National Federation of Cemetery Friends

Caring for the future of our cemeteries

Members Barnsley/Cambridge

Members Cardiff/Liverpool

Members London

Members Manchester / York

Associate Members

Burial Law Reform

Memorial Safety

Belgrave Cemetery, Leicester

images courtesy J. Tomlinson and Dorothy Marshall

Dissenters Chapel courtesy Friends of Beckett Street Cemetery

Courtesy Friends of Woodgrange Park Cemetery

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news from members HIGHGATE 13 February 2012 Our chairman has received the sad news from the Highgate Cemetery Trust of the death of their former chairman, Jean Pateman. Jean has been a stalwart of the cemetery friends movement for many years, being a founder of the Highgate Friends and of the National Federation. TUNBRIDGE WELLS see new video of cemetery FRIENDS OF YORK CEMETERY November 2011 So, you’d like to spend a couple of hours of peace and quiet in beautiful surroundings, doing something really worthwhile? Well you can because the Cemetery needs Weekend Wardens. Wardens keep an eye on the Cemetery when the office is closed and help visitors with enquiries. You can warden alone or in pairs, for a 2 hour slot, on a Saturday or a Sunday. The Cemetery will ensure that you are trained for the role and provide the equipment that you need. Some Wardens “garden while they warden”, some “litterpick”, others just enjoy their time strolling around the peaceful, beautiful surroundings of the Cemetery. For more information please email yorkcemeteryvolunteers@gmail.com or phone the Cemetery office on 01904 610578. Penny Coupland It’s been a busy year for events at York Cemetery. From guided walks to music events, their popularity is enduring. Despite the poor summer weather, Year 10 drama pupils from Fulford School turned out for their living history performances in which the lives of some of the Cemetery’s inhabitants are re-enacted. A new teacher, Lucy de Gayle, led the pupils this year. Those in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the event as ever. EVENTS NEWS Besides this and the usual programme of events there’s been plenty happening for Friends in the Chapel. Hugh Murray, Genealogy Volunteer and Historian, gave a very interesting presentation about the history of the Cemetery. A local history book by Avril Appleton was launched, and the Cemetery party took place in October instead of the usual Christmas time. At many of these events, guests have been privileged to feast mightily upon exceptional food prepared by Mr and Mrs Penso. Look out for further unscheduled event FRIENDS OF YORK CEMETERY NEWSLETTER November 2011 FRIENDS OF GLASGOW NECROPOLIS July 2011 GOOD NEWS AT LAST - There is a Conservation Plan in place for the Necropolis approved by Historic Scotland and we can look forward to being able to take some of our projects forward. The first, which is going for Planning and Listed Building Permission, is the Buchanan Mausoleum. THE BUCHANAN APPEAL - we have already raised £6k from donations for our volunteers guides taking Tours and the Chair, Nigel Willis, giving PowerPoint® Presentations and we plan another Open Day on 28 August. The current estimate for the full restoration of this monument is £46,000. All donations from this years tours will go towards this restoration and all donations over £100 will receive a special Guardian Angel Certificate. FRIENDS OF SOUTHAMPTON OLD CEMETERY August 2011 The Friends are very grateful for the donation of tools from Bulldog Tools Company. These tools will make a considerable difference to our conservation work in the Old Cemetery. Special thanks to Mr Fred Foot Marketing Manager. FRIENDS OF WEST NORWOOD CEMETERY September 2011 Chairman Bob Flanagan reports It has been a busy 4 months. Firstly there is no end in sight to the impasse over the capital grant, the powers that be within Lambeth not having met with the Chair of the Scheme of Management Committee, Nicholas Long, to discuss the situation. Meanwhile the state of the block pavement roadway leading into the cemetery continues to deteriorate – there will be an accident here sooner or later. The areas underneath both the Tite arch and the outer gate are particularly dangerous. The withdrawal of the capital grant delayed the much needed repair to the railings alongside the roadway adjacent to the library – local people have known for years that the cemetery could be accessed at night at will. I am pleased to report that this repair has now been completed as an emergency task. Whether the delay to this repair was a factor in the theft of the copper roof of the Crematorium on 5/6 June (the thieves came back the next day to finish the job!), or the theft of lead lettering from many more modern memorials, we will never know. The West Norwood Library roof was also stolen at this time, and the thieves will certainly have seen the gap in the railings then if they hadn’t already. These and other local thefts of copper, etc. received considerable publicity - the cemetery twice featured on the front page of the South London Press. Julian Litten suggests using ‘Smartwater’ for protecting roofs. This is a chemical which can be painted randomly on down-pipes (used by thieves for access) and randomly on the metal roof they would like to steal. Its effect is that it retains the DNA of the thief and, in return, the thief is impregnated with the chemical (which is non-toxic) and will not come off until the skin on the hands naturally wears off and replaces itself. It is detectable by ultra-violet light. Local MP Tessa Jowell accompanied by Cllr Florence Nosegbe and Jo Cleary, Head of Lambeth Adult Services, came to inspect the cemetery on 24 June. They were enthusiastic about the site, and were keen to see it better promoted. However, the members of the party with high heels had trouble walking on the collapsing block pavement!

Can you help? Celia Smith Associate Member [Lambeth Cemetery Projects & Memorials Supervisor] asks if any cemetery group in the London or Southend area is able to locate a grave.

Princess Alice disaster [excursion ship on a day trip which sank with large loss of life

after being rammed by another ship]

James Read Bilton 33yrs, Margaret Bilton 30yrs, Beatrice Bilton 2yrs

Their remains were identified by the brother-in-law at the coroners. The coroners have some records of where the majority of victims were buried but not this family. Despite placing searches with most of the likely cemeteries no trace can now be found. The family lived in Norwood so we first tried West Norwood but they are not there, also not at Lambeth, Streatham or Streatham Park. Would any of our members be able to have a look on the off chance they might be in their cemetery? Registration was at Woolwich in the Dec qtr of 1878, but they are not at Woolwich, as far as the searchers can ascertain. Be grateful for any ideas. Please contact Celia Smith

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A winter scene at Cleethorpes Cemetery

image courtesy Roy Saxby

Image courtesy Ryde Social History Group

Image courtesy Friends of Arnos Vale

Grave Capt George Smith RN patented a lifeboat to sit on paddlebox of ships, used by RN and Royal Mail Steam Packet

news from members

Can you help? Celia Smith Associate Member [Lambeth Cemetery Projects & Memorials Supervisor] asks if any cemetery group in the London or Southend area is able to locate a grave.