Kingsdown Crematorium in Swindon was to mark its 60th anniversary with a community open day, Swindon Borough Council announced on Thursday 26 March 2026. The crematorium, which the council runs, opened in 1966.
The open day was set for Saturday 25 April 2026, from 11am to 2.30pm. It was free and did not need booking.
What was planned for the day?
- Behind-the-scenes tours at 11.15am, 12pm and 12.45pm
- Stands from stonemasons, funeral directors, bereavement charities and life celebration experts
- Access to cemetery and crematorium records for people researching family history
- A Teddy Bear Picnic hosted by Wiltshire Treehouse, a bereavement charity for young people, with children's games and a story session by local author Kate Claxton
- A Teddy Bear Amnesty, where visitors could donate pre-loved bears to the crematorium's Comfort Bear scheme, which gives soft toys to children attending funerals
- A tree planting to mark the anniversary and a special memorial service
- Refreshments from The Bird Brew Co. and Mario's Ice Cream Van
Zoe Fennell, Bereavement Services Officer at Swindon Borough Council, said: "Kingsdown Crematorium has played a deeply personal role in the lives of Swindon families for 60 years."
She said the open day "is a chance to celebrate the people who have passed through Kingsdown."
Source: Swindon Borough Council.
More from Swindo: Kingsdown Crematorium, Swindon: what to expect.