PLYMOUTH
Ford Park Cemetery Trust
February 2007
Sainsbury's Marsh Mills Plymouth branch nominated the Trust as their charity of the month and contributions collected by staff and customers were gratefully received.
A wedding has been booked for June 2007 to be held in the chapel of the cemetery.
An application is being made to the HLF to restore the Victorian Chapel and to turn the 1960's built chapel into a Heritage Centre. The project will cost £634,000 with £460,000 anticipated from the HLF, £120,000 from other charities and £54,000 from the local community.
Ted Northmore and Clive Easter have both stood down as trustees and an appreciation of their hard work and commitment was recorded. Pat Luxford the volunteer Heritage Officer who researched and planned many of the walks has also stood down from the post but will continue to offer heritage advice to the Trust.
The Trust has now reached the VAT registration threshold and will in future charge VAT on searches, maintenance and repairs and membership subscriptions but the grant of burial rights and the supply of a grave plot are exempt from VAT.
March 2007
Government minister visits Ford Park Cemetery
Mr Derek Trigg, Under Secretary of State MOD [Minister for Veterans] visited the cemetery and was given a tour by trustees Jan West and Jean Northey with head groundsman Dave Wickett. The trustees informed the minister that there were more than 800 graves of servicemen, mainly RN personnel and were hoping that the MOD would grant funds to ensure their future care.
NFCF NEWSLETTER NO 17 APRIL 2006
The work of the volunteers of the Trust was recognised by the Award of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2005. The Trust was the only voluntary organisation in Devon and one of only 92 organisations across the country to be honoured.
In June in a moving ceremony was held to mark the centenary of the burial of the funeral of eleven crew of H.M. Submarine A8 and their restored graves were re-dedicated. Local officials and Royal Navy representatives attended.
