Burials At Sea

Burial at sea is a fitting farewell for boating enthusiasts or those who proudly served in the Royal Navy, making for a meaningful send-off.

There are many designated areas where your loved one can be buried, or for their ashes to be scattered, at sea.

If you want to find out more about burials at sea, please give our team a call on 01622 741 777.

Funerals at Sea

Although strict regulations need to be followed and a license will need to be acquired – if you’d like to bury your loved one at sea – the planning and organisation involved will be worthwhile to give your loved one a beautiful farewell.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) are able to provide you with a license to bury your loved one at sea, and will need to be provided with the following:

A death certificate
A Certificate of Freedom from Fever and Infection (this can be acquired through your loved one’s GP or alternatively, a hospital doctor)
Notice of your intention to move the body out of England (this can be acquired from the coroner)

Consideration for burying your loved one at sea

When burying a loved one at sea, no embalming is required, nor is it allowed. Instead, your loved one will be carefully and respectfully wrapped in a cotton sheet or a biodegradable alternative.

The coffin you decide on is of the utmost importance here, as you must give the MMO details of it, what’s more, they also have the right to come and inspect the coffin before you finalise your decision. It’s also important to note that zinc, copper, plastic and lead are not permitted to be incorporated into the coffin.

For more information about burying your loved one at sea, visit the gov.uk website or ask one of our highly-experienced funeral directors.

Scattering your loved one’s ashes at sea

There aren’t any legal obstacles to overcome when wanting to scatter your loved one’s ashes at sea, but you must ensure that they aren’t scattered on private land or a stretch of river without the required permission. Once you have found the right spot, you must then decide whether you would like to scatter the ashes from a boat or from the shoreline.

To discuss your options with a member of our compassionate team, get in touch with us when you feel ready. We’ll always welcome you into our office or, if you’d feel more comfortable in your own home, our friendly professionals will be able to visit you instead – we’re proud to serve families throughout Maidstone, Coxheath, Medway and the surrounding areas.

See the other choices we provide for Funerals on our Funeral Choices page.

Call us on 01622 741 777 Arrange an Appointment

Just to thank you all for the funeral of my darling John. We couldn't have wished for a more perfect and memorable day. You all conducted it with dignity and professionalism and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope the business goes from strength to strength as I will be recommending you to everyone. You deserve success as your attention to detail is second to none. You are lucky to have Harry, he just gets better and better. Thank you again to you all.

Ann Wenham
Thank you and your team so much for making the arrangements and smooth running of Dad’s funeral last month. We will certainly recommend you.

Maureen Evans and Mary Barratt on behalf of Mum
Thank you so much for what you did for us for Mum’s funeral. You were a great help and we all saw that you did more than other funeral directors do as we have been here before unfortunately. You made everything so easy and everything went smoothly on the day. Well done to you all.

Lisa Stewart Don and all
I needed some advice on a bereavement matter, and even though my family were not using this company the staff helped greatly. They told me all that I needed to know and even made a couple of telephone calls for me. I would not hesitate to use these 'Angels' should the need arise.

S.E. Anderson
To all the team at Angels, thank you very much for your caring service. It helped us to concentrate on my dad and give support to my mum. Dad would have been totally proud and would have loved the horse and carriage. Thank you for all your kindness and patience.

Gill Smith and family
To everyone at Angels, thank you for your professional and caring services that you provided for my dad at his funeral. The personal touches proved that Angels is more than just a business. I have no hesitation in recommending you highly with love and light.

Carol Culshaw
To all the staff at 'Angels', thank you for all your help and service. The horse and carriage for Pop was fantastic and your help, respect and professionalism was beyond excellent at this very sad time. You made a very difficult time, with all that needs to be done, a lot easier.

A Magic
We made the right choice. In situations like this you need professionals to be there for you with guidance but not taking over and this team provided the correct mix. Excellent from start to finish. Well done and would definitely recommend.

Allen Pierce
Dear Mr Learmonth, funeral of the late Mrs Ida Wooff, I write to thank you and your colleagues for the sympathetic, dignified and efficient manner in which they carried out my wife's funeral yesterday. It greatly aided and comforted my family and I in our bereavement. I shall be pleased to recommend your firm to others.

T.A Wooff
To everyone at Angels, thank you very much for providing such a wonderful service at such a difficult time. We will always recommend you to friends. Special thanks to Harry for his help on the day of the funeral.

Margaret and Luke Spark
Dear sirs, thank you so much for all the care and attention you gave our family on the occasion of Mr Alfred James Abbut’s funeral. Our thanks to Harry for his comfort and reassurance.

L.A.Apted
Our family would like to thank you very much for the caring and dignified service provided by Angels Funerals yesterday, and we appreciate that if needed, you are still there for us.

Judith
Just a quick email to say thank you all very much for all your help and support in arranging the funeral for Barry. The whole family commented on the professional manner in which it was conducted.

June, Mel, Gary, Glenn & families
To all at Angels funeral home, thank you so much for the care and dedicated work you put into making my brother’s funeral go without any hitches. You all made sure he was given a professional and dignified day which was perfect in every way. Rafael (our Funeral Director), your care and attention to detail is outstanding and I wish you every success with Angels.

Mathew & Tina
Dear Rafael, thank you very much for doing dad’s funeral. I think we gave him a good send off and at the meal afterwards, we all raised our glasses to him. Your approach is very friendly and informal which makes the whole process easier to cope with. Once again thanks to you and your team.

Lyn and Vince Strogen
Hello Rafael, thank you once again for making mum’s day so personal and so easy on us. It was all exactly as we would have wished. Thank you.

Linda

Let us help you create a fitting tribute for a loved one

Call us on 01622 741 777 or request a callback using the form below

Come & see us, we are here to help

Address: 116 Heath Road, Coxheath, Maidstone, ME17 4PN

Opening Times: Mon-Fri: 09:00 - 17:00 Sat-Sun: Closed

Email: info@angelsfunerals.co.uk

Phone: 01622 741 777 (Available 24/7)

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FAQs & Advice

For those who don’t yet feel ready to reach out to us during this time, we have compiled a list of questions that are frequently asked by the families we’ve proudly served over the years. If you’d like to find out more about how we can help you create a fitting tribute to your loved one, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Embalming is not required by law, unless the person who has died will be travelling overseas. Therefore, embalming is a choice you’re free to make for your loved one, so if it’s not something you’d like to include, then it will not be carried out.

Our compassionate team of professionals here at Angels Independent Family Funeral Services are always happy to talk through your options regarding pre-planned funerals. Whether you’d like to arrange the funeral service with us, or simply require sensitive, respectful advice, get in touch with us when you feel ready to do so.

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