Mercia Forest Crematorium opened in July 2023 to serve the communities in and around Walsall, Wolverhampton and Cannock.
It has been developed by Westerleigh Group, one of the UK’s largest independent owners and operators of crematoria and cemeteries, with 39 other sites across England, Scotland and Wales.
All Westerleigh Group’s facilities are set within beautifully-landscaped gardens of remembrance, which provide pleasant, peaceful, places for people to visit.
Westerleigh Group has built a reputation on providing exceptional care to those it works with, supporting the bereaved in creating uniquely personal funerals for their loved ones.
The support doesn’t end when the funeral ends either, as there are many ways in which the crematoria can help people create lasting memorials to those they have lost.
And there has never been a better time for families to explore those options, as Mercia Forest Crematorium is currently offering 10 per cent off memorials purchased before December, 31, 2023*.
Mercia Forest Crematorium’s team of exceptional people will be happy to talk to anyone who has recently lost a loved one, whether is to arrange a visit prior to their loved one’s service or to discuss ways in which to honour their life.
Joanne Taylor - Mercia Forest Crematorium Manager
Joanne started her career in the bereavement sector in 2011 as a funeral arranger following the loss of her mother.
After five years, she became bereavement services assistant at Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council. In 2019, she was promoted to team leader and oversaw burials and cremations for the entire borough.
Despite her increasing career prospects, she wanted management experience in order to further herself and make an even greater difference, so she became facilities manager at Newcastle Borough in 2021.
Her varied experience is now helping her to establish Mercia Forest Crematorium in the community, making it a welcoming, comforting space for families, to serve them with exceptional care as well as to build positive relationships with funeral directors, the clergy, celebrants and many other local organisations.
As a wife of 25 years, and mother to a 20 year-old-daughter, Joanne holds family near and dear to her heart.
Katie Freeman - Crematorium Assistant
Katie brought to Mercia Forest Crematorium a wealth of knowledge and experience, having worked in the funeral industry as a funeral director in her local community for 11 years.
She has a real passion for making every family’s experience as unique and personal as possible. In her spare time, Katie enjoys playing hockey for her local club and making memories with her family.
Jake Butler - Crematorium Assistant
Jake started his career within the funeral industry 16 years ago, when he started washing cars for a local funeral director and then progressed to a funeral operative position.
His passion grew and he rose through the ranks and became a funeral director and workshop and mortuary manager. Jake says he loves being able to provide exception care for the families. He is a real family man with traditional family values.
Jacqueline Micklewright - Crematorium Assistant
Jacque has worked all over the world for the past ten years and found herself drawn to the funeral industry as her father and brother both work for a local funeral director.
Jacque started her journey working for Distinct Cremations in Cannock and so brings with her a wealth of experience of the direct cremation industry. She says that working so close with bereaved families is something very close to her heart.
Josef Norford- Gardener
Josef has previously worked on the grounds for the National Cycle Museum at the Manor Hotel, Meridian. He has been a member of the Wildlife Trust for more than eight years and worked voluntarily at Moseley Bog and Eco Park in Small Heath, Birmingham.
In his spare time, when he is not gardening for friends and family, Josef enjoys cycling and reading.
Find out more about Mercia Forest Crematorium and the exceptional care and support offered by Joanne and her team by visiting the Mercia Forest Crematorium website.
*Terms and conditions apply: for more, visit the Mercia Forest website.
