Category: Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery

Storm Damage Clearance Continues

The Tree Surgeons have been working daily in the cemetery to cut up and remove trees that were felled in the latest storms. Of the 17+ trees brought down in the winds just 2 remain awaiting removal.

Progress has been slow and meticulous to avoid unnecessary damage to graves that had so far escaped damage. Considering the initial extensive visual havoc the resulting permanent damage is far less than expected.

Unmarked Grave

Back in November we featured John Charles Shaw, Buried in an unmarked grave in Brandwood End.. We were heartened by the interest this short article  sparked. Little did we know that it was a gift that would keep giving.  The resulting detail is the next phase but we have an idea it wont stop there……..      
                John Charles Shaw – Penistone footballing pioneer – NUMBER THREE
OK, what to say about John Charles Shaw? Let’s just start with a few of his contributions to our beautiful game:
· Founder of the worlds 2nd oldest association football club, Hallam FC
· First captain of the world’s oldest football club, Sheffield FC
· First ever player to lift a football trophy as captain of the winning team. Youdan Cup 1867
· Captain of Hallam FC for the world’s first ever club football match, Hallam FC vs Sheffield FC, 1860
· Established the world’s first ever county FA, Sheffield FA, 1867
· Played in the first ever intercity match, Sheffield vs Nottinghamshire 1865
· Played in the first ever inter association match, Bramall Lane, 1871
· Probably most importantly, President of Sheffield FA when the rules of football were finally unified in 1877.
Shaw was born in Penistone in 1830, the son of a bootmaker. Again, like our other 2 Penistone footballing pioneers (John Ness Dransfield & John Marsh), he was inspired to play football, baptised & educated by the Reverend Samuel Sunderland. Baptised at St John’s Church in Penistone & educated at Penistone Grammer School.
John worked as a clerk at Dransfield’s solicitors in Penistone before moving to Sheffield in the early 1850’s. He married Mary Ann Garnett in 1853, and the couple moved into premises at 19 Norfolk Row. (now Imperial Chambers). John operated a Legal Stationers business from the same address. It was during this period that Shaw developed relationships with like-minded footballing enthusiasts and able to take his Penistone footballing influences to Sheffield FC as their first official captain in 1859 (possibly earlier).
Shaw retained his membership of the Sheffield Club despite forming the world’s second oldest club Hallam in late 1860.
Shaw’s involvement with the development of the game in Sheffield and beyond is hugely impressive.
The Sheffield and Hallam clubs were involved in the first inter-club match in December 1860 with Creswick and Shaw the opposing captains.
John Charles Shaw was a member of the Sheffield team that played against a London representative side at Battersea Park in 1866.
The Hallam club, with John Charles Shaw as captain, were victorious in winning the world’s first adult knock-out football competition, the Youdan Trophy in 1867.
John Charles Shaw was a member of the Youdan organising committee which led to the establishing of the Sheffield Football Association in 1867. In 1868 he was Vice-President and in 1869 he became President of the Association. A position he retained for 14 years.
Shaw was voted to be 12th man in the first inter-association game held at Bramall Lane in 1871 between London and Sheffield. Charles William Alcock had selected a team to represent London but were a man short. John Charles Shaw played in goal for the visiting side.
In 1876, the Sheffield Association Challenge Cup was initiated. John Charles Shaw captained the Thursday Wanderers aged 46, in the first round of the cup, losing 5-4 to the Heeley club.
In 1877, with John Charles Shaw as President, the Sheffield Association, reached an agreement with the London Association regarding the rules of the game. This established a universal code for the playing of association football throughout England.
John Charles Shaw eventually moved to Birmingham due to work commitments, where he remained until his death in 1918.
The two decades between 1857 to 1877 are the most crucial in the making of the modern game of association football, prior to the onset of professionalism and leagues. John Charles Shaw straddled these two decades being at the forefront of this making and was a continuous presence helping to influence and shape the evolvement of the game. The world of football and Sheffield in particular, owe him a huge debt of gratitude.
John Charles Shaw’s grave at Brandwood End Cemetery, Kings Heath, Birmingham. It is the sad empty bit between the other two graves in the photo below.
Thanks to Kevin Neill for source information and photos.

Last Grave Gardeners Session of 2024

SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER. MEET OPPPOSITE THE LODGE AT 11AM.
As you can imagine we will have to confirm this literally on Friday (So watch this feed in case we have to cancel) as things in the Cemetery are not as they usually are BUT there are many areas of the cemetery unaffected by the current fallen tree issues so we should be OK to go ahead.
We welcome anyone who fancies some outdoor exercise whilst helping to clear graves. Feel free to bring your own gloves and tools such as secateurs and loppers but please make sure you have stout footwear.
WE WILL NOT BE WORKING NEAR ANY OF THE FELLED TREES. THESE WILL BE LEFT TO THE PROFESSIONALS !
dav

Trees down in recent storm.

Many of you will already know that there were many trees brought down in the recent storm.  The cemetery didn’t escape unscathed and we think this is the worst time the trees have had- at least in the last 20 years.

We fear we have lost at least 10 very large trees, several large bows and many more smaller trees and shrubs. Some of the trees were deciduous and without leaves so it was fairly easy to see if there was any headstone damage. We are pleased to say that miraculously very few graves have been seriously affected but it is less easy to say what has happened under the large Conifers.

Until the trees have been removed, and that will take some time, you will not be able to get any reassurance as to the condition of memorial beneath them. As you can appreciate there are many trees down in many locations and the cemetery was shut on Sunday and early this morning to allow the inspection of the damage. We believe opening hours are now as normal but this may change as and when Tree Surgeons are operating in various areas.

It is noticeable that the main cause of the felled trees seems to be very turbulent wind in confined areas of the cemetery during the storm and the waterlogged soil after a huge amount of rain. The trees themselves generally appeared healthy. So sad as most of them were mature and part of the Grade 2 avenue plan.