THE GRAVEST AWARDS CEREMONY OF THEM ALL

CEMETERY OF THE YEAR AWARDS LAUNCHES FOR 11TH YEAR OF COMPETITION

The 2008 Cemetery of the Year Awards (CYA), otherwise known as the Oscars of the Underworld, is back for another year of grave competition. In the 11th year of CYA, the cyber world meets the underworld with the advent of an online application form accessible from the brand new CYA website: www.memorialawarenessboard.com.

Organised by the Memorial Awareness Board (MAB), CYA strives to raise standards in burial grounds; highlighting the importance they play in the community and encouraging choice for the bereaved.

MAB’s Campaign Director Mike Dewar says, “it isn’t the likes of James McAvoy or Keira Knightly receiving praise, it’s the well-deserving men and women who work so hard to maintain our burial sites throughout the UK. Cemeteries play an integral role within our local communities and we aim to celebrate their excellence.”

In 2008, all entrants will receive a 1-2-1 on-site evaluation by a CYA judge, who will be looking at a whole range of criteria, from toilets and disabled access to seating areas and environmental enhancements. The awards take into account the varying degree of funding received by cemeteries, and acknowledge innovative ideas and areas of improvement.

The competition is open to all burial sites including cemeteries, crematoria, churchyards, green burial sites, and even pet cemeteries! The closing date for entries is Friday, 30 May 2008. Winners will be announced at the annual ICCM Conference and Exhibition taking place at the Chesford Grange Hotel in Kenilworth, Warwickshire Monday 29th September – Wednesday 1st October 2008.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The Awards were established to encourage and reward high standards amongst the nation’s cemeteries and to raise public awareness of the importance of cemeteries, which can house a wealth of historical, ecological and sociological information

Cemeteries will be judged by a comprehensive field assessment that is made on a single day against the set criteria.

MAIN CATEGORIES

Category A: Cemeteries up to 5 acres

Category B: Cemeteries between 5 - 15 acres

Category C: Cemeteries above 15 acres

Category D: Crematoria

Category E: Green Burial Sites

Category F: Pet Burial Sites (including Pet Crematoria & Memorial Gardens)

SPECIAL AWARDS

Award for Community Involvement

Award for Best Baby and Infant Memorial Garden

ICCM Award for Environmental Awareness

Welters Award for Innovation

Most Improved Cemetery/Crematoria

MAB Award for Best Memorial

NAMM Freedom of Choice Award

SPONSORED BY:

The Generations Network Inc. (Ancestry.co.uk), the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM), The National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM), IFZW Maintenance Ltd., Welters Organisation Worldwide, The Columbaria Company, George Squire and Sons Funeral Service, Deceased Online, ASSETtrac Ltd and Blue AV.