Virtual Funeral Service

A crematorium in Oriel Avenue, Oldham, offers a new service that allows mourners to pay their respects 'virtually.'

17:31 15 January 2018

A crematorium in Oriel Avenue will start offering a service this week that will allow friends and family members of the deceased to pay their respects “virtually” using a fixed camera that records the front of the chapel and the first three rows. The system can also be used to save the service to a disc or memory stick.

 

One woman, however, found the cost of the service to be “unfair”. Donna Brown was told it would cost her £100 to play a slideshow of 20 photographs during her father’s favourite song.

 

She said: “I am not sure how these costs can be justified and it seems really unfair. Surely there can be very little overheads but charging over £100 to show 20 pictures of my dad is disgusting.”

 

A webcast costs £85, a DVD recording £55, and a single picture £25.

 

A spokesman for Great Yarmouth Borough Council said that their fees continue to be the “lowest amongst other nearby crematoria.” He said: “Each year we review the crematorium and cemetery fees and charges as part of the council’s budget setting process for the coming year.

 

“As part of this process we undertake some benchmarking with other nearby crematoria and burial authorities.

 

“Whilst some fees for services differ between areas we do our best to remain competitive and affordable for our borough.