NATIONAL FEDERATION OF CEMETERY FRIENDS

BIRMINGHAM Brandwood End

Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery
Cemetery at Woodthorpe Road, King's Heath, Birmingham B14 6EQ
website www.fbec.org.uk
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The cemetery is owned by Birmingham City Council, it was opened in 1898 and extends for about 53 acres. There is a lodge and two chapels designed by J. Brewin Holmes. The chapels are joined by a porte-cochere with a pinnacled tower and octagonal spire. The landscaping is a formal layout. The long term aim of the Friends group to repair and restore to their former glory the Grade II listed chapels and to improve the cemetery in general. Due to vandalism and neglect, the work is going to take time and patience.
There are now more than 100 members in the Friends group and there has been success in the lobbying for improvements in grass cutting, clearing the undergrowth, pruning of shrubbery and security. There have been litter picks organised by the Friends and for Armistice Day 284 poppy crosses of remembrance were placed by graves.

BIRMINGHAM KEY HILL

Friends of Key Hill Cemetery
Cemetery at Icknield Street, Birmingham

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This was Birmingham's first cemetery. Situated in the historic jewellery quarter, the cemetery consists of 8 acres [Grade II Listed] and is now closed. among prominent burials is that of Joseph Chamberlain who described the cemetery as 'The most interesting place in the world to a Birmingham man.' There are examples of burial clubs headstones whereby poor people fearing the indignity of an unmarked pauper's grave paid a small sum so that in the course of time the club or society erected a headstone listing the names of the deceased. The 2007 AGM of the Federation was hosted by the Friends in June 2007 in the city's magnificent Council House building at Victoria Square.