FBEC held their AGM this evening at the Brandwood Centre. Unfortunately attendance was low but the evening was rounded off by a very interesting talk by the Reverend Douglas Wilkes on the Cemeteries of the Jewellery Quarter.
Neville Summerfield proposed a vote of thanks to Anne Courbet, who has been involved with FBEC since its inception and was currently serving as Chairman. Anne announced her intention to step down from her role and also from the committee but will continue to support FBEC and its future projects.
The elected committee members names, committee officers details and annual accounts will be displayed on this site following the first committee meeting on 1st May.
Author: Jane Edwards
Can you help keep our Cemetery clean and tidy? Yes you can, in just 90 minutes!
The Friends carry out four litter picks each year and we really need your help to keep the Cemetery tidy for family and visitors. You don’t have to be a member just willing to help out for 90 minutes. Litter pickers and bags are provided! Please put the date in your diary and come along if you can. All you need is sturdy shoes, gloves and suitable outdoor clothing!We meet at the Lodge at 10.00am and are generally finished by 11.30.
We are in need of all the help we can get to keep the Cemetery looking clean and tidy. If you can’t make March then these are our other dates:
Sunday 2nd June 2013
Saturday 7th September 2013
Sunday 1st December 2013
See you there?
Gates to Brandwood End Cemetery repainted
How many of us walk though the Woodthorpe Road entrance to the Cemetery and never look at the gates? Well, until recently they didn’t really warrant a second glance….but now they are newly painted we think you will agree they are magnificent!
Local children produce their drawings of Brandwood End Cemetery!
Just prior to Christmas 2012 New Vision Community Group were part of the Christmas Fayre at St Albans School. FBEC, as members of this group, ran a small competition for the pupils to draw what they saw and liked within Brandwood End Cemetery. These are the three prize winners.
This beautiful drawing of our Chapels was produced by Nancy McAndrew, who is 10 years old.
Maisey Cox, aged 9, has captured the avenues of trees that make Brandwood End cemetery so beautiful.
Our final winner is just 5! Roman Addy has managed to pack so many things into his picture. Foxes, trees, angels, grave stones, mushrooms….and even a cat he saw!
Full marks for observation.
Each of the three winners will receive a prize of some items to use for their future artistic endeavours and their efforts will be displayed on our notice boards as well as here on our site.
We would like to thank them for taking the time to enter our competition.
Brandwood End Cemetery gates get a facelift
Many of us with an interest in Brandwood End Cemetery have been waiting for some time for improvements to be carried out to the gates at both entrances. We are pleased to report that both gates have now been repainted and look fresh and cared for. These gates are large and intricate and the preparation and repainting must have represented a major task. Our thanks go to Bereavements Department who have facilitated this.
Adverse weather causes damage to trees.
Sadly high winds and recent snow fall contributed to one of the Corsican Pine Trees on the main drive in the Cemetery being uprooted. Luckily the tree fell away from the main drive area but did damage an adjacent Deodar Cedar as it fell removing branches from one side. Work is being undertaken to remove the trunk but as you will see from the photograph this was a very large tree.
Community Christmas Fayre
Members of FBEC will be at St Albans Catholic Primary School PTA Christmas Fayre on Friday the 14th December. The event
will run from 3.15pm till 5pm at the school in Bayston Road and FBEC will be promoting membership of The Friends and encouraging local people to visit the site and take our Tree Walk.
This event is supported by New Vision, who aim to bring together voluntary groups in the area and increase each individual group’s membership by promoting community awareness.
Father Christmas will be arriving on site at about 3.30pm.
Diamond Woodland Planting Event
Children from St Albans Catholic Primary school joined members of FBEC, Bereavements Department staff and the BCC Woodland Management team in a joint project to plant 23 colourful and interesting trees within Brandwood End Cemetery. An area of land adjacent to the main drive has been selected to create a ‘Diamond Woodland’ to enhance the entrance and also surround a future ashes burial area. We were lucky with the weather, which was just as well, as the children had a strenuous task which they set to with vigour. St Albans have supported us in previous projects and can always be relied upon to work hard on site. Penny Smith represented BCC and, with the aid of some pupils, cut the opening ribbon. Everyone enjoyed the event and we would urge those of you who visit the cemetery to look to your left as you enter to see the fruits of our labour! They will undoubtedly produce some beautiful colour in years to come.
Remembrance Day in Brandwood End
Councillor Barry Henley, on behalf of Birmingham City Council, joined Brian Rai of FBEC to lay wreaths at the Cross of Sacrifice in Brandwood End Cemetery. This year our Remembrance Sunday event actually fell on the 11th of November and our short ceremony took place at 11am to include a 2 minutes silence. They were joined by a number of members of the public and members of the Friends.
Can we draw your attention to over 300 poppy crosses placed in the grassland area near the Cross of Sacrifice which represent members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives and are buried within Brandwood End Cemetery
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Lodge Garden
Friends of Brandwood End are working with Bereavements staff on plans to recreate a garden area adjacent to the Lodge on the main drive. The process will be a slow one due to time and money constraints but all parties are working towards making this an area where people will be able to sit and take some time out when visiting the cemetery. The design has been agreed and basic ground work and fencing has started. It is hoped the major work will be done during the spring and that the garden will be available for use in the summer of 2013.