people started asking us to supply them with scatter tubes for scattering on land and then water urns for putting ashes into rivers, lakes and the sea.

We have continued to listen to our customers and now we not only supply all sorts of different urns and memorial products but we have developed new products & services for, what is becoming for us, the ‘4th Ceremony’. You have a Christening, a Wedding and then a Funeral, but for those left behind there is a vital stage in that person’s life which is often ignored, what to do with the ashes. Our Guide book is rated 5 stars on Amazon and will gently help you decide and organise a ‘4th ceremony’ that is perfect for your loved one, it was part of the reason for being voted the winner of the 2015 Best Bereavement Resource.

If you read our blog you will see that over the years we have carried out loads of research and for many people this is a really important stage in the bereavement process, the celebration of the life that they lived. So we try and do that for our customers, if you want to out with a bang we’ll arrange to have your ashes put into fireworks, if you’re a keen traveller what about having some of your ashes put into a Message in a Bottle and continue your journey? If the family want together together and have your ashes scattered on the water we have a nation-wide network of approved water ceremony providers and can provide you with petals, messages and doves. Whatever you want to do we’ll do our absolute best to sort it out for you.

Being based in the epicentre of all things craft-related we are incredibly lucky to be able to develop products with extremely talented local Devon businesses, we have memorial glass makers, jewellers, carpenters and artists who create the most beautiful and unique memorial items for our lovely customers. And our customers are lovely, we get so many fantastic testimonials, people write us letters of thanks which is a pretty rare thing these days and we appreciate every single one.

Too many people feel awkward or confused, they might know what they want to do, but feel unsure or wary. We believe that what you do with a loved ones ashes doesn’t have to be mournful or furtive, it doesn’t have to be confusing or clandestine. It can be just what you want it to be – a shout-out, something inspiring, a quiet reflective time – a cherished moment. You loved them – so show it in your own way…

We hope you like what we are trying to do.

Richard and Karen Martin

Directors

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Booking

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Steam trains are so enigmatic. They epitomise an age of style and engineering and they are a passion for many of us in the UK and beyond.

Well there may be an opportunity for you to have your ashes blown from the ash box (I think I have correct).

The South Devon Railway Trust – the organisations runs the South Devon Railway operates  a line that runs for seven mile along the stunning valley of the River Dart between Buckfastleigh and Totnes.

It is a former Great Western Railway branch line, built in 1872.

Well they will consider a steam train send off for a donation (unspecified to us). They don’t want to make a big fuss about this so if it is something you think would be appropriate you will need to discuss it with them.

The gentleman to contact is Mr John Haslam email: john.haslam@southdevonrailway.org or call 01364 644375

Best of luck, it sounds like a wonderful idea to us!!

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Bill Priddy scattered the ashes of son Will at the Royal Citadel in Plymouth, he chose to scatter his son’s ashes at that spot as his son was based there at the time of his death. Will – a veteran of one tour of Iraq – died in 2005 in a car crash on Salisbury Plain.

However, Bill is now regretting the decision since he learnt that this historic building is being sold off by the Ministry of Defence and the commando regiment are moving out.

And whilst the fate of the building is uncertain there is growing speculation that it could be sold for development. Although there is a desire from many to turn the Citadel into a museum, this is far from certain.

Mr Priddy who placed a memorial bench there for his son says it is “heart-wrenching” the Citadel will no longer be the home of his son’s “beloved” regiment.

He said: “For it to suddenly lose that connection would be a travesty.

“The thought that it could become yucky up-market apartments, or something similar, is quite heart-wrenching.

“He could be buried under God knows what.”

“It isn’t just Will whose ashes are scattered up there, there would have been many others over the years, so I’m sure I’m not alone in this.

“It was a big decision we made as a family to have his resting place there, and at the time it seemed like the right thing to do.”

My heart goes out to Mr Priddy, it can’t seem fair and he must feel so powerless too. It does raise the question about scattering in an urban environment, places like the citadel and our urban parks seem so untouchable, they have ‘always’ been there and they always will. Clearly this I not the case and then are we to think that cemeteries are the only place that can offer this degree of surety? Maybe, although even cemeteries get moved or built over – Crossrail in London is one example. So, what is permanent, beaches are not, nature moves cliffs and shores, maybe that is the point  – thing change, but somehow it seems better when nature does it (or maybe that it just me). Whilst I have no words that will bring cheer to Mr Priddy it might be an idea yet to decide to consider more poignant rural / protected locations, they aren’t going to knock down Tintagel Castle to build an NCP car park for example…

Original story ://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/dad-of-fallen-plymouth-war-hero-21-regrets-scattering-his-ashes-at-the-citadel/story-29882588-detail/story.html#1A4vHW3L1vMRgaVO.99

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