Torbay cemetery invite for Christmas Carols

Torbay Cemetery & Crematorium is inviting local people to submit digital photos of their loved ones to be included in a slideshow to be shown at its annual Christmas Carol and Memorial Service.

The seasonal service takes place on Wednesday December 11 at 6pm and there is an open invitation for anyone to attend.

The festive gathering provides a valuable opportunity for families and friends to come together and remember their loved ones in the run up to Christmas, a time when people can particularly feel their losses.

The service will include a selection of readings and popular Christmas Carols, featuring a live soloist. Those who attend will also have the opportunity to light a commemorative candle in honour of a loved one. Refreshments will be available.

It is free to attend, and no advance booking is required. Manager Stephen Ainsworth said: “Our annual Christmas Carol and Memorial Service is a lovely and meaningful way to bring people together to reflect and honour their loved ones during the festive season.

"Visitors to the event will be able to write messages on memory tags which will be hung on our Christmas tree and can also place Christmas cards into our Letters to Loved Ones memorial post box.

“Our Christmas Carol and Memorial Service is open for anyone and everyone who lives, works or who is visiting the communities surrounding our crematorium in leading up to Christmas. Everyone is welcome.

“Those who are unable to attend on the night but wish to view the service as a live stream, can do so through Westerleigh Group’s multimedia partner Obitus.

“Just visit https://christmas.obitus.com/, enter the username ‘torbay’ and the password ‘sleigh'.

“For those not able to watch it live, or those who attend but who would like to see it again, the service will be available to view online as a ‘watch again’ option, using the same details above, from Friday December 13, for 28 days, so nobody has to miss out.”