The Cremation Society of Great Britain

Annual Cremation Conference and Seminar 2005

The Imperial Hotel, Torquay, Devon

Wednesday 13th, Thursday 14th and Friday 15th July 2005

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CONFERENCE HEADQUARTERS

Built in 1886, The Imperial Hotel has a unique history and has entertained many notable guests including the Emperor Napoleon III, The Queen of Holland and King Edward VII. The Imperial Hotel, one of England's premier resort hotels, overlooks the impressive coastline of Torbay from a sheltered cliff top position. Its excellent service, combined with its breathtaking sea views, make this the ideal conference venue. Free parking for residents.

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LOCATION

Nearest Rail Station - Torquay, 1 mile

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ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

Room with ensuite bathroom, colour/satellite TV, hairdryer, trouser press, direct dial telephone, internet access,
tea and coffee making facilities, full English breakfast, temporary membership of the leisure complex which includes indoor and outdoor pools, and VAT at 17.5%.

ACCOMMODATION RATES

Single room: £85.00 (inc. VAT) per person per night

Double/twin room: £120 (inc. VAT) per room per night

Single occupancy of a double/twin room: £100 (inc. VAT) per room per night

Delegates wishing to stay at the Imperial must make their reservations via the Society's office to obtain these special terms.

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FEES

DELEGATES' FEE

£329 (Sterling) - [£280.00 + £49.00 VAT]

Covers: Documentation. Admittance to all sessions, including one-day Seminar Why not Cremation? Tickets for Welcome Evening (including viewing of Exhibition), Delegates’ Lunch, Conference Banquet and tea/coffee/biscuits between working sessions.

SPOUSES' / GUESTS' FEE

£158 (Sterling) - [£134.47 + £23.53 VAT]

Covers: Tickets for Welcome Evening (including viewing of Exhibition), Delegates’ Lunch, Spouses’/Guests’ Tour, Conference Banquet and tea/coffee/biscuits between working sessions.

ONE-DAY SEMINAR ONLY - THURSDAY 14TH JULY
WHY NOT CREMATION?

£144 (Sterling) - [£122.55 + £21.45 VAT]

Covers: Admittance and documentation. Delegates’ Lunch, tea/coffee/biscuits between working sessions.

FRATERNAL DELEGATES

£142 (Sterling) - [£120.85 + £21.15 VAT]

Covers: Documentation. Admittance to all sessions, including one-day Seminar Why not Cremation? Tickets for Welcome Evening (including viewing of Exhibition), Delegates’ Lunch, Conference Banquet and tea/coffee/biscuits between working sessions.

CREMATION SOCIETY MEMBERS

Free. Function tickets may be purchased separately. See below.

DAILY RATES (excluding functions)

DAILY RATES (including functions)

INDIVIDUAL FUNCTION TICKETS

EXHIBITORS

TRADE DELEGATE

£310 (Sterling) - [£263.83 + £46.17 VAT]

Covers: Minimum exhibition area 2 metres (length) x 1 metre (depth). Attendance of one representative. Tickets for Welcome Evening (including viewing of Exhibition), Delegates’ Lunch, tea/coffee/biscuits between working sessions.

ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIVE

£155 (Sterling) - [£131.91 + £23.09 VAT]

Covers: Attendance of one representative. Tickets for Welcome Evening (including viewing of Exhibition), Delegates’ Lunch, tea/coffee/biscuits between working sessions.

ADDITIONAL 1 METRE SPACE

£95 (Sterling) - [£80.85 + £14.15 VAT]

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PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

(all timings are approximate)

WEDNESDAY 13th July 2005

13.30 hrs Coffee will be served in the Torbay Suite

INAUGURAL SESSION

14.15 hrs Opening of Conference
by the Conference Chairman, Dr Stephen Leadbeatter

Presidential Address
by the Right Hon. the Earl Grey

14.30 hrs Death Redesigned: The Architecture of British Crematoria
by Professor Hilary J Grainger, BA(Hons), Ph.D., FRSA, Associate Dean of The School of Art and Design, University of Wolverhampton

Architectural critics have long been frustrated by a perceived lack of monumentality in the design of British Crematoria resulting in the eclipse of many of the finest crematoria. This paper seeks to challenge the accepted view of the crematorium and to lift the veil of anonymity surrounding what has become the 'invisible' building type of the twentieth century. A range of examples will be placed in their social, cultural and architectural contexts. This paper is based on research undertaken for a book Death Redesigned: The Architecture of British Crematoria to be published at the end of this year by Spire Books Ltd in conjunction with the Cremation Society of Great Britain.

15.30 hrs The Freedom of Information Act 2000
by Mr Terence Thompson, Investigative Journalist

This paper considers the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the impact on cremation authorities and public bodies in dealing with applications under the Act for the release of information.

19.00 hrs WELCOME EVENING AND VIEWING OF EXHIBITION in the Torbay Suite
(Admission by ticket only)

THURSDAY 14th July 2005

ONE-DAY SEMINAR

WHY NOT CREMATION?

For the past decade and more the proportion of funerals in the United Kingdom that involve cremation has hovered around 70%. Some people believe that it is unlikely that the proportion will ever increase and that, if anything, it is likely to decline. Following on last year's highly successful one-day seminar on "What is Respectful Disposal?" at the Cremation Society's Annual Conference (the contributions which will shortly be available in a separate booklet), the Society is to devote the central day of this year's conference to a seminar of similar format on the topic "Why not Cremation?" The aim is for the Society to inform itself of the reasons that people do not currently opt for cremation. Speakers from religious, social and political groups for whom cremation is not the first choice or not a choice at all, as well as a philosopher, psychotherapist, social and cultural historian, theologian and anthropologist, will explain and examine the reasons that restrain people from choosing cremation.

The seminar will leave delegates better equipped to judge whether the constant rise in the cremation rate over the past century or so has indeed reached a plateau or whether an increase or decrease can be expected. It will leave the Society better informed on how to respond to factors affecting the current cremation rate.

9.45 hrs OPENING OF MORNING SESSION
by Stephen R G White, MSc(Wales), BA(Oxon), Dip. Crim.(Cantab)

10.05 hrs An Argument for Environmentally Friendly, Natural Burial
by Josefine Speyer

Cremation causes unnecessary pollution and wastes valuable resources better used in other ways. In 2000 according to DEFRA, crematoria were responsible for releasing approximately 1.34 tonnes of mercury to air. A much cleaner and environmentally friendly alternative to cremation is natural burial, using a biodegradable coffin, avoiding the use of toxic embalming fluids and planting a tree or wildflowers.

10.25 hrs Social Changes in Values May Lead to a Repositioning of Cremation in Society
by Professor Douglas Davies BA, M Litt, Ph.D, Hon. Dr. Theol
Professor in the Study of Religion and Head of Department of Theology at the University of Durham

A brief review of changing patterns of funeral rites in relation to religious, secular and ecological forms of burial and cremation. The views of today's youth, mindful of ecological issues, have implications for local authorities in the future.

10.45 hrs Cremation as Violence
by Dr Piers Benn M.A., MPhil, PhD, Lecturer in Medical Ethics and Law, Imperial College, London

Cremation used to be viewed as the desecration of the human body and it is frowned upon in many religious traditions. It was forbidden until relatively recently by the Roman Catholic Church, which now accepts it reluctantly. This suggests that we still tend to view the human body as, in some way, the image of the human self - even when the body is dead. This intuition cannot be lightly dismissed. However, although cremation is, in a certain obvious sense, violent, it differs in important ways to violence towards the living in that corpses are former rather than actual persons, even if they bear the stamp of personality upon them.

11.05 hrs Coffee/tea

11.30 hrs Cremation - Covering up Crime - Fact or Fiction?
by Dr Stephen Leadbeatter MB ChB Bristol 1980, MRCPath 1989, DMJ (Path)
Senior Lecturer/Consultant in Forensic Pathology, Wales Institute of Forensic Medicine, Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff University

A common argument against cremation was that destruction of the body is a bar to successful criminal prosecution for homicide. This presentation will explore whether that argument was, or remains, tenable.

11.50 hrs "Break Out" Session followed by Questions

12.45 hrs DELEGATES' LUNCH in the Regatta Restaurant
(Admission by ticket only)

14.30 hrs OPENING OF AFTERNOON SESSION
by Revd. Dr. Peter C Jupp, MA, Mth, MSc, PhD, FRSA

Religious Objections to Cremation
(Panel of Religious Representatives)

Speakers will examine the reasons why their particular religion does not accept cremation and prohibits its followers from choosing this mode of disposal.

14.35 hrs Out of the Ashes: Jewish Attitudes to Cremation
by Mr Frank Gent, B.A.(Oxon.), M.A.(Leics.)

14.55 hrs The Islamic Attitude to Cremation
by Imam Mohammed Saeid

15.15 hrs Why Greek Orthodox People do not Like their Dead Cremated
by Professor Emeritus Peter Loizos

15.35 hrs Why Roman Catholics Prefer Burial
Monsignor Kevin McGinnell

15.55 hrs "Break Out" Session

16.15 hrs Speakers Panel

16.45 hrs Coffee/tea

FRIDAY 15th July 2005

SECOND SESSION
Chairman: Mr Anthony McCarthy

9.30 hrs From Grit to Mercury: 50 Years of Crematoria Abatement and the Role of CAMEO
by Mr Brendan Day MBA, F.I.C.C.M.(Dip), Scheme's Technical Officer

This presentation will outline the stage reached so far with regard to the development of CAMEO and a Burden Sharing Scheme. It will also address and clarify various aspects of the Scheme's operation, including timescales.

Discussion

10,15 hrs Cremator Emissions Removal Device
by Mr Tom Marshall, B.Sc., D.M.S., M.B.A, C.Eng., F.I.E.E, Managing Director, Clean Air (Formaldehyde) Ltd

An overview will be presented of the Cremator Emissions Removal Device (CERD) together with the basis for choice of its multi stage filter sequence. The logistic diagram, continuous and periodic monitoring parameters, efficacious emissions removal and CERD funding will be delineated. The impact of CERD design on cremator downtime and its unobtrusive and ongoing filter replacement will also be explored.

Comment: Could this be a radical alternative to traditional abatement plant presently on offer? Based on proven technology this product claims to offer an effective method of reducing mercury emissions with much lower capital and running costs than existing equipment. Moreover, installation is relatively simple avoiding major disruption and civil works.

Discussion

11.00 hrs Coffee/tea

11.15 hrs Heat Recovery from Cremators as Part of a Filter System in Crematorium "De Boskamp" Assen
by Mr Paul Dijkstra, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Stichting Rouwcentrum "De Boskamp"

Crematorium "De Boskamp" in Assen decided, without prior public discussion, to install a heat recovery system to its two cremators as part of a filter system in order to meet OSPAR requirements. Supported by a PowerPoint presentation, it will be explained why no prior public discussion about heat recovery from cremators was thought necessary.

Discussion

12.00 hrs Promession
by Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak, B.A., Biologist, Promessa Organic AB

The method behind ecological burial is crystal clear, easy to grasp and accept. It is based on a new combination of tried and tested techniques that prepare the corpse for a natural process of decomposition. The procedure is justifiable in terms of ethical, moral, environmental and technical considerations.

Comment: This process includes the removal of water from the corpse and then freezing to minus 18º C before submerging it in liquid nitrogen. The brittle body is then submitted to vibration of a specific amplitude which transforms it into an organic powder for final disposal in an ecological manner.

Discussion

Break for lunch

THIRD SESSION
Chairman: The Rt Hon. The Earl Grey

14.15 hrs Where are we with Secular Funerals?
by John Pearce, M.A., Dip.Ed., Dip.Theol., Institute of Civil Funerals

This brief paper surveys the growth in numbers of secular (non-religious) funeral ceremonies in recent years, and outlines the implications for others involved in funerals.

15.00 hrs PRESIDENTS' PANEL
Moderator: Mr Harvey Thomas CBE

A lively question and answer session involving Presidents from the undermentioned organisations within the death care profession. A wide variety of topics are covered and delegates will have the opportunity to put their questions direct to the leaders of their respective professions.

Mr Allan Sinclair, British Institute of Funeral Directors
Mrs Isabel Mattick, Federation of British Cremation Authorities
Mr David MacColl, Institute of Cemetery & Crematorium Management
Mr Nigel Lymm Rose, National Association of Funeral Directors
Mrs Jenny Gregson, National Association of Memorial Masons

Closing of Conference

19.30 hrs for 20.00 hrs CONFERENCE BANQUET in the Regency Suite
(Admission by ticket only)

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ALL DAY TOUR FOR SPOUSES/GUESTS

Friday 15th July

THE LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN

Photo: D. Hastilow

The dynamism and hard work of earlier generations created a largely self-sufficient estate comprising home farm, working woodlands, orchards, productive gardens and, latterly, pleasure grounds brimming with newly imported, exotic species. In 1990, after 75 years of neglect, the Lost Gardens were re-discovered. Over 200 acres are now open to the public.

The Garden - The celebrated restoration of the Victorian working gardens is only one of many facets which combine to create a destination with a breadth of interest around the year. Summerhouses, lawns, rockeries, lakes and pools, walled productive gardens with exotic fruit-houses and 22 acres of subtropical 'Jungle' garden are just some of the delights of this 'Sleeping Beauty'.

The Wider Estate - Beyond the gardens visitors are encouraged to explore woodland, wetland and farm walks through beautiful Cornish countryside, where sustainable management practices promote habitat conservation and a pioneering new project offers visitors a close-up view of the native wildlife.

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For further details and booking forms contact:

The Conference Secretary
The Cremation Society of Great Britain
Brecon House (2nd Floor), 16/16A Albion Place
Maidstone, Kent ME14 5DZ

Tel: +44 (0)1622 688292/3 (Please ask for Sue Jackson)
Fax: +44 (0)1622 686698
E-mail: cremsoc@aol.com

OR

complete a form requesting further details on screen which will be automatically sent to the Society

OR

print off booking forms to complete and despatch