Going the extra mile at Yuletide to help with graveside duties

A DRAKELOW business which specialises in creating and renovating graveside memorials across the Midlands is offering to step in and lay wreaths and flowers on the graves of loved ones whose families cannot visit this Christmas due to Covid restrictions.

Artstone Memorials is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month. It was set up by stone mason Oleksandr Burlaka, who leads a team of three craftsmen at their workshop in Drakelow alongside showrooms in Stapenhill and Alvaston.

The business is now part of the family-owned Wathall’s group of funeral directors which has branches in Derby, Burton, Ashbourne, Alvaston and Borrowash and is Derby’s longest established independent funeral directors having been established in 1858.

Artstone Memorials is offering to use this local knowledge to check on graves and lay flowers and wreaths if family and friends are unable to visit this Christmas.

Helen Wathall is the managing director and fifth generation of her family to run Wathall’s funeral directors.

She said: “Christmas is a time when families tend to come together and make an annual pilgrimage to a loved one’s grave or cremation memorial but that is going to be difficult for many this year due to the pandemic.

“I think in particular there will be many older people who live either locally or further afield but who are unable or nervous about venturing out and particularly travelling this Christmas.

“We are therefore happy to hear from families who may want us to simply check on the grave, do a spot of tidying up or want to deliver a wreath or flowers to our showrooms so that we can place them on their behalf.

To get in touch with the company, search for Artstone Memorials or Wathall’s funeral directors on Facebook and Twitter or visit www.art-stone.co.uk and www.wathalls.co.uk for direct contact details.