Category: Events

U3A, Local History Group Members enjoy Brandwood End.

FBEC member, Pat Franklin, gave up her time to lead a group of U3A (Local History Group) members on a walk through Brandwood End Cemetery.  During  Heritage Open Week, in September 2014, the Friends devised a Grave Walk highlighting a small number of War Graves in the cemetery and providing a short background to each of them.

img_4282u3aOur thanks to Alison Gove-Humphries for taking some lovely photographs at the event.

img_4298u3a  img_4345u3a  img_4351u3a

The tour itself consisted of an introduction and overview, the formation and role of the Friends and then to the CWGC, their policy and philosophy. Next came a brief summary of the First World War, the burials elsewhere [unless stated] and the commemoration on family headstones on the walk.   Then on to the Cross of Sacrifice and the recent Commemoration. Thence, the Screen Walls and a walk to the more recent Tree Island Memorial, with tablet and benches. The group were particularly taken with the Poppy Cross  Field and its significance.

Our thanks again to Pat for leading this walk. We do occasionally get requests from individuals to attend a walk but unless Pat can get a group of 8 to 12 together it isn’t really worth while. With this in mind, if you would like to take our Grave Walk (Probably not until Spring 2017) can you e mail us on friendsofbec@gmail.com   and we will add you to this list then contact you with proposed dates when we have enough prospective participants.

Remembrance Day record turnout.

Our thanks to everyone that turned out today to our Annual Remembrance Service in Brandwood End. This year saw close to 100 participants come to hear a short thought provoking address by Deacon David Fairbotham of St Dunstans Church prior to the laying of wreaths by Kings Heath and Selly Oak Royal British Legions, Local Councillors (on behalf of BCC), The Freemasons, The Royal Order of Buffaloes and the Friends.

img_8480

Yet again we must thank our magnificent buglers, Ludo and Oliver, for helping to create such a poignant atmosphere with their amazing rendition of the Last Post and Reveille. If they desert us for University next year they will be sadly missed!

 img_847615073358_10153937536906791_7273688181846117153_n15036525_10153937534956791_4149215710767072773_n

IMG_004220151108_135943img_8465-copy

‘Alabaster’ Grave.

As part of the CWGC ‘Living Memory’ project we agreed to highlight the grave of one Service Member who lost his life as a result of the actions at the Battle of the Somme. Our choice was Frederic Clifford Alabaster, and we were pleased to welcome one of his relatives, Wendy Alabaster, to the Remembrance Service.

img_8460 img_8488 img_8490 img_8482

Wendy also joined many people who took the time to view the information on display and visit ‘Clifford’s’ grave. Information about this grave will remain on display for the next two weeks, at the grave site and also on the main drive near the poppy cross grid and Cross of Sacrifice.

 

 

CWGC- Living Memory Project

As part of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Living Memory Project, the Friends have researched and recorded information relating to Frederic Clifford Alabaster, who died of this injuries in the preparations for the Battle of the Somme.

More details will be available after our Remembrance Day Service (10.45 November 13th), where we will have a small display with further information about ‘Clifford’ and the part he played in the Great War prior to his death.

alabasterOur thanks must go to Alison Wheatley, King Edwards School Archivist and Edwina Reece, researcher at Moseley History Group for sharing their information with us.  We must also thank, FBEC member, Pat Franklin for putting the information together and FBEC member Julia Griffin for providing a contact to the ‘Alabaster’ family enabling us to seek their approval of this project.

Please call in to the cemetery and visit the Friends notice board on the main drive near the entrance, where you will find displayed some interesting information and photographs relating to Frederic Clifford Alabaster.

Poppy Crosses in place.

Every year, in the run up to Armistice Day, the Friends place over 300 poppy crosses on graves of those lost to conflicts. Many are members of the armed forces but many are also civilians killed in air raids locally, as shown in the grave below where 3 members of a family all lost their lives.

20161111_142136 20161112_104525

 

 

 

 

 

We also create a ‘Poppy Cross Cemetery’ grid, near the Cross of Sacrifice on the main drive, to show the vastness of the numbers involved just within Brandwood End Cemetery.

Please walk through the cemetery if you are passing and give a moment of your time to remember those who lost their lives either at home or abroad.

SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE- SUNDAY 13th NOVEMBER 10.45am .

ALL WELCOME

Woodthorpe Primary pupils make Hedgehogs welcome!

Pupils at Woodthorpe Primary School learn how to welcome Hedgehogs to their Forest School area and pitched in, creating Hedgehog houses and log piles.20161101_144340 20161101_145412 After instructions from Emma from the Wildlife Trust and Ranger Jan, pupils collected leaves to line the house and cut branches  to cover it, (after carefully surveying their site to find the best location).The next job was to build a ‘bug hotel’ so visiting Hedgehogs would have plenty of food available before bedding down for the winter.I am sure you agree, that if I was a local Hedgehog I would be hot footing it to their welcoming Forest School Hedgehog home!!

 

Our Community Film Maker working with local schools

As part of our Help for Hedgehogs campaign we have engaged a Community Film Maker to work in local schools, enabling pupils to make their own film record of the project. This initial meeting helped introduce pupils to the equipment they will be using. Quite a lot of theory before they get their hands on the equipment!20161018_13474520161017_121721

What a great day today!

What a marvelous ‘Help for Hedgehogs’  event we had today with over 80 people visiting to listen to Ranger Jan and Wildlife Trust’s Emma as they explained how to attract, feed and help hedgehogs whilst they are preparing for hibernation.20161025_151654Visitors had lots to occupy them, with facts and information on how to make a Hedgehog home,and the chance to take a Hedgehog house away with them. Above you can see Ranger Jan, Mrs Tiggywinkle’s friend (Julia) and James. 20161025_140711 20161025_135900

Visitors could help build a ‘house’ on site (Ably assisted by one of our local Councillors!)and then enjoy a walk with the Rangers to place the Hedgehog houses in suitable positions around the cemetery. For smaller visitors there was a story time room where ‘Tales of Pricklebum’ were read by a friend of Mrs Tiggywinkle and Ranger Jan.

20161025_14423320161025_141714The Friends would like to thank BBCWT (Emma and James) the Rangers (Jan and Dean) Volunteers from AMEY and SHED and Councillor Leddy for helping to make this event such a success. Even we were surprised at the number of people who showed a genuine interest in the plight of local Hedgehogs and were determined to try and make their own gardens more hedgehog friendly. We hope to see everyone again at our February half term event so watch this page for information.

Our thanks to the National Lottery, Heritage Lottery Fund who have made this all possible. Without their Grant we couldn’t run these events!

Last Family ‘Hedgehog’ event in 2016

Today is our last Hedgehog awareness event in support of our Heritage Lottery backed ‘Help for Hedgehogs’ campaign. Now the weather has started to get colder, our Hedgehog friends are getting ready to settle down into their annual hibernation phase. Our event today at 2pm today  is your last chance to get some advice on how to help your local Hedgehogs prepare for the winter. We will have advice on Hedgehog homes (how to make them or where to buy them), what to feed them and how to make their lives a little easier. The Hedgehog is now in serious decline.

unnamedRanger Service and Wildlife Trust staff will be on hand to offer advice today at Brandwood End Cemetery 2pm till 4pm. They want to know if you have seen one lately .

Can we remind you that this cemetery is still in use so please show respect to those who may be visiting graves, and also advise you that the gates will close immediately after the event at 4pm, so please make sure you leave straight after the event.

Fantastic way to spend an afternoon!

Our thanks to Ranger Dean who took a large group of us for a very civilised stroll around Brandwood End, in the glorious dappled sunlight! Along the route he pointed out interesting views and colourful trees as well as regaling us with some interesting stories about his time as a Gravedigger in the Cemetery!

20161020_144624Unfortunately the bulk of the trees have not yet taken on their amazing Autumn hues so he encouraged everyone to return in a few weeks to see the riot of colour that is Brandwood End in the Autumn. Despite this, everyone thoroughly enjoyed their insight into this green space and its fantastic tree stock.

22-oct-20151-3 oak-tree-island-and-cross-009

On behalf of FBEC can I thank the anonymous lady for her donation and encourage everyone to pop along and experience ‘Autumn sunshine in Brandwood End’.