Chris, Rita, Alan and Astrid working in the cemetery today (31 May 2026). Very pleased that Astrid was able to make it into the cemetery and felt able to give a working hand for an hour, lovely to have her back. The weather was good with a few dark clouds above but no rain.
The team set about clearing ivy from graves which they started a couple of weeks ago. Chris did a good job cleaning the Palmer H32 grave while Alan finished off the Braithwaite grave H33 that Rita had started last week. She left the most difficult part for Alan, an ornate fallen cross was laying against the block tiers and ivy had encroached all over it, an on the knees job! Well done Alan for getting down there.
Rita worked on the Symons H64 grave which kept her quiet, with ivy completely covering the boulder shaped stone block, luckily it hadn’t managed to get up to the marble cross on the top.
Astrid and Rita worked together on the Bowering grave Plan6-8 again ivy growing everywhere and grass growing all around the base edge. Although hard work they did enjoy using a new tool made for cleaning between paving slabs on a patio, it made good work of getting the grass out, but Alan had to come and finish off as they ran out of energy.
Alan and Chris worked together on the Hallett grave H34, like the Hooper H31 another of the few double lengthways graves we have in the cemetery. The Hallett grave next to the Braithwaite grave both overgrown with ivy.
The team have now worked in this area for a few weeks, and pleased that instead of seeing ivy everywhere it now looks a lot better.
Chris wandered over to the flower garden where poppies and other flowers are blooming, and he remembered to take a few photos as well.
The grass has grown at a terrific rate hopefully the grass cutting team will be in soon. That’s all for now Folks!
