MIDDLEWICH Cemetery has been recognised with a prestigious national award.
The Chester Road burial service has been awarded a Silver Standard Cemetery Award by the British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons (BRAMM).
The awards celebrates high-quality cemetery management and the services provided to bereaved families and local communities.
Middlewich Town Council (MTC), which runs the cemetery, said it was ‘overjoyed’ to receive the accolade, describing it as ‘recognition of the hard work undertaken by staff and volunteers to improve the cemetery over the past 15 months’.
Town mayor, Cllr Simon Whittaker, said: "We are really proud to announce Middlewich Cemetery has been awarded a BRAMM Silver Standard Cemetery Award.
"The Cemetery of the Year Awards aim to highlight the services provided by cemeteries for the benefit of bereaved families and the wider community.
“This is something which is important to Middlewich Town Council, as the cemetery is a place where people come to remember and pay their respects to loved ones."
The award comes following a long period of serious turbulence for the cemetery after it became embroiled in complicated legal disputes surrounding its leadership and finances, resulting in tens of thousands of pounds in legal fees.
However, since May 1, MTC has taken on full responsibility for cemetery administration, including dealing with historical matters and ongoing enquiries.
Cllr Whittaker said staff have worked closely with the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM), which provided training, professional guidance, and support to ensure policies and procedures meet the required standards.
He added: "Achieving the Silver Standard is a positive outcome and gives us something to build on.
“It recognises the hard work, commitment, and perseverance of everyone involved and, most importantly, helps us continue to provide the best possible service for bereaved families."
He also paid tribute to the council's town rangers, whose work maintaining the grounds was key to achieving the award.
Despite recent challenges, the council says the BRAMM Silver award demonstrates the progress that has been made, and provides a 'strong foundation for future improvements'.
Cllr Whittaker added: "A big thank you to all the staff who have worked hard to get Middlewich Cemetery to this point.
“It is a great achievement, and something we should all be proud of."
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