Category: News

Welcome news for Brandwood End Cemetery

Brandwood_End_Cemetery_Chapels_Enabling_Works_2012_Web
Victorian twin terracotta Chapels at Brandwood End Cemetery

The Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery are delighted to announce that following close liaison with Councillor Timothy Huxtable, Cabinet Member, for Transport, Environment and Regeneration, and Birmingham City Council Bereavement Service Officers, conservation planning has been granted for enabling works to be undertaken on the Victorian twin terracotta Grade II listed Chapels in order to improve security.

Superintendent's Lodge at Brandwood End Cemetery
Superintendent's Lodge at Brandwood End Cemetery about to undergo a facelift

In addition, the Superintendent’s Lodge (Grade ll listed by association with the chapels), which was rendered uninhabitable by flooding in December 2010, is to be refurbished by Birmingham City Council. Amongst other uses, consideration is being given to the Lodge eventually becoming a Visitors’ Centre and for local community group use. The works include the provision of a garden area and refurbishment of the existing toilet block.

The enabling works have begun on the Chapels and work will commence on the Lodge shortly.

To see more photos of the enabling works, the Lodge and of the Cemetery please visit and join our Flickr group.

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 19th April 2012 at The Brandwood Centre from 19.30.   All interested parties are welcome; only members are entitled to vote.

The Friends have been working in close co-operation with Birmingham City Council since 2005 and have achieved many improvements to the cemetery in general. Combined efforts towards the repair and restoration of the Chapels will be ongoing.

Anyone interested in supporting the Friends in their endeavours can obtain more information here, by e-mailing us at friendsofbec@gmail.com or by writing to us  c/o The Lakeside Centre, 180 Lifford Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B30 3NU.

The Social Media Surgery is the latest winner of the Prime Minister’s Big Society Award.

We are delighted that Podnosh, our website developers, and a firm supporter of the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery have won a Big Society Award.

The first Social Media Surgery was organised by Birmingham entrepreneur Nick Booth in 2008. Having set up his own successful social media company, Podnosh, Nick wanted to help charities and other voluntary groups to make the most of social media to support their work.  For many local groups social media is a much cheaper and more effective way of reaching target groups than traditional communications.  With support from the Birmingham Bloggers group, he held the first ‘social media surgery’ in Birmingham in October 2008.  These are very informal events bringing together people with web expertise and the desire to share it with people who need help to get their community group online. No lectures, no curriculum, just a relaxed space where people can learn together.

The surgeries were incredibly popular and led Nick to create the Social Media Surgery Plus website to help people all over the country to coordinate their own events.  Surgeries are now held in 60 locations around the UK with nearly 400 volunteer “surgeons” giving their time to help nearly 1,700 local groups and active citizens take advantage of the internet to support their cause.

Nick Booth contact details. nick.booth@podnosh.com

To read the full story, and see our very own mention on Number 10’s website, read on here…

New Village Square in Kings Heath is revealed

FBEC Paver in Kings Heath Village Square
FBEC Paver in Kings Heath Village Square

The crowds turned out for the opening of the new Village Square in Kings Heath which lies on land that was formerly part of All Saints Churchyard. The project began a number of years ago after concern by church members that they were becoming remote from the local community. It was decided to open up the area in front of the church, which lies at the centre of Kings Heath high street, to incorporate a village square, health centre and community rooms.

The design of the square is based on a labyrinth and incorporated within it are various art works and texts .There are even some water features which the children obviously enjoy! Members of the public and local groups were asked to purchase ‘pavers’ to help raise funds and Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery have one in place.

Kings Heath Village Square

The Lord Mayor, Cllr Anita Ward, carried out the official opening and events were interspersed with a choir, a brass quintet, an Eritrean church choir and finally some Morris dancers. The sun shone throughout and everyone took full advantage of all the newly fitted benches to enjoy the entertainment.

Morris Men at new Kings Heath Village Square
Morris Men at new Kings Heath Village Square

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.

A day at the market!

Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery at Kings Norton Farmers Market
Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery at Kings Norton Farmers Market

Members of FBEC Committee manned a stall at the recent monthly Kings Norton Farmers Market to promote much needed membership of The Friends. 

Surrounded by scrumptious food of all descriptions it was great to meet people who were interested in Brandwood Cemetery and those that weren’t even aware of this incredibly beautiful open space.  

The weather was kind and the event really helped the Friends raise awareness of this beautiful Cemetery.

Grave search ends in Brandwood End

Brandwood End Cemetery made the news this week as the grand daughter of P J Evans searched the country for his grave…..and guess where she found it? Brandwood End Cemetery!

The P J Evans name was well known to Brummies and associated with the motor trade but did you know that Percy J Evans won the Isle of Man TT Race? In 1911 two races were held on the Mountain course.  The Junior was won by P J Evans on a Humber at 41.45 mph and the Senior by Oliver Godfrey on an Indian at 47.63 mph. Evans set the fastest lap in his race at 42.00 mph and Frank Phillips (Scott) the fastest Senior at 50.11 mph.

A replica of the TT trophy originally adorned his memorial stone but over the years this has gone missing.  Does anyone out there have any idea where it went?

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.

Looking for wildlife?

Since we posted sightings of muntjac deer, bats and other wildlife there have been several visitors coming along to find these lovely animals.  Please note that the Cemetery is there for people to pay their respects to those that have passed on, and to enjoy some quiet moments reflection.  The Cemetery is ideal, because it is so quiet, for wildlife to enjoy the natural environment BUT they are not there our pleasure.  Please do not ask the staff where they can be found; even if they knew, most creatures only come out at night when the Cemetery is closed and the people have gone home.  Please respect the Cemetery, it’s wildlife inhabitants, the staff and other visitors.  Many thanks.