Council installs special post box at crematorium

Councillor Chris Goodwin (right) was joined at the unveiling of the the postbox by the Deputy Mayor of Oldham, Cllr Eddie Moores (rear), Deputy Mayoress Kath Moores, Councillors Sandra Ball and Mark Wilkinson and funeral director Michael Lindup

A special post box has been installed at Hollinwood Crematorium to allow relatives to send letters to loved ones who are no longer alive.

The council has placed a memorial post box in the Book of Remembrance Room after being inspired by the touching story of a Nottinghamshire girl who first thought of the idea.

Matilda Handy came up with the suggestion for letters to heaven post boxes after both her grandparents died, five years apart.

Councils across England, Scotland, and Wales have since installed them, as have a number of funeral businesses locally and nationally.

Councillor Chris Goodwin, whose portfolio covers the Crematorium and Cemeteries, said: “This Post Box allows family and friends to post letters to their loved ones who are no longer with us.

“Any resident can visit, and they do not need to be connected to Hollinwood Crematorium.

“They can just pop in and post their special message.

"It gives people the chance to post a birthday card, Christmas card, or the last card or letter that they may not have had the chance to send.”

The Book of Remembrance Memorial Room is next to the Crematorium Chapel - it is available every day of year to visit, and locked securely overnight.

Every letter put into the memorial post box will be treated with complete confidentiality and sensitivity.

None of them are opened or read.

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