Author: friendsofbec

Annual BOSF(Birmingham Open Spaces ) Conference

This years BOSF Conference took on a different look as the two afternoon sessions meant that members had the chance to learn more about, and take part in, different activities carried out in Parks. The morning session involved speakers from several organisations  and also gave delegates the chance of having ‘just a minute’ to champion their own group. The venue this year was also a change from the norm and being held at The Mac in Cannon Hill made it easy for our Chairman and Secretary to attend!

                                  

Afternoon practical sessions varied from learning about the technical equipment that the Tree Officers use to determine the health/stability of a tree to learning about green wood working. Also available were workshops to help with event organisation and health and safety assessment.

BOSF Conferences offer individual Friends groups the chance to get together and network…..as well as offering a hearty lunch and cake !!

Barrie Simpson

At the AGM today we were able to remind ourselves of the time we had all spent with the late Barrie Simpson.

Barrie was a larger than life character and had such a profound effect on Brandwood End Cemetery and every member of our committee. He will be missed by many and we are all so proud to have worked alongside him.  We do have some information concerning funeral arrangements:-

Wednesday 2nd May.    12.15pm Service at All Saints Church, Vicarage Rd, Kings Heath

2.00pm- Redditch Crematorium, Bordesley Lane B97 6RR

 

Successful AGM and election of a new Chairman.

Our thanks to those members who came to our AGM today as the weather was really miserable!  As well as giving us the opportunity to bring members up to date with finances and events it also gave us the chance  to give some thought to the time we had all spent with the late Barrie Simpson.

At today’s AGM we were able to ask members to vote in Officers and a Committee to serve till next year. Our existing Chairman, who had also retained her role as Secretary, was able to pass control to a new Chairman and go back to concentrating on just one job as Secretary!!(Welcome Julia!) Here are the details of the next years Officers and Committee.

Chairman– Julia Griffin      Vice Chairman- Coral Howard   Secretary- Jane Edwards Treasurer and Membership Secretary- Julian Pritchard.

Committee members- Carola Klein, Philip Brown, Brian Rai, Adrian Harris, Sarah Courbet, Nicola Clarke (Idverde)

 

 

 

Annual AGM.

Annual AGM

Those with an interest in Brandwood End Cemetery are cordially invited to a ‘Coffee and Cake’ morning to be held in the conference room of St Dunstan’s Church, Kingsfield Rd, Kings Heath. (Opposite All Saints Village Square) on the morning of Thursday 12th April at 10.30.

We will be holding a short AGM at the start of this meeting when we will present our annual accounts and report on our work in Brandwood End Cemetery.

R I P Barrie Simpson.

It is with regret that we have to announce the sudden passing of our deeply respected long term friend and colleague, Barrie Simpson, whom we all held in great regard.  

He was such an integral member of FBEC that his loss will be very keenly felt, but he will continue to live on in our thoughts especially when working in the cemetery.

Of late we have observed Barrie’s decline, but his ability to find ways of communicating at committee meetings revealed his continuing perseverance and determination to be engaged in what he held dear. The photograph above is how we will all remember Barrie !

As this wonderful man passes from our lives to being indelibly marked on our minds and in our hearts, we are all reminded of the massive hole he leaves in FBEC.

 

Remembrance Day – 13th November 2011

Cross of Sacrifice at Brandwood End Cemetery

On Sunday, 13th November, 2011, a short wreath laying service and two minutes silence for the fallen of the two world wars and conflicts since 1945, will take place at the Cross of Sacrifice at 11.00.a.m.  Please join us at 10.50am.

‘They shall not grow 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.’

You are warmly welcomed to attend.

First lady Patron

Elizabeth Perkins
Elizabeth Perkins, the new Patron of the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery

Elizabeth Perkins, Director of the Birmingham Conservation Trust, has graciously accepted an invitation from the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery’s Committee to become their fifth Patron.

Elizabeth has been associated with FBEC almost since its inception in 2005 and has given a great deal of her time and expertise in supporting the Committee’s endeavours to repair and restore the twin terracotta Victorian Chapels in Brandwood End Cemetery.

Birmingham Conservation Trust is a charity which exists ‘to provide and enhance Birmingham’s threatened architectural heritage and to promote an enjoyment and understanding of the City’s historic buildings.’

With Elizabeth at the helm, Birmingham Conservation Trust’s many successful projects include the Back to Backs and Perrotts Folly.

Their latest sucess has been the recent award of £1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the 19th century Grade 11 listed Newman Bros. Coffin Works, which is situated in the Jewellery Quarter.

Further information about the Trust and their projects can be obtained from ‘Useful Links’ on this website.

Alistair McGowan becomes a Patron of the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery

Alistair McGowan
Alistair McGowan becomes Patron of Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery

Multi-faceted, an acute environmentalist, a rich heritage spanning many centuries and a thorough gentleman; Alistair represents all this and much more. He has now, we are extremely happy and proud to say, agreed to be the fourth Patron of the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery (FBEC).

Amongst Alistair’s lineage, there are thirty plus family linked members interred at Brandwood End Cemetery and this together with the 1700 plus ‘Brandwood End’ trees and Alistair’s existing patronage with ‘Trees for Cities’, provides an ideal backdrop to Alistair’s new FBEC patronage.

Litter Pick – can you help us to keep our Cemetery looking lovely?

Picture of Litter Pickers
Litter Pick Army

For those of you who think there is very little litter around these days and so there is no need to come, it is only like that because of the continuing efforts of the ground staff and the Friends’ Litter Pick days.  We can’t let up the pressure on litter.   

A clean environment encourages people to keep it that way.  This simple bi-monthly task is essential in maintaining this cemetery’s appearance.

Talking about appearance

Now we have restored the Civilian Garden we are looking for any of you gardeners out there to also come at the same time as the Litter Picks to help maintain the garden by simple weeding.

All you need are your gloves – litter pickers and bags are provided.  Please see the Events page for the next dates.  See you there for fresh air, friendship and fun!