Category: Community

Even larger Remembrance attendance this year.

The rain stayed away but the public came. Over 180 members of the public and representatives of the City Council, West Midlands Police, the Heritage Fire Service, West Midlands Ambulance Service, 202 (multirole) Regiment and many other organisations laid wreaths at the Cross of the Sacrifice on the main drive.  Members of St Dunstans Scout, Cub and Beaver sections both made and laid their own wreaths and presented their colours.  Our thanks to everyone who attended.

Our thanks again to  Deacon David Fairbotham for his thoughtful words and Trumpeter Pete Haw for his magnificent rendition of the Last Post and Reveille.

REMEMBRANCE SERVICE 2025

This years REMEMBRANCE SERVICE will take place in Brandwood End Cemetery on

                                              Sunday 9th November at 10.45am

Deacon David Fairbotham will lead a short service. This will be followed by the laying of Wreaths by local Councillors, WM Police, Fire Service and other organisations, at the Cross of Sacrifice on the main drive and also at the WW1 memorial.

New Commonwealth War Grave Headstone

CWGC have recently installed two headstones in Birmingham for previously non-commemorated First World War casualties. Sadly, there was no response to the appeal for relatives to come forward.

Signalman Scrivens at Birmingham (Lodge Hill) Cemetery, Private Bentley at Birmingham (Brandwood End) Cemetery.

Private Bentley will now be included in the Poppy Cross for every Grave project in Brandwood End Cemetery, which aims to place a poppy cross on those lost due to enemy action. This project includes Military personnel and Civilian bombing victims. Volunteers will be placing over 360 crosses during the next 2 week,

Grave Gardeners continue their sessions.

Just a reminder that if you fancy joining our small team of Grave Gardeners they are still meeting monthly to tidy various graves and areas if the cemetery. They always meet at the Lodge at 11am and finish between 12.30 and 1pm.

You dont have to come every month, just when you want- and you dont have to stay the full session. Its up to you! Some members come for the company and some for the benefit to their fitness but some just come because they want to help keep Brandwood End looking cared for.

Why not give it a try?

Saturday November 8th,   Sunday December 14th

 

The end of Heritage Open Week

What a wonderful week the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery have enjoyed as part of Birmingham Heritage Open. From Music, to history, to art and symbolism!

Our thanks to everyone that took part in our four events. It was wonderful to introduce so many people to the cemetery who had never visited before or who often visit one area of our 53 acres and have never explored the rest. We have also had a lot of visitors from outside Birmingham this year.

Special thanks to Shelley from Leaf Creative Arts and Jodie and Rachel from Caring for Gods Acre. Their walks and our History walk proved so popular that we have had to promise to repeat similar events in the Spring.

Finally a special thank you to all our committee of the Friends who have supported these events and especially to Gill for being our photographer. To see extra photographs follow this link

 

Symbolism of Angels.

We had two walks/talks today under the title of ‘Symbolism of Angels’ and both of them were fully booked with 20+ attendees morning and afternoon.

Dr Josie Wall and Dr Rachel Askew kept everyone intrigued with not just symbolism but also a peep into the real stories of those remembered on the headstones. Nothing is what it seems, as we found out!!

Josie and Rachel both work for Caring for Gods Acre and they gave everyone such a wealth of information about some of our wonderful Angels as well as sharing some of their background research.

 

Gate to Gate Walk

Another well attended walk in the cemetery. This was a chance to share some of the history of the Friends and the Cemetery with 26 members of the public in the hope that they will visit again and enjoy the rich history the cemetery hides behind its stones.

Today, in HERITAGE OPEN WEEK, the sun shone and the visitors enjoyed a gentle stroll from the main gate to the walking gate- along the main drive. Another glimpse into some of the stories in Brandwood End.