Month: November 2010

Laying down of headstones

Health & Safety exercise notice

Whilst the Friends are not responsible, nor involved in the current project to survey all gravestones in Brandwood End Cemetery, we are interested in what is being done and how sympathetically it is carried out.  What do you think?  Are you experienced in this type of law and know what is legal and what isn’t?  Should Health and Safety dictate that headstones are just laid down which can cause unecessary grief to the families?  Should stonemasons bear the responsibility for ensuring that headstones are stable and fit for purpose? 

Please write in and let us know what you think.  Thanks

Remembrance Sunday Service 2010

Remembrance Service at Brandwood End Cemetery 2010

A short service was held today in Brandwood End Cemetery to honour the fallen.  A few friends and onlookers joined The Rev’d Andy Delmege, Vicar of St Bedes Church, Brandwood, to pray and remember the victims of war. Counciller Neville Summerfield laid a wreath on behalf of Birmingham City Council and its constituents.  Barrie Simpon laid a wreath on behalf of the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery and a wreath was laid on behalf of the Royal British Legion. 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Poem by Laurence Binyon

A big thank you to Wates

Once again Wates have shown true ‘community spirit’.

On a cold, wet and windy day, members of Wates volunteered to turn out to support the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery in their small act of remembrance in placing a Poppy Cross on every war related grave.

Appropriately, this year we undertook the task on Armistice Day itself, and we actually began work at 11 am – it was on the 11th day, of 11th month, at the 11th hour, when the guns on the ‘Western Front’ finally fell silent.

This is no mean effort, as there are in excess of 350 graves to visit, all scattered throughout this large cemetery some difficult to locate; and all carried out in inclement weather conditions, with cheerfulness and a real sense of dedication to those we are remembering.

Not only did they place the Poppy Crosses, their keenness to support the project while in the cemetery resulted in the discovery of further war related graves, and thereby extended my research.

This is not the first time that they have assisted us and we are extremely grateful for their kind assistance.

On behalf of the Friends, may I yet again express our sincere thanks to Wates in general for being such a ‘community minded’ organisation, and to everyone who took part in particular, for giving up their time.

Barrie Simpson, Vice Chairman, Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery

Remembrance Service – 14th November 2010

Cross of Sacrifice, Brandwood End Cemetery

There will be a short Memorial Service today in Brandwood End Cemetery starting at 1pm. It will take place at the Cross of Sacrifice Island on the Main Drive towards the Broad Lane entrance. There will be a short service, followed by laying of wreaths in remembrance of the fallen.   Everyone is welcome to join us to remember our war dead, and pray for those in current conflicts.