Barrhead's first crematorium starts to take shape

His aim is to bring the traditional forbidding old-style crematorium into the 21st century and at the heart of the local community.

Jeremy’s firm, Horizon Cremation, has already built two and his third – at The Hurlet, in Glasgow Road, Barrhead – should be finished by October and up and running by the start of next year.

Restrictions on numbers at funerals during the Covid pandemic and the stress that has caused has reinforced his determination to make sure families get the chance to say their final farewells in a more dignified manner.

Jeremy, who lives in Netherlee with his partner, said his aim is to build in areas where current cremation facilities are overstretched.

Despite its size and growing older population, East Renfrewshire does not have its own crematorium, with families currently having to travel to the Linn, in Glasgow, Woodside, in Paisley, or further afield.

And with an increasing number of people choosing to cremate their loved ones, he expects the new Hurlet business to be in big demand.

Jeremy’s first venture was the Clyde Coast & Garnock Crematorium, in Dalry, Ayrshire, which opened in 2018 and was voted the best in the country in 2019.

He has a second crematorium opening next month in Cannock, Staffordshire, and hopes to build two more once the Hurlet site is complete.

Jeremy, 49, was inspired to go into the cremation business after a traumatic experience when arranging a funeral for a close family member in 2011.

He told the Barrhead News: “We were already devastated but our distress was compounded by our experience at the crematorium.

“When we arrived, two other funeral parties were already there and we couldn’t find a place to park. Inside, there was condensation running down the wall and the speakers were broken. It was awful.”

Until then, Jeremy had worked as a political lobbyist for 20 years and, before that, as a journalist and in public relations but realised it was time for a radical career change.

He said: “That experience changed my life, as I felt people deserved much more.

“I knew what was happening to me was happening all over the country.

“I felt the only way to address that was to build a crematorium myself and deliver a level of service that I felt people wanted.

“I’ve invested every penny I have to make this work.”

Jeremy has vowed that all families using the Hurlet Crematorium will get a minimum of one hour each per service, having come across cases where mourners were allowed as little as 15 minutes.

He will also limit the number of services each day to eight, to stop the unedifying sight of families having to queue outside while they await their turn.

As part of a community engagement initiative, Clyde Crematorium raised £52,000 for local hospices, cancer charities and foodbanks – and Jeremy has vowed the Hurlet team will do the same.

He wanted to build his first crematorium in East Renfrewshire but it took almost five years to secure the right site and get the project off the ground.

Everyone who is cremated at the new site, which is next to St Conval’s Cemetery, will have their own tree planted in the grounds.

Jeremy said the cremation industry is highly regulated, with a permit needed from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.

Crematoria are also subject to stringent checks by the local authority.

The Hurlet Crematorium will have space for 230 mourners once lockdown restrictions are lifted.

It will include a 140-seat ceremony hall, with an overflow space for an additional 90 people, as well as extensive parking.

If large numbers turn up for a funeral, they will be able to watch remotely in the reception area, thanks to high-definition monitors.

The crematorium sound system will be linked to the largest digital music library available – meaning any piece of music can be sourced.

And those unable to make the service will be able to watch it online from anywhere in the world.

Families will also be encouraged to personalise their services as they can use state-of-the-art technology to run videos or slide shows.

Dog owners can even bring their pooch to services.

Jeremy is also aiming to make the new crematorium the most environmentally advanced in Scotland.

He added: “Good progress is being made and we are on track to complete the building by late autumn and aim to be ready to commence services by early winter.

“Having lived in East Renfrewshire for over 25 years, I know that a modern crematorium facility is very much needed.

“Bereavement is a difficult process that touches us all and we believe families should have the choice to be able to access befitting and modern facilities that are more comfortable and less forbidding at what is already a difficult time.”

Jeremy will launch a recruitment process this summer, with a number of vacancies to be filled, including admin and landscaping staff.

He added: “One of the most important things we do as human beings is say goodbye.

“A cremation should be poignant, memorable and moving and we are looking to hire compassionate people who provide the best possible service at a time of distress.”