PENMOUNT Crematorium near Truro will celebrate its 70th anniversary on Sunday, June 28 with an open day.

Camborne Community Brass Band will play from 11am, with singer Will Keating headlining the event on the front lawn in the afternoon. The event will conclude with a Service of Remembrance at 2.30pm led by the Archdeacon of Truro, Clive Hogger.

Cornwall's only council-owned crematorium, Penmount operates within a Grade II-listed 18th-century country house and 28-acre estate which once served as a private residence for distinguished owners over the years, including prominent Cornish historian Charles Henderson. It was transformed into a crematorium in 1956.

The afternoon’s activities are focused largely on the history and beauty of the site. Visitors on Sunday are invited take a stroll around the beautiful grounds and to view the Wild Meadow natural burial site, which opened in 2013 and enjoys stunning valley views. Attendees may also explore features including the book of remembrance in the memorial hall next to the Kernow Chapel, and the white post-box for anyone who wishes to write to lost loved ones.

Record-breaking May temperatures and sunshine have brought plenty of colour to the 11 acres of formal Gardens of Remembrance. These are open all year round to all visitors, with a committed gardening team and on-site nurseries growing more than 3,000 plants to provide colourful flora for seasonal displays and hanging baskets.

A slideshow of the gardens across the seasons will take place in the chapel, and Penmount’s head gardener, Liam Shoesmith, will be on hand to take questions about the grounds and plant-related queries, as well as to discuss future plans to increase the biodiversity of the gardens.

Graham Broadbent, Cornwall Council’s Bereavement Services Manager, said: “It’s really about bringing people together and celebrating Penmount as a valuable community space that plays a valuable role beyond funerals and bereavement services.

“There will be something for everyone, from historical documents on display - including plans, maps and registers - to a historical garden trail that children might like to do with their parents.”

This year, Penmount’s facilities achieved a gold standard rating from the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management. Staff will be on hand to answer questions of all kinds, from locating the resting place of a loved one to finding out more about the cremation process.

“We aim to be open and transparent, and to dispel some of the myths behind cremation, some of which have been acquired from films,” says Graham. “Our behind-the-scenes tours are popular with ministers, celebrants, funeral directors and members of the public, who really value the opportunity to learn and ask questions: what happens after the curtains close, how long does it take, how are their loved ones are treated at every stage. They leave feeling confident in the professionalism that underpins everything we do.”

Graham adds: “The event is open to anyone and everyone who would like to come and enjoy the gardens. We wanted to do something different to show that Penmount is so much more than just a crematorium facility.”