You may wonder how a crematorium in Essex can help bereaved people abroad, including soldiers in Iraq. But we can, thanks to new webcasting equipment.

We knew it would help mourners if we modernised our facilities. Gradually more families have asked if they can film a ceremony, and we wanted to make sure that they could do so without being distracted by the responsibility of making the recording. By installing new recording equipment we could also offer webcasting, and thought the combination would be very useful.

The system was installed in March last year and is simple and discreet. In the chapel is a fixed camera and two microphones. The webcast is available online live and for a week afterwards. It is password protected, so the family has control of who watches it. The camera also takes a recording, which is sent overnight to Wesley Music, the company that provides the service. They tidy up the sound before offering it as a DVD to mourners.

The benefits of webcasting were clear when we started arranging a funeral last August for a serviceman who died in Iraq. The family and the Ministry of Defence were grateful for the opportunity to broadcast the event to his colleagues in Basra. Wesley Music also worked with the family to make a DVD that included footage of the full military band and ceremonials outside the chapel.

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On another occasion a mourner was taken ill directly before the funeral service and it wasn’t clear if he would be well enough to attend or fully absorb what was going on. The funeral director suggested recording the service. Many mourners — ill or otherwise — don’t always take everything in on the day so it is useful to be able to capture the details.

Because bereavement is such a sensitive time, it is great to have a system that is purpose-designed and high quality. It was also cheap to install, because it was part of a wider update to our music systems. As well as taking the pressure off mourners, it frees up funeral directors to focus on the family’s needs, which is our first priority. For such a small outlay, we feel the system will be of lasting benefit for us as we evolve

our services and for mourners in the grieving process.Lest we forget

Arthur Stevens survived the sinking of HMS Gloucester in 1941 and was made an MBE for running a survivors' network, the Fighting G Club, for 26 years. After his death in January, his family decided to record and webcast a service in South Essex Crematorium so that club members as far away as Canada and Australia could be involved.

His widow, Vera Stevens, says that the facilities were soothing and useful to mourners.

“My son told the undertaker that there were lots of members living abroad who couldn't get over for the service. Lots of people tuned in to the broadcast on the day. The DVD has been [seen] worldwide and it will be shown at the Fighting G Club reunion this year.

“It is also a great record for us. On the day I couldn't see what was going on for tears. It is a comfort to see it again.”

If you have an example of good practice to share, contact us at: agenda@thetimes.co.uk

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