Although cold, the forecast indicated it would warm up so Alan & Rita decided to go into the cemetery today (22 January 2023). On arrival the first job was to pick up small piles of branches that Chris had cut back around the front part of the cemetery. There was enough to fill a dumpy bag, so thanks Chris.
This done Alan then concentrated on the Crocker grave 7- 65, the base tier needs to be moved away from the tree growing out of the grave, this will enable SDC to remove the tree so that Fine Memorial can then re-erect this fine memorial. Another tree will be planted to replace this tree. After a lot of digging, work went well and the base tier was eased out of the way. The next job will be to move the foundation slab that will then leave the tree free of obstruction.
In the meantime Rita was busy cleaning the front of the large ornate cross belonging to the Crocker grave, with brush and water spray the mud was removed and the marble cross is now beginning to look a lot cleaner. Next job is to clean the other side! As Alan was still digging around the Crocker grave she then moved over to a nearby holly tree and started taking off ivy that had taken over the trunks of the tree. (Where was Joyce with her secateurs, we do miss you!)
We had a surprise visit from Chris who popped in bringing a couple of dumpy bags that always come in handy, we had a walk around the cemetery and noticed that SDC had been in and cut down a number of dead and diseased sycamore and elder saplings next to the bluebell area, this has opened up this space nicely. Thank you SDC.
During our walk around we discovered a small broken marble slab resting on top of a tree stump that was cut down over a year ago by SDC, with an inscription A Gingell August 13 1922, aged 57 years. Our records show this plaque is for Mary Ann Gingell of St John St, she was buried in Plan 13 D-75. We will need to decide where we can place this small plaque for safety.
All in all a good mornings work, we saw our first daffodil so Spring is on its way – we hope!