Category: Information

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.

New Birmingham City Council web site for genealogical research

There is a new website now available for people to search for ancestors- for family history/genealogy projects.  This website covers all the burial/cremation records for Birmingham City Council.

The Offices will no longer carry out genealogy research and families will be directed to this website.

The Offices will however  continue to provide grave location information for people wishing to visit the Cemetery, they will require the full name and year of death to be able to provide this.

The website is www.birminghamburialrecords.co.uk

Mini Ashes Graves at Brandwood End

Many regular visitors to Brandwood End have wondered exactly what was going on as  ‘shallow graves’ appeared, in a decorative pattern, on the corner of the main drive, near the chapels.

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The mystery is solved! Bereavement Services have decided to install some small ‘Mini Ashes Graves’ along each side of the square. For more details please see the BCC notice board on the main drive opposite the lodge. This will be their first appearance in Brandwood End but they already have a place in many other cemeteries.

Please contact Kings Norton Cemetery for more details and prices on:

0121 303 5583

Completion of the ‘Civilian Garden’ refurbishment

Those of you that follow our blog will know that back in June the Friends engaged ‘Darren Rudge Landscape Designs’ and some of his students to refresh and partly redesign the Civilian Garden of Remembrance flower beds. The beds had become overgrown and following a donation we were in a position to carry out work to reduce future day to day maintenance by our small team of volunteer gardeners. You will see from the photographs below that the results are magnificent, but we would like to invite you to join us at an official unveiling on Saturday September 24th at 10am, followed by tea and cake.

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RHS Heart of England in Bloom-Judges visit due!

Gosh, such a frenzy of activity in the cemetery. We are sure the RHS and all our visitors will appreciate it! Gates mended, benches varnished, beds weeded, roses pruned, hedges cut, notice boards washed, section markers scrubbed, litter picked…….. but hey…..we actually do all of these things all the time- but not usually all at the same time. Well done to all our supporters and committee members for stepping up to the plate. Fingers crossed.IMG_0317 13775614_10153644742371791_1088155904869228560_n Can we invite anyone who is interested in the visit of the Judges to Brandwood End to pop along and join us. We will be meeting them at 3pm by the Lodge, on Wednesday 27th July.

Sarah has spent two weekends re varnishing our two benches- so why not come along and sit on them!

JOIN US FOR COFFEE AND CAKE AT OUR AGM

All members are invited to the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery which is to be held on Thursday 14th April at 10.30am till 11.30am in the Conference Room at St Dunstans Church, Kingsfield Rd, Birmingham B14 7JN. As you enter from the main gate in Kingsfield Road the Conference Room is on the right. Copies of the Annual Report and the Audited Accounts will be presented and circulated to the members present. Following the meeting these will be posted on our website fbec.org.uk.

Under the rules, existing members of the Executive Committee will be offering themselves for re-election but we welcome enquiries from prospective new members. All nominees must be members of FBEC and nomination forms can be obtained from the Chairman and must be completed and submitted by 31st March 2016.

Any questions to be tabled at the AGM should be submitted in advance to the Chairman by telephone /email by 31st March 2016.-07811 393259 / friendsofbec@gmail.com

The Committee sincerely hopes that you will be able to join us for tea and cake and to learn of our successes to date and plans for the future. We work on your behalf and depend on your support.