Company:Aerial Ashes
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Death care |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Founder | Christopher Mace |
| Headquarters | Christchurch, Dorset |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Owner | Matt Young |
| Website | www |
Aerial Ashes is a British multirotor unmanned aerial vehicle company founded in 2019 in Christchurch, Dorset.[1][2]
History
Aerial Ashes was started by Christopher Mace, a helicopter pilot in the Royal Air Force. Mace was asked to scatter the ashes of ex-RAF airmen over the sea, creating meaningful experiences for families. After refining techniques for optimal scattering, he retired and founded Aerial Ashes.[3] The company uses drones with modified load boxes to release cremation ashes at chosen locations, offering a respectful, innovative service.[4][5] In March 2021, Aerial Ashes was the first and only company in the UK granted an operational safety case by the UKS Civilian Aviation Authority to scatter cremated ashes by drone.[6][7][8]
In 2022, the company teamed up with A.W.Lymn The Family Funeral Service and gained a much greater reputation, being featured in The Telegraph and BBC, where Mace commented that the idea of founding the company came about after scattering the ashes of ex-military personnel at sea, assuming that each person wanted to be scattered in a specific place.[9][10] The company was influential in countries such as Spain, where other companies chose to provide the same services, and it also caught the attention of the country's authorities.[11] This year, British funeral home JC Atkinson also teamed up with Aerial Ashes to include the services provided in its catalogue.[12][13]
In April 2024, Matt Young purchased the company and moved to a multi-site operation providing service throughout the UK, including Scotland.[14][15] In this year, the media described the project as a "touching farewell to a loved one".[16][17] In that year, the company also offered the private beaches of Beachy Head and Seven Sisters.[18]
References
- ↑ "AERIAL ASHES LTD overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK" (in en). https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12479704.
- ↑ "Sky's the limit: Co-op set to use drones to scatter ashes". https://www.co-operative.coop/media/news-releases/skys-the-limit-co-op-set-to-use-drones-to-scatter-ashes.
- ↑ "Why mourners are opting to scatter ashes by drone" (in en-GB). BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-derbyshire-63414672.
- ↑ "Funeral firm offering to scatter loved one's ashes in the sky from a DRONE" (in en). 2022-08-13. https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/20627235.stokesley-firm-offering-scatter-loved-ones-ashes-drone/.
- ↑ "Dropping Ashes Of Loved Ones By Drone Over Land Or Sea" (in en-US). 2022-11-10. https://dronexl.co/2022/11/10/dropping-ashes-of-loved-ones-by-drone/.
- ↑ Shah, Saqib (2022-11-08). "Death from above: Co-op lets mourners scatter ashes by drone in UK first" (in en). https://www.standard.co.uk/news/tech/coop-mourners-scatter-ashes-drone-uk-b1038498.html.
- ↑ "Legal Requirements - Aerial Ashes" (in en-US). https://www.aerialashes.co.uk/legal-requirements/.
- ↑ BBC (2022-11-06). "Why mourners are opting to scatter ashes by drone" (in en-US). https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2022/11/why-mourners-are-opting-to-scatter-ashes-by-drone/.
- ↑ Torre, Berny (2022-11-06). "UK firm offers relatives the chance to have their loved one's ashes scattered by drone" (in en-GB). The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/11/06/uk-firm-offers-relatives-chance-have-loved-ones-ashes-scattered/?ICID=continue_without_subscribing_reg_first.
- ↑ "Scattering ashes by drone - Fenix" (in en). https://fenixfuneral.co.uk/guidance/scattering-ashes-by-drone/.
- ↑ García, Victoria (2022-11-09). "Drones que esparcen las cenizas de familiares muertos: la última moda en Reino Unido que ya vigilan las autoridades | Internacional | Actualidad" (in es-ES). https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2022/11/09/drones-que-esparcen-las-cenizas-de-familiares-muertos-la-ultima-moda-en-reino-unido-que-ya-vigilan-las-autoridades-cadena-ser/.
- ↑ "JC Atkinson offers ashes scattering by drone" (in en-GB). 2022-10-31. https://fsj.co.uk/jc-atkinson-offers-ashes-scattering-by-drone/.
- ↑ "Aerial Ashes win support from JC Atkinson with launch promotion at the National Funeral Exhibition - Aerial Ashes" (in en-US). 2022-05-27. https://www.aerialashes.co.uk/aerial-ashes-win-support-from-jc-atkinson-with-launch-promotion-at-the-national-funeral-exhibition/.
- ↑ "Ashes of loved one scattered by a drone in Sandbanks" (in en). 2024-08-08. https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24501528.sandbanks-ashes-loved-one-scattered-drone/.
- ↑ "BBC Radio Solent - BBC Radio Solent, Would you scatter your loved one's ashes by drone?" (in en-GB). 2024-08-27. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0jltrqz.
- ↑ "Drone helps 'adventurous' 93-year-old 'go out in style'". https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/death-funeral-drone-ashes-b2407022.html.
- ↑ "'Adventurous' 93-year-old goes 'out in style' as ashes scattered by drone" (in en). 2023-09-07. https://www.irishnews.com/news/uknews/2023/09/07/news/_adventurous_93-year-old_goes_out_in_style_as_ashes_scattered_by_drone-3591920/.
- ↑ "Discover a new way to scatter ashes with Aerial Ashes" (in en). 2024-03-18. https://www.beachyhead.org.uk/news/2024/03/aerial-ashes-at-beachy-head/.
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