FOBLC Annual report 2011-12

ANNUAL REPORT for 2011-12 TO THE AGM OF FRIENDS of BROCKLEY ANDLADYWELL CEMETERIES JUNE 2012The Friends group was formed in July 2007, and now has a membership of 71, up from 51 atthe end of March 2011. The majority of members live in and around South-east London, butothers further afield as well as abroad, including Canada.The Friends group had 6 open committee meetings during the year, plus 1 General meeting inaddition to the AGM.Following a fruitful discussion with the Head of Bereavement Services, we were givenpermission to use the Chapel for meetings. Although the Chapel has no heating, the movefrom the noisy rear bar of the Brockley Jack was welcomed, as the increase in numbersattending proved. We would like to thank both the landlord of the pub for allowing us the useof his premises, and to Shirley Bishop for allowing us to become keyholders of the Chapel.7 “work sessions” have taken place, including two in conjunction with the Council’s NatureConservation Department’s Nature’s Gym. Work has mainly been removing sycamoregrowths in both Cemeteries. This has improved visibility across open grave plots. Numbersattending have varied between 4 and 10, representing 108 hours’ work over the year.The group has discussed restoration of memorials, including the Hither Green & Sydenhambombing deaths memorial in the Ladywell Cemetery; members met with a descendent of oneof the families to try to determine the names which were on the memorial.A Royal Marine Corporal approached the group to assist in having a headstone erected for aRorke’s Drift veteran, buried in Brockley Cemetery. A media campaign brought a certainamount of interest; funds are now being raised independently of the group for a headstone,and for a stonemason to carry out the work.Four public guided walks were held over the year, including one for the Brockley MaxFestival, which was attended by about 40 people. Attendances at other walks were not sohigh, but those attending expressed their thanks to the guides. Thanks are due to the memberswho have led these walks, and the members who have come along in support. Knowledge isbuilt up with each successive walk, and members continue to research and pinpoint particularmemorials of interest. One problem we have is that, as the amount of information grows, sodoes the length of each walk, unless judicious editing is exercised.The Council’s People & Rivers Project organised an evening nature walk in the BrockleyCemetery, led by Nick Bertrand, in June. A number of Friends attended.We held our second Remembrance Day event, laying wreaths at the two war memorials andpicking three relevant points of interest in between. Up to 14 adults plus children attended theevent.There was no Armistice evening event this year. Members of the group offered their servicesas stewards at a similar event in Brompton Cemetery, organised by John McKiernan andPlatform-7. Unfortunately this event was cancelled with only a few days to go.The group had a stall at the Friends of Nunhead Cemetery Open Day (May), but becauseGordonbrock School is being rebuilt, there was no Summer Carnival in 2011.The Ladywell Walking Guide, which the group collaborated on with other local groups, waspublished in January. The trail includes part of the Ladywell Cemetery.The group is represented on the Council’s Biodiversity Partnership, and supplies details ofwork done and numbers attending for a national reporting scheme.

Questions have been asked of the Council in regard to the toilet in the Ladywell Cemetery. Itis hoped that capital funds will be available to refurbish the existing toilet, and to possiblyexpand it within the existing building. The Cabinet member responsible for BereavementServices, and local councillors have been lobbied on this.A guest speaker attended a meeting and outlined the advantages of registered charity status.As a result, an application is being made to HM Revenue & Customs to register as a charityfor gift aid purposes. The group’s income is currently below that required for registrationwith the Charities’ Commission.The Friends remained a member of the National Federation of Cemeteries’ Friends, and sent adelegate to the AGM of the National Federation of Cemetery Friends in Plymouth. Twodelegates will be attending the 2012 AGM in Norwich.The website and BlogSpot, managed by Patrick Napier, continues to be the channel forenquiries from within the UK and abroad about friends and relatives buried in the Cemeteries.Patrick reports that there have been 5,383 visits to the site in the last year. Of these, 63%, or3,391, were first visits. The top four pages visited were George Lacey Hillier (cyclist),Swepstone (footballer), the bat and wildflower walk, and Jane Clouson. The majority of visits(nearly 4,000), were, understandably, from the UK, with the USA next, followed by Australiaand Canada. But there were also visitors from India and Brazil, as well as Europe.Members of the group have assisted in identifying and photographing particular graves, andwriting them up for the Blogspot. As a result members have been able to supply informationto enquiries from Australia and Canada, and in turn have been supplied information frompeople who have particular interests. Members also keep a few graves “tidy” at the request ofdescendents unable to visit the graves.It is hoped to develop a publishing programme using the research information.As July 2012 is the 5th anniversary of the founding of the group, plans are being made for anOpen Day with themed walks and display boards in the Chapel.I would like to thank all members for their continued enthusiasm and support over the pastyear; to Nick Pond and Jessica Kyle of the Council’s Nature Conservation Department fortheir advice; also to Colin Burgess, Irene Kemp (now retired) and Shirley Bishop, the CouncilOfficers responsible for the Cemeteries for their co-operation in the past year.Geoffrey ThurleyChair

FOBLC Annual report 2011-12

by FOBLC on Jul 08, 2012

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FOBLC Annual report 2011-12 Document Transcript