The Civilian Garden is looking particularly fine at the moment with all the recent rain and the efforts of the Friends to keep it tidy. We are also delighted that the recently planted hawthorn hedge is thriving.
If you have an hour or two to spare and would like to help us with a weeding project there please contact us via our e mail.
On Sunday, 13th November, 2011, a short wreath laying service and two minutes silence for the fallen of the two world wars and conflicts since 1945, will take place at the Cross of Sacrifice at 11.00.a.m. Please join us at 10.50am.
‘They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.’
You are warmly welcomed to attend.
The sun shone in Brandwood End Cemetery as children from St Alban’s RC Primary school set about the daunting task of planting 250 hawthorn bushes to replace a failing beech hedge surrounding The Civilian Garden of Remembrance.
The preparation work had been undertaken by the Bio diversity Champions from Quadron Services in the previous week and they returned to help the children with their digging. Councillor Mike Leddy, parents and members of the FBEC committee helped with the supervision of the children and this was all watched over by Dean Paul, a member of the Ground staff team for Bereavement Services, who undertook much of the work himself.
The Bio diversity Champions, led by Nicola Clarke of Quadron Services, undertake many community projects on a voluntary basis throughout the city and enjoyed working with the children in Brandwood End Cemetery.
This whole event was funded by the National Lottery through Big Lottery Fund and organised by FBEC.
Once again Wates have shown true ‘community spirit’.
On a cold, wet and windy day, members of Wates volunteered to turn out to support the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery in their small act of remembrance in placing a Poppy Cross on every war related grave.
Appropriately, this year we undertook the task on Armistice Day itself, and we actually began work at 11 am – it was on the 11th day, of 11th month, at the 11th hour, when the guns on the ‘Western Front’ finally fell silent.
This is no mean effort, as there are in excess of 350 graves to visit, all scattered throughout this large cemetery some difficult to locate; and all carried out in inclement weather conditions, with cheerfulness and a real sense of dedication to those we are remembering.
Not only did they place the Poppy Crosses, their keenness to support the project while in the cemetery resulted in the discovery of further war related graves, and thereby extended my research.
This is not the first time that they have assisted us and we are extremely grateful for their kind assistance.
On behalf of the Friends, may I yet again express our sincere thanks to Wates in general for being such a ‘community minded’ organisation, and to everyone who took part in particular, for giving up their time.
Barrie Simpson, Vice Chairman, Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery
 There will be a short Memorial Service today in Brandwood End Cemetery starting at 1pm. It will take place at the Cross of Sacrifice Island on the Main Drive towards the Broad Lane entrance. There will be a short service, followed by laying of wreaths in remembrance of the fallen. Everyone is welcome to join us to remember our war dead, and pray for those in current conflicts. |
Once again the Friends remembered the fallen of the two World Wars, both service personnel and civilians, by the placing of a Poppy Cross on war graves throughout the cemtery.
The Friends gratefully acknowledge the kind assistance of the staff from Wates who have made this an annual pilgramage to assist in the placing over 300 Poppy Crosses within our cemetery.
On Remembrance Sunday a short wreath laying cermony was also organised at the Cross of Sacrifice on the main drive.
This was supported by the members of the British Legion, the British Legion Standard Bearer and their Bugler sounded the Last Post.
‘We Will Remember Them’