Changes to crematoria and cemeteries
Published: Thursday, 13th May 2021
As of Monday 17 May, in line with the government’s road map, changes are being made to the rules governing crematoria and cemeteries.
There will be no limit for outdoor funerals and up to 30 people can now attend a wake or other commemorative event. However, services in chapels will continue to be limited due to social distancing measures.
Councillor Sharon Thompson, Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, said “I welcome the increase in the number of people being able to attend funerals at our crematoria and funerals outside can now go ahead without limits on the number of people attending. This will make it much better for grieving families and those wanting to attend a funeral service. Our priority has always been to maintain the dignity of those who have sadly passed away and to support their loved ones in holding a funeral that meets their cultural, religious and general desires. This has been incredibly difficult during the pandemic as we have also had to minimise the likelihood of Covid spreading within the city. However, I am pleased we are now able to lift the restrictions as the country moves back towards some form of normality.
The only service yet to be re-instated is the practice of grave backfilling by the funeral attenders. We will keep these changes under review but hope to relax any outstanding restrictions by 21 June in line with the government’s road map.”
For full details please see our webpage at https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cemeteries
Did you know that today is 100 years since the formation of the Royal British Legion? We have to admit that it had passed FBEC by ! Over the years the Friends have had a strong connection with the RBL and our work around the War Graves in Brandwood End. Kings Heath Branch, and later Kings Norton Branch, have supported us at our Remembrance Day events and other projects. Unfortunately these branches are no longer available to assist and their Standard Bearers are not seen at Remembrance anymore. We really miss them.
It is 100 years today since the RBL was formed, and it continues to do its good work. We recognise that it has to move forward to remain relevant but as well as remembering those who lost their lives in battle or need their support following involvement in more recent conflict- please spare a thought for all those ‘ordinary’ men and women who have worked as volunteers over the years. They have shaken tins, stood in the rain, manned stalls, delivered poppy crosses, arranged Remembrance Services and generally raised the profile whilst raising the funds that have enable the RBL to do the work they do.
Many of these stalwarts have died as age was against them. As newer younger people take up the baton lets not forget the work of those that went before, because without that army of volunteers today’s generation would not know who the Royal British Legion are or what they stand for.
Despite the rain, our Chairman was able to take a few lovely photographs today in the cemetery.
The Friends are working alongside ‘Caring for God’s Acre’ in a project to record details of all the memorials in Brandwood End Cemetery.
FBEC members were joined on site today by Val Hart from Balsall Heath Local History Society. We hope Val will be sharing her experience with the rest of the Balsall Heath Local History Society. This will be a long term project and we soon hope to be able to give you details on how you can become involved yourselves.
Our thanks to George from Caring for God’s Acre for her guidance and to Val, Lisa, Pat, Julia and Jane for their efforts…..in the rain!
Our apologies if you tried to access our web site earlier and found it was listed as insecure! We have been experiencing some technical difficulties when the SSL Certificate automatically renews….or not as the case may be!
We try and spot this as soon as it happens but should you get this ‘insecure site’ message in future, please be assured we are on the case! As we speak they are trying to track down the issue.
As many of our supporters may remember, the Friends have worked with the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country on a similar project to the one below, but focusing on Hedgehogs. We thought you may want to try their latest project……
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The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country, EcoRecord and Birmingham Museums Trust are calling for local residents to take part in the City Nature Challenge and help showcase the rich diversity of wildlife across Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
This global citizen science project takes place between Friday 30th April and Monday 3rd May 2021 and anyone can get involved by downloading the free iNaturalist app from inaturalist.org or from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Simply take a photo of any wild plant or animal and upload it to the app where the species-recognition software helps with identification. Any wildlife counts including birds, mammals, insects, trees, flowers, amphibians, reptiles, fungi, moss and lichen.
Birmingham and the Black Country took part for the first time in 2020, recording over 1,300 species – more than any other European city area! 244 cities took part across the world and Birmingham and the Black Country placed 31st by number of species recorded ahead of all other UK cities that took part. Some of the highlights of 2020 challenge recorded by Birmingham and Black Country residents included Weasel, Red kite and otter poo as well as the area’s first record of a rare Box Bug (Gonocerus acuteangulatus).
Take the City Nature Challenge!
Despite the ‘lockdown’ restrictions, the Friends were able to support a small gathering to remember those lost as a result of the ill-fated Gallipoli Campaign.
FBEC Chairman Julia Griffin, Vice Chairman Coral Howard and member Pat Franklin joined Ian Binnie (Gallipoli Association), Colonel (Retd.) Bob Carruthers (Royal Warwickshire Regiment Association) and Richard Millington (Warwickshire Yeomanry Association) joined together to remember all those who served in the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign of World War One.
For those with an interest, you can follow this link to a brochure containing more details prepared by the Gallipoli Association. Anzac booklet.
Do you know how important Anzac day is ? Do you even know what it commemorates?
This year the Friends will be meeting with Ian Binnie, who is the Education Coordinator of the Gallipoli Association, a charity that seeks to promote knowledge of the ill fated WW1 campaign, to mark the day by laying a small tribute at the grave of one of those lost in the campaign.
Ian has kindly produced a short video on the You Tube channel, explaining its importance. It can be accessed via this link.
The new permanent fence is now in place and the old fencing has been removed. I think you will agree that this has made an amazing difference. Well done to all concerned.
