Bereaved families in Bury St Edmunds now have a place to send letters, cards and postcards to those they have loved and lost. 

Many people find comfort in writing letters to those who are no longer with us – and now, a ‘post box to heaven’ has been installed in the West Suffolk Cemetery and Crematorium, for precisely this purpose.  

It is hoped that a memorial post box will also be installed at the Lawn Cemetery in Ipswich, after Kesgrave resident Christina Aquilina appealed to local funeral directors for sponsorship. 

‘Post boxes to heaven’ were originally the idea of nine-year-old Matilda Handy from Nottingham, who longed for a place to post letters to her deceased grandparents. 

East Anglian Daily Times: Post boxes to heaven were inspired by the efforts of nine-year-old Matilda Handy from Nottingham. Image: SWNSPost boxes to heaven were inspired by the efforts of nine-year-old Matilda Handy from Nottingham. Image: SWNS (Image: SWNS)

Matilda’s mother, Leanne Handy, approached Gedling Crematorium where she worked.

Bosses responded by installing an old post box, painted white, shortly before Christmas. In a matter of weeks, 100 letters and cards were posted. 

East Anglian Daily Times: Post boxes to heaven give people the chance to post letters and cards to those they have loved and lost. Image: SWNSPost boxes to heaven give people the chance to post letters and cards to those they have loved and lost. Image: SWNS (Image: SWNS)

The post box was installed at West Suffolk Cemetery and Crematorium on Friday, March 17. 

Site manager Claire Butcher said: “Feedback has shown that the process of writing a letter, or perhaps a birthday card, to a lost loved one has already brought therapeutic comfort to many people. 

“Now, the communities in and around our crematorium can do the same thing.” 

Both West Suffolk and Gedling crematoriums belong to the Westerleigh Group. Following Gedling's success, the company has decided to introduce ‘post boxes to heaven’ at all its 37 sites over the coming weeks and months. 

Ms Butcher continued: “No address or stamps are required on any of the letters or cards.

“This is just another way in which we can provide emotional support to local families and is part of the uniquely personal exceptional care that all Westerleigh Group’s crematoria are committed to delivering.”