A campaign by the Friends of Nunhead Cemetery and by a vociferous individual led to the decision by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to replace the memorial. The screen wall has been reinstated and bears a simple inscription, although the decision was taken not to move the casualties’ names back from the South Gate memorial. Lines of Himalayan Birches, their white trunks reminiscent of lines of headstones, have been planted on the top of the bank, with the rear and side boundaries marked by ivy hedges. This restoration project was the most

expensive undertaken by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in peacetime, at £85,000.

The rededication service was a magnificent event, with senior military representatives from all the services (including some Commonwealth), a cadet band, Royal British Legion and several Chelsea pensioners, as well as politicians, family members, cemetery friends, press and well-wishers. A piper led the procession up the Main Avenue to the Anglican chapel for a service and speeches from Southwark Mayor Althea Smith, Jeff Hart for the Friends of Nunhead Cemetery and Simon Hughes MP. They then moved round to the World War 1 Memorial where the rededication was led by Deputy Chaplain General Rev Dr David Coulter QHC, followed by the laying of more than 60 wreaths.

HLF launches Sharing Heritage

Following the success of last year’s one off HLF grant scheme ‘All Our Stories’ (which was four times oversubscribed), the HLF have launched a new funding programme ‘Sharing Heritage’. With a commitment from the HLF of £3m each year, grants between £3,000 and £10,000 will be available to help groups across the UK with projects to explore, conserve and share all aspects of the history and character of their local area. This is rolling programme which means you can apply anytime.

For further information and how to apply:

http://www.hlf.org.uk/news/Pages/

Rare spiders find homes in historic cemeteries

A rare species of orb weaver spider was discovered in Highgate Cemetery’s Egyptian Avenue during a Wildlife Trust survey. Meta bourneti, commonly known as the cave spider, is over 30mm and it is thought there could be nearly 100. Although found elsewhere this is the first record of the species in London. Glasgow Metropolis, however, with the discovery last year of a rare form of the black widow spider –Rugathodes sexpunctatu– were told it was the first in Britain. Mainly found in North America it was seen among the ivy and, despite its common name, is perfectly harmless

Planning decision in favour of Bunhill Fields

In the winter edition of Mausolus, the newsletter of the Mausolea and Monuments Trust (MMT), a contributor draws attention to a significant appeal decision on heritage affecting the historic Bunhill Fields Burial Ground. This first decision under the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) concerned an appeal lodged by Southern Housing Group against the refusal by the London Borough of Islington, the site owners, to allow a proposed development adjacent to the burial ground. The development included a five- and seven-storey building and three-storey houses which Islington argued the height and the closeness would result in an overbearing sense of enclosure and detract from the burial ground’s openness and intimacy. The NPPF agreed: Inspector Christine Thorby concluding that the development would threaten the sense of seclusion and tranquillity; heritage assets made a considerable contribution to society and in this case the proposed benefits would not outweigh the harm.

For MMT news see their impressive new website which features a gazetteer of 460 entries, many with full details, photographs and location maps: www.mmtrust.org.uk

ASCE NEWS

Reduced membership fee agreed for cemetery friends

The Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE) was formed in 2001 for co-operative promotion and exchange of information across the continent. Though the majority of members are owners of cemeteries the voluntary groups (a mainly UK practice) were invited to join without a fee and about 12 accepted.

Last year’s increase from zero to E50 therefore was regarded as unacceptable by most members (including the NFCF) and after consultations the UK steering committee member John Moffat (Friends of Flaybrick) was able to negotiate a more reasonable E25. This updates some of the information in the following article.

NFCF members who go to the annual conferences do so at their own expense and Emer and Geoffrey Seamark are among the regular and enthusiastic attendees. Emer Seamark has written the following report on last year’s AGM. 

Promotion theme at ASCE conference

Last year the conference and AGM of the Association of Significant Cemeteries of Europe was held in Maribor in Slovenia which was also the 2012 European Capital of Culture. On the edge of the Alps this beautiful and historic baroque centre is delightfully situated on the banks of the river Drava.

Sixty delegates attended and the theme was the promotion of cemeteries and surrounding territories.

Under the chairmanship of a newly elected president, Lidija Plibersek, it was immediately apparent that a dynamic hand is at the helm and with some new faces on the steering committee a quiet revolution is taking place; the goal is to place the organisation on a sound financial footing and to create a technologically compatible and interactive source of shared, pertinent and related material. 

The clarion call was for more members to make use of the much improved website in order to gather, store and disseminate relevant information.

There was some debate about the interpretation of the word ‘significant’ in relation to cemeteries applying for membership; at present there is no precise definition and each application is judged on its merits by the steering committee, More clarification was called for.

Progress has been made on reducing the financial debt incurred as a result of past economic naiveté, the imposition of a new fee structure should guarantee solvency in the future although it has met with resistance particularly in the UK. Assurances were given that in future all projects will be carefully monitored in order to ensure value for money.

Presentations ranged from dark tourism to concerts in chapels as means of re-establishing the cemetery as a personal and public place within the community. Particularly heartening was the school project within the host cemetery and Duzan Vrban‘s talk on technological possibilities which was both fascinating and informative; a report and all presentations from the AGM are currently available on the website and well worth looking at.

www.significantcemeteries.org/