A visit to the cemetery may not be high on the list of family days out - but that’s exactly what is happening in Stone next week.

Stafford Borough Council is holding an open day at Stone Cemetery on Wednesday 23 August and inviting residents to have a look at what goes on behind the scenes with the chance to have any questions answered.

Councillor Ian Fordham, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “We have received some very positive feedback from visitors attending previous open days we have run in the borough.

“Many people will only go to a cemetery at a very difficult time in their life and we find that these open days offer the opportunity for residents and visitors to ask questions about the bereavement services and the burial process without the usual emotional anguish associated with losing a loved one.”

The open day will take place at the cemetery off the A34 in Stone (ST15 0BQ) between 10am and 2pm on Wednesday (23 August). Bereavement Services’ staff and the ‘Friends of the Cemetery’ group will be on hand to answer queries and offer tours around the site. There will also be the chance to see an open grave and to learn about what the excavation entails.

The site opened in 1903 with the first burial taking place that October. There is a natural, wooded area for burials where a memorial tree can be planted on the grave as opposed to the traditional headstone. There is an underground tomb which is the only one of its kind of the three cemeteries run by the borough council - the others being Eccleshall Road and Tixall Road, both in Stafford.

Councillor Fordham added: “I hope people will come along, look around the site, ask questions, and find out more about this sensitive area of work.”

More information about the borough council’s Bereavement Service can be found at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/bereavement

Press Release No 6061