ICCM
Branch
Meetings

We are pleased to invite members to our next North West & North Wales branch meeting, which will be held at the beautiful Walton Golf Club, situated within the historic Walton Estate on Wednesday 2nd September. The estate, with its origins dating back hundreds of years, is renowned for its attractive parkland, mature woodland and beautifully maintained gardens. Once part of a traditional country estate, it offers a peaceful and picturesque setting, making it an ideal venue for both learning and networking.

In addition to the meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to visit Woodlands Cottage Pet Crematorium which opened on 19^th May 2025. Woodlands Cottage has provided a compassionate and professional pet cremation service, supporting veterinary practices and pet owners through the difficult process of saying goodbye to a cherished companion. The visit will provide an insight into the care and attention given to every stage of the service, from individual cremations and memorial options to the respectful handling of pets and the support offered to bereaved families.

This promises to be an informative and enjoyable event, combining an interesting venue, with the opportunity to meet with colleagues, discuss regional issues, share information and build connections. These meetings are a relaxed space to chat with others in the sector, ask questions, and learn what’s working (and what’s not!) in your area.

The meeting is kindly sponsored by Rawsons Memorials Ltd, who will also deliver an informative presentation providing an insight into cemetery works across the North West. The session will cover a range of specialist topics, including cemetery beam (continuous raft) construction, cemetery section pre-digging and preparation, vault construction and installation, and the challenges associated with managing and rectifying "bad graves."

CANCELLED We are pleased to invite members to our upcoming ICCM Midlands Branch Meeting, which will take place on Tuesday 18th August at Nene Valley Crematorium, Wellingborough, which will include a tour of the facilities.

Nene Valley Crematorium opened in 2016. The crematorium was developed by the former Borough Council of Wellingborough to provide a modern, peaceful and dignified facility for the local community. The crematorium was designed following consultation with local faith groups, funeral directors and community representatives to ensure it could meet the needs of people from all backgrounds. It also incorporates environmentally efficient technology and has been designed with capacity for future expansion.

‍

Following this, at around 2pm there will be an optional visit to HMP Five Wells, including a tour of the workshops. This visit is limited to 20 attendees, split into two groups of 10. Anyone wishing to join the tour will need to bring photo ID on the day and provide their name and a correspondence address by Monday 3rd August. HMP Five Wells, one of the newest prisons in England. Opened in 2022, HMP Five Wells is a Category C resettlement prison built on the site of the former HMP Wellingborough. Operated by G4S on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, it accommodates approximately 1,700 adult male prisoners. The prison was purpose-built with rehabilitation at its heart, incorporating modern accommodation, classrooms, vocational workshops and digital technology designed to prepare prisoners for successful resettlement into the community upon release. HMP Five Wells is passionate and committed about having close working relationships and involvement with the local community and have already established solid working relationships with both the Unitary and Town Councils, as well as the many councillors throughout the wider Northamptonshire.

‍

The meeting provides an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues, share best practice and discuss key developments within the sector.

‍

The meeting will kindly be sponsored by Gower Consultants.

‍