Mortlake Crematorium Board

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The overall control of the Mortlake Crematorium is now vested in three elected representatives from each of four London Boroughs - Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow & Richmond upon Thames - who meet at least three times per annum. They are :

• Ealing : Cllr's Popham, Reeves, Reilly.
• Hammersmith & Fulham : Cllr’s. Cartwright (chair), Alford & Lillis.
• Hounslow : Cllr’s. Barwood, Davies, Todd.
• Richmond upon Thames : Cllr’s. Bennett (vice chair).  , Davies & Stanier.

The principal officers reporting to the Board are its clerk, Richard Harbord, treasurer, David Ewart, technical adviser, Clifford Howard and the superintendent, Robert Coates.

The Board has recently approved enhancements to create some of the finest ‘rear of house’ cremation facilities in the United Kingdom. These works were inspired by the words of H.G.Wells written following the cremation service of his wife Amy on 10th October 1927 at Golders Green Crematorium : -

“I should have made no attempt to follow the coffin had not Bernard Shaw, who was standing next to me, said: ‘Take the boys and go behind. It’s beautiful’. When I seemed to hesitate he whispered: ‘I saw my mother burnt there. You’ll be glad if you go’. That was wise counsel and I am very grateful for it. I beckoned to my two sons and we went together to the furnace room. The little coffin lay on a carriage outside the furnace doors. These opened. Inside one saw an oblong chamber whose fire-brick walls glowed with a dull red heat. The coffin was pushed slowly into the chamber and then in a moment or so a fringe of tongues of flame began to dance along its further edges and spread very rapidly. Then in another second the whole coffin was pouring out white fire. The doors of the furnace closed slowly upon that incandescence. It was indeed very beautiful. I wished she could have known of those quivering bright first flames, so clear they were and so like eager yet kindly living things”