As 2022 comes to a close, it’s a good time to reflect back on some of the biggest news from the year:
We started the year celebrating a staggering £13.5 million raised by the ICCM Recycling of Metals Scheme for bereavement related charities since its inception in 2007. That is an incredible amount, made possible by bereaved relatives giving their consent for the metals to be recycled, and by cremation authorities and companies signing up to the innovative scheme.
The Westerleigh Group announced the appointment of Debbie Smith from January 10th! Smith has extensive executive and board-level experience across the UK and Ireland, predominantly in large, complex, customer-facing organisations in regulated markets culminating in MD, Boots Ireland, CEO Retail, Post Office and chair, Payzone Bill Payments Services.
Huntingdon Cemetery & Crematorium became full members of the Federation after passing their initial inspection. We were excited to welcome them as members and provide them with ongoing support and guidance.
In March, Deputy President Michael Birkinshaw was welcomed to Waseley Hills Crematorium to celebrate their opening and welcome them into the Federation. The crematorium opened in January and welcomed the President two months later.
In March, the Federation held a Joint Seminar with the ICCM, Cremation Society and Association of Private Crematoria and Cemeteries looking at the effect of crematoria on the environment and how the sector can work to lessen this impact.
RSBruce joined the Federation as a new Affiliate Member in April. They are a Precious Metal Recovery and Toll Processing company founded in 1974 in Sheffield England that specialises in the recovery and processing of precious and valuable metals.
In May, BRAMM announced the appointment of Yvonne Colverson to the new position of BRAMM Executive Officer. Yvonne has worked as a Senior Advisor and Induction Support Officer with ‘The Society of Local Council Clerks’ and has an in-depth knowledge of Cemetery Management, legislation and best practice within the industry.
Clandon Wood became full members of the Federation after passing their initial inspection. We were excited to welcome them as members and provide them with ongoing support and guidance.
Dignity plc was pleased to announce the appointment of Kate Davidson as Chief Executive Officer, effective from 10th June 2022. The Company also confirmed that Gary Channon’s final day as CEO was 9th June, when he also stepped down from the Board following the Group’s Annual General Meeting.
The ninety-eighth Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities was held at the Hilton, Ageas Bowl, on Monday 20th June 2022 prior to the opening of the Federation & Cremation Society Joint Conference. The AGM is the occasion where, in accordance with Clause 8 of the Constitution, members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) are elected.
This year was all about Return and Reset. Exploring post-COVID changes in the cremation and burial sector. CBCE 2022 provided the ideal opportunity to not only reflect on some of the experiences during the pandemic but also to tackle the many changes and challenges that have been developing in the background.
The FBCA and ICCM began considerations of developing a funeral availability reporting system for use in pandemics or other excess death situations. FARS will be a portal that displays a UK map with funeral availability for crematoria and cemeteries indicated by traffic light coloured pins; green, amber, red, and grey if availability is out of date. The pins are clickable and will display the contact details to book a cremation or burial.
The Federation were excited to introduce our newest Executive Committee Member, Pippa O’Brien. Pippa worked for Manchester College, within their custodial Education division, for nearly 10 years, with both young offenders and adults working to engage them in education.
The Deceased Management and Advisory Group met on the 11th of August 2022, where they recognised that the sector is facing a period of unparalleled change. In view of this, it was decided that DMAG would continue as a working group to ensure, we can continue to provide a single voice on behalf of the sector.
The Federation, originally named the Federation of Cremation Authorities in Great Britain, was formed at a meeting held at the British Empire Exhibition, Wembley, on 1st August 1924. The National Executive Committee created a Centenary Working Group to consider if the event should be marked and if so develop proposals.
It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Jon Patrick Luby on the 27th of August 2022. A much-respected colleague and friend, a full obituary appeared in the Winter edition of Resurgam.
It was with great sadness that the nation learned of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen was the embodiment of dignity, dedication to service and compassion for others, qualities which all of us working in the bereavement sector value. The loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be immense but in King Charles III we have a new Monarch to guide our grief.
In September, it was announced that Richard Martin, founder of Scattering Ashes, is to launch an innovative register that records the final resting place of people who have been cremated in the UK, The Ashes Register. The register will work as an official record to provide future generations with details of cremated loved ones’ final resting places.
To provide added value and to maintain more accurate records, the Executive has agreed to the creation of a Register of FBCA Certificate of Proficiency Qualified Crematorium Technicians. Further information was published in the Winter edition of Resurgam.
BRAMM ‘Memorial Design Award’ Winner
The winner of this year’s British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons (BRAMM) sponsored ‘Memorial Design Award’ is Scott Taylor from Wareham, who collected a £1000 cash prize as well as a Gold Winner’s Certificate and press release to advertise his achievement.
The Scottish Sub-Committee meeting was held on Thursday 10th November at DoubleTree Hilton Hotel Glasgow ahead of the Crematoria and the Environment event.
The Federation held a half-day event at DoubleTree By Hilton Glasgow Central. As local authority and private crematoria face the need to reduce their carbon footprint, where should you begin? The seminar aimed to provide delegates with a better understanding of how their service produces carbon and the practical steps which can be taken to reduce it.
Facultatieve Technologies (FT) with 145 years of experience in cremation is the international market leader in the design, construction and maintenance of cremation and filtration equipment.
