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A cemetery in Greater Manchester is getting a ‘postbox to heaven’

The new 'postbox to heaven' will offer grieving family and friends the chance to write to their loved ones beyond the grave

The Manc The Manc - 13th February 2023

A cemetery in Greater Manchester is set to get its very own ‘postbox to heaven’, giving visitors the chance to post letters to loved ones who have passed away.

The idea was inspired by grieving 9-year-old Matilda Handy, who expressed a desire to mail her grandparents letters in heaven after they passed away.

In response, her mum approached their local cemetery in Nottingham where she just happens to work – leading bosses to respond by installing an old postbox, painted white and gold, ahead of Christmas.

A plaque sits alongside the box that reads: “Thank you for taking a moment to stop by our special post box.

“Whether you wish to write to your loved one on the day of an important anniversary or have no specific reason for doing so, this is a dedicated place for posting your letter.”

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It was such a success that the installation led to over 100 letters being posted, so now there are plans to roll the postboxes out across the UK at The Westerleigh group’s 36 UK sites – including one in Greater Manchester.

Image: ITV News

Set inside acres of beautiful gardens in Atherton, Howe Bridge Crematorium will soon welcome a ‘postbox to heaven’ of its own and, like Matilda, Mancs will soon have the chance to find consolation in writing to their loved ones on the other side.

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The full list of The Westerleigh group’s UK crematoriums, where ‘postboxes to heaven’ will be rolled out this year:

Aylesbury Vale Crematorium

Watermead, Aylesbury, HP19 0FU

Babworth Crematorium

Straight Mile, Babworth, Nottinghamshire, DN22 8FJ

Barham Crematorium

Canterbury Road (A260), Barham, Nr Canterbury, Kent CT4 6QU

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Borders Crematorium

Borders Crematorium, Melrose TD6 9HA

Basildon & District Crematorium and Cemetery

Church Road, Bowers Gifford, Basildon, Essex SS13 2HG

Cam Valley Crematorium

Field Farm Drive, Great Chesterford, Saffron Walden. CB10 1FE

Charing Crematorium

Newcourt Wood, Charing, Ashford, Kent TN27 0EB

Cromer Crematorium

Holt Road, Cromer NR27 9JJ

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Forest of Dean Crematorium

Yew Tree Brake, Speech House Road, Nr Cinderford, Gloucestershire GL14 3HU

Forest Park Cemetery & Crematorium

Forest Road, Hainault, Essex, IG6 3HP

Gedling Crematorium

Catfoot Lane, Lambley, Nottingham NG4 4QH

Great Glen Crematorium

London Road, Great Glen LE8 9DJ

Howe Bridge Crematorium

Off Lovers Lane, Atherton, Manchester, M46 0PZ

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Langstone Vale Crematorium

Magor Road, Newport, NP18 2BP

Llanelli Crematorium

Penprys Road, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. SA14 8BX

Mercia Forest Crematorium

Broad Lane, Essington, WV11 2RJ

New Forest Crematorium

Stem Lane New Milton BH25 5FH

New Southgate Cemetery & Crematorium

Brunswick Park Road, New Southgate, N11 IJJ

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North Wiltshire Crematorium

Swindon Road, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 8ET

Sedgemoor Crematorium

Stretcholt, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4SR

Parndon Wood Cemetery & Crematorium

Parndon Wood Road, Harlow, Essex CM19 4SF

Sirhowy Valley Crematorium

Pontllanfraith, Blackwood NP12 2YT

Stirlingshire Crematorium

Falkirk Road, Bannockburn, Stirling FK7 8AJ

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Test Valley Crematorium

Ridge Lane, Romsey, Hampshire. SO51 6AA

The Vale Crematorium

Evesham Road, Fladbury, Pershore WR10 2QR

Torbay Crematorium & Cemetery

Torquay crematorium, Hele Road, Torquay, TQ2 7QG

Treswithian Downs Crematorium

Treswithian Downs Crematorium, Puggis Hill , Camborne TR14 0BL

Vale Royal Crematorium

Vale Royal Crematorium, Shurlach Lane, Davenham, Northwich CW9 8RP

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Waseley Hills Crematorium

New Inns Lane, Rubery, Birmingham. B45 9TS

Wessex Vale Crematorium

Bubb Lane, West End, S030 2HL

West Berkshire Crematorium

Bath Road, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 4LD

Westerleigh Crematorium & Cemetery

Westerleigh Road, Westerleigh, Bristol BS37 8QP

West Lothian Crematorium

Cousland Wood, Starlaw Place, Off Starlaw Road, Livingston EH54 7FD

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West Suffolk Crematorium & Cemetery

Risby, Bury St Edmunds, IP28 6RR

West Wiltshire Crematorium

Devizes Road, Semington, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 6HL

West Lancashire Cemetery & Crematorium

Pippin St, Burscough, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L40 7SP

Woollensbrook Cemetery & Crematorium

Hertford Road, Hoddesdon, Herts EN11 9BN

Feature image – ITV News

News

The Strokes announce first Manchester gig in two decades

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The Strokes announce first Manchester gig in two decades

The Strokes are finally set to return to Manchester for the first time in years, announcing a huge arena show today.

The iconic indie rockers have shared details of a new European tour, which includes a night at the massive Co-op Live arena here in Manchester.

The news comes hot off the heels of their celebrated Coachella set over the weekend.

The Reality Awaits Tour, named after their upcoming seventh studio album, will take The Strokes to Manchester as well as London and Newcastle, plus several cities across Europe.

The Strokes broke into the industry back in 2001 with their seminal debut album Is This It, which spawned massive indie anthems like Last Nite, Hard To Explain, and Sometimes.

Since then, they’ve released six studio albums, all of which have climbed into the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart.

You can expect to hear all sorts of fan favourites, like Reptilia, Juicebox, and You Only Live Once, plus new music including their latest single The New Abnormal.

Co-op Live said: “This is set to be an unmissable show as they come to Co-op Live for the first time and we can’t wait!”

Last time The Strokes played in Manchester, it was at the O2 Apollo way back in 2006 – the same year they supported Foo Fighters at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

They played Lytham Festival more recently, but haven’t ventured back into Manchester itself since.

The Strokes will play at Co-op Live in Manchester on 26 October 2026.

Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 17 April HERE, with a number of pre-sales beginning from Wednesday 15 April.

The Strokes UK and Ireland tour dates in full

  • The O2, London – 6 October
  • Utilita Arena, Newcastle – 25 October
  • Co-op Live, Manchester – 26 October
  • 3Arena, Dublin – 28 October

Read more

Featured image: Publicity picture

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Manchester Museum to close much-loved section for ‘major’ £200k redevelopment

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester Museum has announced that it’s planning to close of its best-loved exhibitions.

Thanks to a grant of £200,000 from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, Manchester Museum is planning a major redevelopment of its much-loved Vivarium.

The Vivarium has sat at the heart of Manchester Museum for more than 60 years, and is a centre for globally-significant conservation projects, caring for around 30 different amphibian and reptile species – many of which are critically endangered – in a bid to inspire generations of visitors.

Thanks to a pioneering partnership with Panama Wildlife Conservation Charity, which is just one of many projects designed to safeguard the future of endangered species and develop learning programmes that raise awareness of threats to biodiversity, Manchester Museum houses the world’s only captive ‘back-up’ population – which is why the redevelopment of the Vivarium is so important.

The funding grant will help to ‘revitalise’ public displays, and create new state-of-the art facilities and bespoke naturalistic environments for the amphibian and reptile species cared for by the Vivarium.

It will also allow the development of dedicated facilities for schools, teaching, and visiting tour groups, which the Museum hopes will ‘further enhance’ the gallery’s potential for learning.

During the redevelopment – which has been named the ‘Habitats of Hope’ project – new permanent displays will also be created that explore the connections between its wider collections and the animals it cares for.

Manchester Museum is set to close one of its much-loved sections for ‘major’ £200k redevelopment / Credit: Supplied

“Habitats of Hope speaks to how wonderful and how vulnerable the world’s rarest amphibians are” commented Georgina Young, who is the Head of Collections and Exhibitions at Manchester Museum.

“Major investment means Manchester Museum can match the highest standards of animal care with a more accessible visitor experience, while weaving stories of research, conservation, partnership and action that stretch from thriving ponds in Manchester to hyper-biodiverse ecosystems in Costa Rica and Panama.”

Read more:

The Habitats of Hope project is expected to commence in December 2026 and complete in April 2027, with the Vivarium being closed during this period.

Featured Image – Supplied


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