Category: Community

Farewell to Barrie Simpson

Today The Friends said goodbye to our much loved founder member, Barrie Simpson. The village square at All Saints Church in Kings Heath was full to capacity, as friends and colleagues waited for the arrival of his Funeral Cortege, complete with Police outriders and motor cycle followers. The service offered the opportunity for several people to share their memories of Barrie, who had packed more into his life than many could ever hope to. It also was an opportunity to recall, with humour, what a maverick personality he was. Anyone who met him will never forget the experience. RIP Barrie. Without your input FBEC would not have been where we are today.

                          

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 !!

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.

 

Great British Spring Clean Results!!

A big thank you to all our supporters who turned out to help at our litter pick today, especially local Councillors and staff from Idverde (who came complete with a truck to remove the 27 bags of litter we collected).

After 90 minutes we had collected a surprising amount of litter, mainly from the edges of the cemetery and sadly a fair bit of it had been thrown over garden fences from adjacent houses!

If your garden backs onto Brandwood End Cemetery please DO NOT throw your disguarded Christmas trees, building waste and soiled nappies over your fence into our beautiful cemetery. It is not pleasant having to collect your waste……but collect it, we did!

Well done everyone!!

New date for Great British Spring Clean- LITTER PICK

Pleased to say our litter pick that was cancelled due to snow is now back in the diary!

SATURDAY 24TH MARCH  10-11.30AM- BRANDWOOD END CEMETERY

Please join the Friends in this ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ annual Litter Pick.  We will provide the pickers and the bags, but you will need stout footwear and gloves. Meet on the main drive near the Lodge. (Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult)

 

 

 

URGENT NOTIFICATION- SATURDAY 3rd MARCH -LITTER PICK CANCELLED.

 We are afraid that the severe weather conditions would make it foolhardy to carry on with the litter pick planned for this Saturday 3rd March, in the Cemetery. FBEC will be rearranging, so watch this space. Such a shame as there were so many ‘Great British Spring Clean’ events scheduled around the country. We fear that the combination of snow and the wind chill factor have defeated us. Take care.

Final Reminder of our ‘Great British Clean Up’ Litter Pick.

On Saturday the 3rd March between 10 and 11.30am we will be supporting the latest Keep Britain Tidy SPRING CLEAN- LITTER PICK campaign.

              

Please come along to Brandwood End Cemetery in Woodthorpe Rd, Kings Heath and support this event. We will supply litter pickers and bags. Please wear stout shoes/boots and gloves. Meet at the Lodge on the Main Drive.

Spring tidy up for Civilian Garden.

Lucky for us, the sun shone today as a few of the Committee of FBEC wrestled with huge bags of bark to top dress the beds in The Civilian Garden of Remembrance!

 

A few weeds pulled, a bit of snipping here and there, some bark, a rake and a sweep ….and everything soon looked spick and span.

 

 

You can see a few more photo’s taken by Nicola Clarke from Idverde HERE

and the final result…………………

Work starting on ‘make safe’ and temp roof.

We are now seeing a small amount of work starting to move fences in and then make masonry safe. Planning permission is still pending for a temporary roof on half of the building to protect the walls from the weather etc. With Bereavement Services we hope to raise funds for some ‘interpretation’ so members of the public can follow what is happening in this area. This is not a renovation project at this time, just an effort to prevent further deterioration, pending ideas for asuccessful bid to give this building a sustainable future.

Follow this link to our photo album and thanks to our photographer!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ya8ung9oipus8mVA3