New service available at Newmarket Road Chapel

A new service has been introduced by Cambridge City Council’s Bereavement Services team to give families and friends the option of holding a funeral service for their loved one at Newmarket Road Chapel, in the grounds of Cambridge City Cemetery.

Currently, families and friends need to travel to the Huntingdon Road Crematorium for a loved one’s service in one of its two chapels, with only burial services taking place at Newmarket Road.

Now it is also possible to hold a funeral service at Newmarket Road Chapel, which for many city residents, is easier to get to than Huntingdon Road, with more accessible public transport, cycle and walking routes, avoiding the A14.

Once the service ends and the families and friends have left the chapel, attendants will transport the deceased in the council’s private ambulance to the crematorium.

The council has made improvements to Newmarket Road Chapel including improved lighting, better music provision and greater operational capacity to enable more people to choose to have their service there.

Cllr Anna Smith, said: “Being bereaved is the most difficult of times for families and friends and everybody wants to be reassured that their loved one will be cared for with care, compassion and dignity.

“That is exactly what our team offers and I am pleased that we are now able to provide this new service from Newmarket Road Chapel – a place that for many is much easier to reach than our crematorium.

“Anyone who uses Newmarket Road can be assured that it will be the same level of service as that on offer at Huntingdon Road, with the same caring team on hand to help.”

Cambridge City Cemetery was opened in 1902 and was known as Cambridge Borough Cemetery. The first burial took place on 6 June 1903 and the first superintendent of the cemetery is buried there.

The cemetery is primarily for the Cambridge city residents, but also contains war graves from the world wars, as well as notable people such as Choudhary Rahmat Ali, one of the founders of Pakistan, and the Chinese actress, Barbara Yung.

The council prides itself on being a caring and compassionate service that offers a range of options for burial, cremation and commemoration of loved ones. Staff are on hand to offer advice and help with making funeral arrangements and structuring a unique and fitting funeral service.

Anyone who would like to find out more about the council’s Bereavement Services team can get in touch with them via the website at https://bereavement.cambridge.gov.uk tel: 01223 458000, email: bereavementservices@cambridge.gov.uk

Information about bus services in Cambridge, including services to Newmarket Road, is available at: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/buses/