BEREAVED families in Bromsgrove can now memorialise their loved ones with bespoke vinyl records containing a small amount of their ashes.
The records can include a personal message, someone’s own soundtrack or just the sound of silence with the background of the pops and crackles of a vinyl record.
The crematoriums parent company, Westerleigh Group have partnered with And Vinyly to offer the product.
Waseley Hills Cemetery & Crematorium manager Claire Montague said: “We are always looking to expand the range of memorial options available to the bereaved in order to give them the widest possible choice and help them to create uniquely personal memorials for their loved ones.
“What you receive is a real playable vinyl record containing around 18 minutes of audio on each side, along with a small amount of the ashes.
“And it is not only music that can form the soundtrack, many people choose to include recordings of special occasions or conversations with their loved one on the vinyl.
“The process enables people to design their own sleeve and label artwork too, if they wish, using templates provided by And Vinyly.”
The vinyl’s can be curated in 7 inch and 12 inch variants with sleeve designs featuring cherished photographs, images and text.
And Vinyly was established in 2006 by Yorkshire-based music producer and music label owner Jason Leach, who found himself reflecting on mortality a little more after his mother began working at a funeral directors.
He said: “We have developed a unique additional process that enables us to press a small amount of a loved one’s ashes into real vinyl records, creating an audio-visual memento.
“The first step is the collation of the content. This can be collaborative and is, we have learned, often a cathartic experience, with friends and family contributing photographs and words, voicemails, answerphone messages and recordings of special times.
“Our partnership with Westerleigh Group will enable us to serve even more bereaved and help them create beautifully bespoke vinyl records which can be kept at home, played and cherished for generations.”
