Seacroft Train Station becomes Pet Crematorium

By Angela Gooch on April 14th, 2008

Disused station now a pet’s crematorium
THE FORMER stationmaster’s house at the disused Seacroft Station, Skegness, was turned into a pet’s crematorium in 1974 by Mr Brian Russell, of 14 Norwood Road, Skegness, proprietor of 5555 Services:

No structural alterations have been made. Inside is a reception room, office, records room and an automatic, remote-controlled disposal unit which Mr Russell claims is smokeless, odourless and completely hygienic.
People whose pets die can bring them to the crematorium by arrangement or ask for them to be collected. A 24-hour phone-answering service is normally available, enabling pets to be collected from a 100-mile radius and disposed of within 48 hours.
The charges, excluding transport, range from about £1 for a budgerigar to £10 for a large dog. If the owners wish they can have the ashes back; alternatively they can have them scattered on a four-acre pets’ park at Addlethorpe.
In the park, it will be possible to have memorial trees planted bearing a plaque to commemorate the pet.
People can make advance bookings or can become “patrons,” paying so much a year over a seven-year period towards the eventual cost.
Mr Russell, who, in addition to his full-time job, runs a taxi service in Skegness, is employing a part-time clerical, cleaning, driving and crematorium staff.
The house stands in 3/4 acres of land and he has already started landscaping this to improve the appearance. He hopes to have this finished within a month.
By Sunday only two animals had been cremated — a cat and a dog. But Mr Russell said he had two patrons and two advance inquiries from Nottingham, where he had been advertising the service.
“Enthusiasm has been shown for this project by local veterinary surgeons who wish to use this service,” he said. “It is planned that contact can be made through the local pet shops for people with no telephone.”

Picture: Disused Seacroft train stationmaster’s house is turned into a pet crematorium.

disused Seacroft train station house, Skegness becomes Pet Crematorium