50th Anniversary of Margam Crematorium

An event is being planned to mark the 50^th anniversary of the opening of Port Talbot’s Margam Crematorium.

The Crematorium was officially opened on the 25^th April 1969 and has since undertaken over 65,000 cremations.

In 2016, the Crematorium became a Grade II listed building by Wales’s historical monuments body Cadw for its special architectural and historic interest “as a fine example of a post-war crematorium”.

In awarding the building its status, Cadw said: “The building is especially imaginative and creative in responding to the design challenges of the building type, with a plan and layout that skilfully handles the circulation of users through the building and separates its functions, and with a simplicity of design and detail that helps to create a sense of spirituality appropriate to its purpose.”

Members of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Margam Joint Crematorium Committee who met on Friday, March 22^ndagreed to mark the 50^th anniversary of its opening.

An ecumenical service will be held at 5pm on Thursday 25th April 2019, which will see contributions from all faiths/non faiths who undertake services at Margam Crematorium with readings by local clergy of different denominations.

The service will be led by The Reverend Robert Bowden, who is perhaps the most longstanding officiator at Margam Crematorium, having conducted his first funeral there in 1975. The Guest Choir will be Afanté Ladies Choir.

Also,a brochure is being prepared which will cover the history of the Crematorium over the last 50 years prepared by a member of the Cremation Society of Great Britain, Dr Hilary Granger, with the aim of publication early this Summer.

The unveiling of an anniversary plaque will also take place at the crematorium on April 25^th, 2019, commemorating the 50th anniversary. The plaque will be in a style similar to that produced on the opening of the crematorium in 1969.

Councillor Ted Latham, Chair of the Margam Joint Crematorium Committee, said: “Margam Crematorium is important to a lot of people, and is the place where we come together to share memories and celebrate life. The team atthe Crematorium provide the very highest standards of compassionate customer care and service choice.

“This 50th anniversary is an opportunity to recognise the role of the Crematorium within our community, to remember the people who have passed through its doors, and to discover more about how it operates.

“I welcome everyone to come along to the events we have planned.”

Hanner Canmlwyddiant Agor Amlosgfa Margam

 Trefnir rhaglen o ddigwyddiadau i nodi 50 mlynedd ers agor Amlosgfa Margam Port Talbot.

Fe’i hagorwyd yn swyddogol ar 25 Ebrill 1969 ac ers hynny, cynhaliwyd dros 65,000  amlosgiadau yno.

Yn 2016, daeth yr amlosgfa’n adeilad rhestredig gradd II yn ôl corff henebion Cymru, Cadw, oherwydd ei nodweddion pensaernïol a hanesyddol arbennig sy’n “enghraifft dda o amlosgfa wedi’i hadeiladu ar ôl y rhyfel”.

Wrth roi’r statws hwn i’r adeilad, dywedodd Cadw, “Mae’r adeilad yn hynod ddychmygus a chreadigol wrth ymateb i heriau dylunio’r math hwn o adeilad, gyda chynllun a threfn sy’n ymdrin yn fedrus â symudiad defnyddwyr drwy’r adeilad ac yn gwahanu’i weithrediadau, a chyda dyluniad a manylion syml sy’n helpu i greu ymdeimlad o ysbrydolrwydd sy’n addas i’w ddiben.”

Dywedwyd wrth aelodau o Gyd-bwyllgor Amlosgfa Margam Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot, a gyfarfu ddydd Gwener 22 Mawrth, y cynhelir rhaglen o ddigwyddiadau i nodi 50 mlynedd ers ei hagor.

Yn gyntaf, cynhelir gwasanaeth eciwmenaidd am 5pm nos Iau 25 Ebrill 2019, lle bydd pobl o bob ffydd/heb ffydd o gwbl sy’n cynnal gwasanaethau yn Amlosgfa Margam yn cyfrannu, a bydd darlleniadau gan glerigwyr lleol o enwadau gwahanol.

Arweinir y gwasanaeth gan y Parchedig Robert Bowden, sef y gweinyddwr mwyaf hirhoedlog o bosib yn Amlosgfa Margam, a arweiniodd ei angladd gyntaf yno ym 1975. Y côr gwadd fydd Côr Menywod Afanté.

Hefyd, darperir llyfryn a fydd yn cynnwys hanes yr amlosgfa dros y 50 mlynedd diwethaf, wedi’i baratoi gan aelod o Gymdeithas Amlosgfeydd Prydain Fawr, Dr Hilary Granger, â’r nod o’i gyhoeddi’n gynnar yn yr haf.

Dadorchuddir plac hefyd yn yr amlosgfa ar 25 Ebrill 2019 i nodi 50 mlynedd ers yr agoriad. Bydd y plac ar ffurf debyg i’r un a gynhyrchwyd pan agorwyd yr amlosgfa ym 1969.

Meddai’r Cynghorydd Ted Latham, Cadeirydd Cyd-bwyllgor Amlosgfa Margam, “Mae Amlosgfa Margam yn bwysig i lawer o bobl a dyma’r lleoliad lle rydym yn dod ynghyd i rannu atgofion a dathlu bywyd. Mae tîm yr amlosgfa’n darparu’r safonau uchaf o ofal cwsmeriaid tosturiol a’r gwasanaethau a’r dewisiadau diweddaraf.

“Mae’r hanner canmlwyddiant yn gyfle i gydnabod rôl yr amlosgfa yn ein cymuned, cofio’r bobl sydd wedi mynd drwy ei drysau a darganfod mwy am sut mae’n gweithredu.

“Rwy’n croesawu pawb i ddod i’r digwyddiadau rydym wedi’u cynllunio.”