Category: Information

Only woman with a Commonwealth War Grave in Brandwood End.

We have over 200 Commonwealth War Graves in Brandwood End but only one of them is remembering a woman. CORPORAL MARY EMILY STEVENS DIED IN 1944 AGED JUST 25. Follow the link to discover more about Mary and also the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) 1939 – 1949.

FBEC – CORPORAL MARY EMILY STEVENS.pdf

Our thanks To David Harop for the photograph of Mary. During our research we are often able to contact relatives  and  other researchers who kindly share information with us. We also work closely with several local History Groups and individuals who have researched War Graves.

Mary’s grave will be one of the 350+ graves that will receive a Poppy Cross prior to Remembrance Sunday in a project undertaken annual by the Friends and their supporters.

Politics is in the news!

All things political seem to be on the agenda at this time so we thought we would highlight a local politician buried in Brandwood End.  His name is probably not known to many but if you read on you may remember ELDRED HARRIS  in future.

FBEC – ELDRED HALLAS MP

Our thanks to our member and  Historian, Pat Franklin  for her input to this article.

FBEC are sharing this historical research as part of National Cemeteries week.

Memorial Recording restarts in Brandwood End.

Come along and help record the inscriptions on the headstones in Brandwood End. You can also learn what they really mean and how word styles have changed over the years.

Dates are now available for the whole of the summer but you do need to book a place as numbers are restricted. Once you take part in this event, organised by Caring for Gods Acre, you will want to come again.

These sessions are free, just book your place here.

 

 

Please avoid driving on the verges!

You can see, from the photograph above, that driving on the verges causes lots of often irreversible damage. There is no excuse! We know the avenues are narrow but the whole road system is a grid. If there is a parked car just use the next avenue and approach from the other end…..or reverse!  If this continues then restricted vehicle access to these side avenues may be the only answer available to Bereavement staff to prevent such mindless damage, and no one wants that.

Memorial/Headstone testing.

Safety tests have been undertaken on monuments in B8 and B10. Some headstones tested are deemed unsafe so Bereavements may be trying to contact grave owners. DO THEY HAVE YOUR CORRECT ADDRESS? Please try and visit to check your relatives grave if it is in those areas and make sure Bereavement Services at Kings Norton are aware if you have moved. These are quite old burial sections so some grave sites may have no living relatives. Graves that have been deemed in need of action have been ‘blue’ taped and attached to posts. Ultimately these headstones will be laid flat to avoid damage to them and unsuspecting passers- by unless grave owners rectify the situation.  If you think your details are out of date you can e mail your present address to : brandwood.endcem@birmingham.gov.uk 

Remember to include the grave number off your deeds!

Quarterly Litter Pick time!

Our late Spring Litter Pick takes place this Sunday 2nd June. Please come along and support the Friends as we check all the hidden nooks and crannies of the Cemetery for wind blown litter. After an exceptionally windy Winter we find areas where litter collects, often out of view but this is our last chance to remove it before the foliage hides it for another season. Gloves and suitably stout footwear recommended but we provide the pickers and bags. (Children under 16 welcome but they must be with an adult)

Meet on the main drive by the lodge at 10am. We finish at 11.30 but any time you can spare is appreciated.

Blossomfield U3A Visitors.

It was lovely to meet some of the members of the Blossomfield U3A  (Natural History, I think?) group in the Cemetery this morning. Such a shame that the sun only began to shine as we were leaving! Our thanks to their Organiser, Barbara, for giving the Friends a chance to explain some of the history of this magnificent green open space- its buildings, its trees and its connection with the people of Birmingham.

We every much hope that they will return and also spread the word to others who may have family buried here, or who just enjoy the peace and tranquillity that Brandwood End imparts to everyone who visits.

Remembrance Service 2017

A final reminder that this year we will be holding our Remembrance Service at Brandwood End Cemetery on Sunday 12th November – 10.50am start.

Remembrance Service at Brandwood End Cemetery

Wreaths will be laid by a number of organisations at the Cross of Sacrifice on the main drive, and then at the WWI memorial.  Everyone welcome.

Please note that for the short duration of the Service the Main Drive will be closed in this area, but access to the whole of the cemetery will still be available via the side roads.