Firm offers graveside support

Art Stone Memorials, which is part of Wathall’s funeral directors, is offering to tend the graves of loved ones whose families cannot visit this Christmas.

The firm, which specialises in creating and renovating graveside memorials across the Midlands, is offering to tidy up and lay wreaths and flowers.

The team at Art Stone has offered the service every December since the start of the pandemic when travel and Christmas get-together plans were disrupted by covid restrictions.

Several families have since taken up the offer and the team are keen to continue the service this year.

Helen Wathall MBE, managing director and fifth generation of her family to run Wathall’s funeral directors, said: “The Art Stone Memorials team regularly work at local cemeteries, graveyards and crematoria where they install a range of memorials, as well as carrying out cleaning, additional inscription and specialist renovation work.

“Using this local knowledge and considering that many families do not now live near their loved one’s grave or cremation memorial, we offer to check on graves, do a spot of tidying up and lay flowers and wreaths.”