Rose of Northamptonshire award for Wellingborough's crematorium team

Wellingborough Council's crematorium team has received a Rose of Northamptonshire award for services to coronavirus.

To recognise the contributions of those who live or work in Northamptonshire, The Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, The High Sheriff of Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire County Council jointly launched an ‘Unsung Heroes’ of Northamptonshire’ initiative.

The scheme acknowledges the county’s ‘unsung heroes’ response to Covid-19, with the team at Nene Valley Crematorium receiving the award in recognition of the team’s contribution.

This includes the manager’s leadership in creating an ethos to remain bereavement-led in delivering tailored funerals, balancing keeping communities together and those most at risk safe, the team’s flexibility to work when required to enable meaningful funerals to happen, and their overall determination shown when faced with the unprecedented threat from the coronavirus outbreak.

Wellingborough Council leader Martin Griffiths said: “This is good news, tempered only by the very sad situation with this awful pandemic that is having such a horrible impact on the families of the borough and county.

"Giving support to bereaved families and showing compassion in these difficult times is so important and the team should all be very proud of their efforts and that their commitment has now been recognised with this award."

Crematorium manager Tracy Lawrence was presented with the award last month by The Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, James Saunders Watson.

Tracy said: “We are beyond delighted and very honoured to receive this prestigious award.

"We convey our appreciation to the councillors and officers at the borough council of Wellingborough for their continued support, with a vote of thanks to those who launched the initiative - and to the people of Northamptonshire.

"Those who we will continue to serve in providing meaningful funerals and associated services for – always from a bereavement-led and risk-based approach, so that goodbyes to loved ones, despite the pandemic, are kept as normal, as normal can be, which we believe sets us apart from other crematoria during the recent challenging times."

Chairman for the board of directors at Nene Valley Crematorium, Cllr Paul Bell, added: “Congratulations to all team members for their hard work in getting this award - it makes me very proud to be part of this great team and the good service they all provide to clients and families that come to use the facilities."

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive.

We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you