Category: Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery

Deutsche Bank staff power through shrubbery to uncover graves.

Twelve Deutsche Bank staff and four FBEC volunteers worked all day to clear several large areas of established self set trees and shrubs on one of the sections in the cemetery. It’s a slow process but we are making headway in the cemetery. It is a little like the Forth Road Bridge as we are sure it grows back almost as fast as we remove it, however much of the shrubbery removed has been in place for many, many years and will only return as ”low level.

The photograph below gives you an idea of the size of coppice/shrubbery we were tackling.

The larger trees are left as the aim is purely to make access to all graves possible. Often the lower branches may be removed if the tree is well established. Below you can see the area above after clearance.

Many hands make this process easier and so much faster. 2 areas like this and some smaller spots were cleared in todays work.

 

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.

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,

Cemetery looking spick and span…..

The Friends would like to give a shout out to our volunteers that have done the usual seasonal oiling of our benches in the Civilian Garden area on the main drive. Can we also  highlight the grass in that area, which is  box cut and keeps this burial area looking amazing- as you can see in the photograph below. Thanks also to Ray for trimming the top of the hedge. Many hands make light work…….or Civilian Gardens beautiful!

We also spotted the great design on the entrance lawn. Well done to whoever was on the ride on mower that day!


We understand that the cemetery has now had its final cut for the winter.

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