Direct Cremation

We are able to offer two types of direct cremation service - Basic and Enhanced. Please note: that both specifically exclude parts of our service normally available for a traditional funeral. An easy to understand comparison chart can be found here.

What is included in our Basic Direct Cremation service:

• Removal of the deceased to our Chapel of Rest within office hours and from a local address, and storage in our refrigerated mortuary.
• Provision of a plain, lamboard cremation coffin.
• Conveyance of the coffin to Hastings Crematorium in a closed van and attendance of two bearers to transfer the coffin into the care of the crematorium staff (please note that if the deceased weighs more than 75 kgs we may need to provide more bearers at a cost of £58 each).
• Making arrangements for a cremation at Hastings Crematorium (no funeral ceremony), the date and time of which to be left to our discretion.
• Making arrangements for the cremation ashes to be placed in the Crematorium Garden of Remembrance in an unmarked area, and at the discretion of the Crematorium management. Alternatively the family may collect the ashes from the Crematorium.

Items not provided in our direct cremation service include:

• Conveyance of the deceased outside office hours and outside the local district.
• Embalming.
• Visiting the Chapel of Rest.
• Provision of funeral limousines.
• Provision of a funeral ceremony at the Crematorium Chapel.
• Discussion and co-ordination of all matters relating to: floral tributes; obituary notices; dispersal of cremation ashes (other than provided for above); catering; 'In Memoriam' charitable donations and printing of funeral stationery.
• (Please note that oversize coffins may incur an extra charge.)
• This list is not exhaustive.

What is the cost of our Basic Direct Cremation?

Our current charge for providing a Basic Direct Cremation is £784.00

In addition to the funeral director's fees every direct cremation will incur charges payable to other agencies. These disbursements usually comprise Hastings Crematorium fees of £791.00 (alternatively £652.00 if we are able to secure the 9:30 a.m. time slot or £472 for the 9:00 or 9:15 a.m. time slot) and a fee of £82 for the doctor to sign a Cremation Certificate.  All fees (ours and fees payable to other parties) are payable three working days before the day of the cremation. If this payment is not received the cremation cannot go ahead.

So - for a basic direct cremation at Hastings at 9:00 a.m. the total cost would be £1,338 (our fees £784 + Crematorium fees £472 + doctor's fee £82).

What is included in our Enhanced Direct Cremation service?

Our Enhanced Direct Cremation service provides everything offered by our Basic Direct Cremation service with these important additions:

• Provision of a hearse (rather than a closed van) to convey the coffin to the crematorium.
• Provision of a simple wood veneer coffin rather than a plain lamboard coffin.
• Provision of a piece of music for the committal.
• Attendance of a funeral director at the crematorium to oversee, advise and assist.
• Attendance of four bearers to convey the coffin, shouldered, into the crematorium chapel (please note that if the deceased weighs more than 75 kgs we may need to provide more bearers at a cost of £58 each).

If you felt you wanted to witness the committal we would recommend choosing our Enhanced Direct Cremation service so that the funeral director would be in attendance to help you.

What is the cost of our Enhanced Direct Cremation?

Our current charge for providing an Enhanced Direct Cremation is £1,265.00

In addition to the funeral director's fees every direct cremation will incur charges payable to other agencies. These disbursements usually comprise Hastings Crematorium fees of £652.00 (for the 9:30 a.m. time slot) and a fee of £82 for the doctor to sign a Cremation Certificate.  All fees (ours and fees payable to other parties) are payable three working days before the day of the cremation. If this payment is not received the cremation cannot go ahead.

So - for an enhanced direct cremation at Hastings at 9:30 the total cost would be £1,999 (our fees £1,265 + Crematorium fees £652 + doctor's fee £82).

What is the difference between a direct cremation and a traditional funeral?

Our comparison chart also explains the differences between a basic direct cremation, an enhanced direct cremation and a traditional funeral.

If you would like to discuss your requirements or find out more information please get in touch by calling 01424 436 386 or emailing us at info@towners.co.uk or fill in our contact form in the footer below. One of our friendly and experienced team will be on hand to help.