- Council provides funds to help small businesses
- Financial help for keeping warm this winter
- Improve your health at York House
- Heathrow's airtrack train plan criticised
- Have your own say on Academies
- Mayor's Christmas invite
- Net closing on Council Tax cheats
- Step pedal jump your way to rugby!
- Borough has the lowest level of alcohol fueled crimes in London
- Play safe at Halloween warning
- Enjoy a week of entertainment at Heathfield centre
- Spreading the safety message
- New funding agreed to combat the recession
- Support your local lollipop person
- Disappointment as Boris' public transport costs rise
- Ham and Petersham win £100,000 for low carbon zone
- Borough children's favourite nursery rhyme revealed on Bookstart Day
- Eastender at East Sheen Library
- Destination Richmond
- Green fingers win prizes for winning allotments
- Free flood warnings for residents at risk in Richmond
- Huge turnout for older people's event
- RISE event success
- Best Cemetery Award for Richmond and East Sheen
- Take part in Black History Month celebrations
- World Sight Day celebrated
- Question time comes to Richmond
- 2M fears local people may loose out to Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC)
- 1,000 people control their social care budgets
- £2.85 million for new homes
- Richmond Council confirms sponsor for Shene Academy
- Richmond Council extends CO2 parking
Release Date: 08/10/2009
Best Cemetery Award for Richmond and East Sheen
Richmond and East Sheen Cemeteries are officially among the best in the country after receiving a national Cemetery of the Year Award.
The council run cemeteries came top in the category for those above 15 acres, beating nominations from across the country.
The quality and variety of options available at the Richmond and East Sheen Cemeteries, and the flexible and accommodating approach to individual requests, were also recognised with the special ‘Freedom of Choice Award’.
This is the second year running that the sites have been entered into the annual competition which aims to reward high standards in the nation’s burial grounds and encourage choice for the bereaved.
Cllr Geoff Acton, Richmond Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment said: “These awards reflect the outstanding level of service provided at the cemeteries and the dedication of the staff who have worked hard to ensure the facilities provided are of an exceptional quality.”
Since the 12-strong team which runs the cemeteries service began providing the service ‘in house’ in 2005, the number of complaints has dropped significantly and the appearance of the cemeteries has risen dramatically.
Together they have 150 years of experience, but members are always looking to improve the cemeteries and to make them a valuable part of the community. One example of this is the ‘Adopt a Grave’ scheme which resulted in seven Victoria Cross graves being fully renovated and 57 others being looked after on a regular basis by members of the community.
The team is always willing to expand their knowledge and were the first in the country to complete the Cemetery Operatives Training Scheme, giving them a recognised trade qualification and they have all passed NVQ Level 2 in Horticulture.
The awards ceremony was held on 29 September at the Chesford Grange Hotel in Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
View the full press release