Category: Information

Death of Dr Julian Litten

It is with great sadness that we report the death of our long serving Patron Dr. Julian Litten.
Dr Litten had been involved with the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery since our inception 20 years ago next summer.
He kept in touch with our activities and regularly suggested funding streams and ideas to help us progress our cause. He was a knowledgeable and charismatic and we will miss his support and interest.

HERITAGE WEEK BEGINS IN BRANDWOOD END

Take part in some of the Heritage Open  events in Brandwood End Cemetery. Add them to your diary now…

  • WEDNESDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 2024- 2PM Join Ian Binnie as he takes you on a Tour of the memorials to those killed in 1944. (The 80th anniversary of D Day and other crucial battles). Ian will present biographies of several men and women who served and died and are buried in Brandwood End. There is no need to book this event. (THE TOUR WILL LAST APPROX. ONE HOUR. MEET BY THE LODGE, ON THE MAIN DRIVE. )
  • THURSDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER AT 7.30PM ‘Over by Christmas 1944’ A ZOOM event. To receive a ZOOM link please e mail Ian Binnie on warwickfus@btinternet.com
  • SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 11AM TILL 2 PM Who Lies Beneath? Join the Friends for an open event in the Civilian Garden of Remembrance (in Section 33) to learn more about those bombing victims buried in this communal peaceful space and see our recently installed Memorial stone carrying their names. We will be joined by local WW2 Air Raid and BARRA Historian, Matt Felkin, who will happily share his records and knowledge with visitors.

friendsofbec@gmail.com

Damaged Sunflowers.

Spotted today, flowers having their heads removed by a squirrel! BUT either squirrels or Magpies have sunk to an all time low…..
They have ripped a crochet sunflower head off Valerie Smith’s lovely Lodge path screen. As well as the head, a whole Sunflower has been removed. We are pretty sure it’s animal/bird interference but as a result Valerie has removed the whole display. So much time and work goes into these displays and they make visitors smile. Hopefully it hasn’t put Valerie off forever but it must feel ‘personal’ ….  even if the villains are not human !

FBEC AGM 2024

Today the Friends held their 19th annual AGM. Where has that time gone?

What a lovely morning with some of our supporters. It was made even better by cake and coffee (Provided by Vice Chairman Coral)  with a chance to chat and also a chance to thank members and everyone that supports us.

Our committee members are now:-

Chairman             Julia Griffin

Vice Chairman    Coral Howard

Secretary              Jane Edwards

Treasurer             Julian Pritchard

Philip Brown, Gill Price, Tricia Winspur, Lisa Fair and observer Malcolm Jacques. (Some of our committee members appear in the lead photograph. )

We have had a very busy year and trust that this will continue into what will next be our 20th anniversary AGM.

 

AGM 2024

The Friends are ’19’ this year and we will be holding our usual AGM but this year it will be back to an old venue as the Lodge at Brandwood End is out of use.

THURSDAY 11TH APRIL THE CONFERENCE ROOM , ST DUNSTANS CHURCH, KINGS HEATH.B14 7JN

10.30 start– Usually the AGM lasts about 20 minutes and then the committee are available to chat and answer your questions.

(This is best accessed on foot from Kingsfield road opposite All Saints Church. Parking is available in Institute Road but there is a charge. The 50 bus and several others stop nearby on the High Street.)

Anyone with an interest is most welcome and we usually end with cake and tea/coffee !!

Volunteers keeping sites going.

Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, who collate the hours and tasks undertaken by Birmingham’s volunteers, have published their annual summary of work undertaken.

When you consider the financial position that Birmingham Council find themselves in, it really shows how much effort and time volunteers are putting in to shore up parks, cemeteries and other sites around the City. Without supervision and support by Park Rangers, Neighbourhood Action
Co-ordinators  and BOSF, much of this work would not have been possible.
Lets hope Birmingham Council understand the importance of maintaining the roles mentioned above because they are going to have to rely on volunteer services more and more.