Report on the “Graveyard Shift” Launch Event

Report on the Launch and
Consultation Event
Report on the Launch and Consultation Event
Sunday September 14th 2.00-6.00
The Graveyard Shift
Despite the lack of vivaciousness that the name ‘The Graveyard Shift’ might conjure
up, Sunday 14th proved to be a spectacularly lively day for the Launch of the Rectory
Lane Cemetery Project as part of Berkhamsted’s Heritage Open Days. A packed
programme of activities and events had been laid on. (Appendix 1: Programme)
It had usefully promised to be a fine day all week, and we were not disappointed.
The site had been gradually taking shape as overgrown areas were hacked back,
new paths mown and monuments revealed (like the remarkable Seat of
Remembrance in the centre of the site – a pleasant bench of Mansfield stone and
teak erected by Lucy Foot in 1934 in memory of her husband Richard Mildmay Foot
– b elow).
Preparations had involved researching, writing and producing 4
booklets – one on the History of the site and one on the
Symbolism of the Memorials; the other two featured
biographies of some of those interred in the Cemetery – one
looking at figures and families who had shaped the town of
Berkhamsted in the C19th, and one telling the stories of the 14
soldiers of the First World War whose graves are tended bythe
War Graves Commission. These were accompanied by colourcoded trails taking visitors from grave to grave, all beautifully
marked with posts bearing laminated biographies. (Appendix 2)
2
The main aim of the event had been to consult with the public as to what they would
like to see happening in the Cemetery and how it could be enhanced and managed
in the future. So there was a purpose to how the site was laid out and the activities
taking place in each area. At each entrance (one on Rectory Lane and one on Three
Close Lane), the Groundwork Trust
had set up a tent to send people
out on a voyage of discovery with
Thought Bubbles at ten locations
across the site challenging visitors
to think about how far the
restoration of tombs should be
taken, whether the entrance gates
could be more welcoming and
whether paths and seating could
be improved. (Appendix 3)
An on-line questionnaire (which we had already trialled on the visitor survey on 19th
August) captured visitor’s feedback- 30 were completed on the day, whilst hundreds
of paper versions had been handed out by posting an event leaflet and
questionnaire through the letterboxes of householders in all the surrounding streets.
(Appendix 4)
3
An excellent series of six ‘mood boards’ had
also been produced; the first conveyed what
the aims of the Project were (‘to celebrate its
historical connections with the town’, ‘create
a rich educational resource, developing
interpretation, skills and activities’, ‘promote
health and wellbeing’, ‘improve habitats for
wildlife’; and, ‘conserve the site as a fitting
urban garden of commemoration’) and the
last encouraged people to become involved
in the project. (Appendix 5)
In between, the four remaining boards
featured maps based on the wonderfully
detailed topographic survey that had been
commissioned prior to the event – one
explained how the site had developed in
three phases (1842, 1894 and 1921) and the
other three boards split the site into the
Lower, Middle and Upper Zones, picking out
their main characteristics and suggesting
possible enhancements to each area.
The Lower Zone, for example, has more of a parkland feel, suitable for events, with a
charming performance area under the Monkey Puzzle Tree. So here we had Kara,
the folk band, performing moving and poignant songs relating to death, such as the
‘Unquiet Grave’ and ‘Green Fields of France’. (Appendix 6)
4
Here too are all the earliest memorials, this being the section opened in 1842. So we
had a ‘Skills’ area, focussing on how these might be conserved. Michael Sheppard
and his assistant Mark from Inspire Conservation talked about and demonstrated
approaches to cleaning memorials using a DOFF system and stressed how
important it was to use the correct mortars. They had produced a very elegant stone
plaque inscribed ‘The Rectory Lane Cemetery Project’, which we will build into the
wall in the future.
Sam Kelly demonstrated the skills
required to produce this level of stone
lettering and carving.
Then in a neighbouring gazebo, the two Kates
(Wilson and Campbell) took people through
the art of brass and memorial rubbing,
producing some colourful and artistic
renditions of the designs and patterns found
on some of the gravestones.
5
These were all sited close to the tea tent,
where the most delicious cakes and scones
were available
Working your way up to the middle of the site, you encountered an extraordinary
ensemble of characters picnicking amongst the headstones who looked as if they
had sprung straight from the 1860’s. These were members of the Social Living
History Group led by Laurie and Davina Watson. They were accompanied by
another couple and the oddly unnerving gravedigger – Mr Ghost, played by Mike
Skates. The bizarre truth behind this is that Berkhamsted really did have a resident
gravedigger with this surname – and strange to say, he had the opportunity to come
face-to-face with one of his descendants, who came as a visitor on the day.
6
We placed the Heritage Tent right in the centre of the
site close to the Foundation stone. Here the booklets
were handed out by Cathy Imber and Philippa
Seddon – we gave them out free but asked for them
either to be returned or for a donation to be made –
as a result, we collected £195.20 towards the
publication fund.. The Exhibition that Ken Wallis had
produced a few years ago on the History of the
Cemetery was also mounted here, and people could
get help in tracing ancestors buried at Rectory Lane
– we had a laptop set up with Eric Holland’s list of the
1,000 or so legible inscriptions and also the two
volumes of the transcribed burial registers. Where we
weren’t able to help on the spot, we made a note of
names and addresses and promised to follow up
once more research had been done.
Slightly further down the avenue of trees, volunteers Ann and Alan Mosley had set
up their gazebo next to the Seat of Remembrance, mentioned above. Here they
gathered some donations (£27.72) and ran an educational trail which Ann and her
daughter had put together specially for the event
7
Passing under the arch into the more open 1894 extension, the Hertfordshire and
Middlesex Wildlife Trust’s tent up on the left offered some insights into how sensitive
the flora and fauna of cemetery sites could be and how they might be encouraged to
provide ecologically richer habitats.
Children could make dragonflies or have their faces painted. They were also
signposted up the hill either to the wooden xylophone made entirely from wood felled
on the site by Jeremy Biddle, or to the more secret enclosure at the top of the site
where the bug-hotel was being constructed.
8
On the other side of the Cemetery from the H&MWT tent, all 14 of the first world war
graves tended by the War Graves commission were decorated with vases and
poppies provided by Penella Warren.
At the intersection of the paths,
David Parker and Charles Hogarth
erected their splendid wicker cross
decorated with roses and flowing
blood-red organza, translating the
poem In Flanders Field written by
John McCrae in May 1915 into a
stunning visual memory of that event.
(Appendix 7)
9
So the site was busy with activities reflecting the different possible uses of the site.
378 people were counted into the site between 2.00 and 6.00. A few more had
arrived early for the event. Visitors included Carolann Smith-Dorrien whose
grandfather Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien had commanded the British Second Army at
the 2nd battle of Ypres.(The family featured in the Booklet ‘Personalities from the
Past’). Others came to tell us their stories of the
relatives they had buried there.
Dave Allen (right), for example, told us that his
grandfather had suffered shrapnel wounds in the
First World War, but had been refused a pension.
His father had made the simple wooden cross in
1929.
Mrs Geary (b elow) was seeking clarification why her relative’s grave was not
acknowledged as a War Grave.
10
The event began with the arrival of the splendid Victorian hearse pulled by two black
horses; they had to trot fast up Rectory Lane to overcome the gradient of the hill,
swept into the site and then stood patiently while the speeches were made.
James Moir, Convenor of the Rectory Lane Project, welcomed the visitors and
introduced the Mayor of Dacorum, Cllr Allan Lawson, who said a few words
commending the project and thanking the volunteers for all their efforts. Deputy
Mayor of Berkhamsted, Tom Ritchie thanked the Mayor and stressed Berkhamsted
Town Council’s support for the project. The White Dove Company had brought
double the number of white doves ordered, so six participants – David Pearce,
Churchwarden of Berkhamsted, James Moir, the Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Ian Reay, the
Mayor and the Mayor’s wife all at the count of three released the doves to launch the
project.
11
A neglected cemetery inevitably throws up a hive of hazards. We took health and
safety seriously. A dangerous section of wall, already supported by leaning piers,
was roped off, as was a toppling tomb in the centre of the site (courtesy of Dacorum
Borough Council). Signs and the programme pointed out hazards. The event could
not have happened without the input of numerous volunteers (Appendix 8) – some
are named above, and further special mention should be made of those who
contributed to the booklets (especially Jenny Sherwood and Janice Boakes), those
who contributed to providing infrastructure such as Ken Wallis (posts, provision of
car parking, exhibition), Paul Crosland and Jeremy Biddle (for getting the site ready),
Cathy Imber for making so many badges and also providing the marvellous colourcoded biographies, and Emma Norrington and family for helping guide the building of
the bug-hotel. Emma helped in many other ways – securing funding, providing
gazebos and her own sail cloth for the performance area, dealing with Berko Tool
Hire and securing the services of the Groundwork Trust and Herts & Middlesex
Wildlife Trust. A special thank you too to Elaine Mercer who worked tirelessly to
ensure the event was well broadcast, by securing a market stall the week before the
event, managing to get stories 4 weeks in a row in the Berkhamsted Gazette and
hitting other publications such as Berkhamsted Living and the Parish Magazine with
good articles on the event. (Appendix 9) Jenny Sherwood also helped with
publicizing the event more generally through the
Heritage Open Day publicity vehicle.
On the day itself, 20 volunteers (including some
extremely helpful children (see photo) helped to set
the site up and dismantle it at the end of the day –
many are mentioned above but special thanks are
also due to Ian Imber, Hugo Hardy, and Christian
Ennels.
4 friends from Ashlyns, supplied through our Duke of
Edinburgh Volunteer James Leyton, counted people
in and gave them a welcome and a programme and
collected donations amounting to £175.91
We were especially fortunate in also capturing the help of two brilliant professional
photographers, David Levenson and Andy Spain. Their respective atmospheric
recording of the event is captured in this report.
The quality of the event is captured in these photos; quality comes at some cost.
Total cost was just under £10.5k, covered by funding of £4,425.00 from Dacorum
Borough Council, £1,000 from Hertfordshire County Council (Locality Budget) £500
from Berkhamsted Town Council, £2000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund Start-Up
Grant, donations at the event and the remainder from the Friends of St Peters,
Berkhamsted. (Appendix 10)
12
We are also very grateful to Charlie Jarrett of Malcom Jones and Metcalfe,
Undertakers in Berkhamsted, who commissioned the hearse and doves, and wrote
and published the booklet on Memorial Symbolism.
13
Appendix 1A: Programme
PROGRAMME
…………………………………………………………
Welcome to Rectory Lane Cemetery!
14
This hidden treasure is a special place and one of the few green spaces in Berkhamsted. We
established the Rectory Lane Cemetery Project in 2014 to:
celebrate its historical connections with the town
create a rich educational resource, developing interpretation
skills and activities
promote health and wellbeing
improve habitats for wildlife; and
conserve the site as a fitting urban garden of commemoration.
Please help us to make it even more special!
PROGRAMME
2.00pm Official Launch of the Rectory Lane Cemetery Project
by the Worshipful the Mayor of the Borough of Dacorum
Cllr. Allan Dawson
Then explore …………
Heritage
Meet some characters from the past including Mr Ghost the Gravedigger.
Pick up any one of the four trails on the History of the Cemetery, Memorial Symbolism,
Personalities from the Past, WWI Fallen - and don’t miss the special flower sculpture
commemorating them.
There’s also an exciting trail for children.
The Family History Society is on hand to talk about their work recording the inscriptions in the
Cemetery.
Find out too about our first planned restoration project of the
Seat of Remembrance.
Environment
The Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust invite you to construct a
bug-hotel, or design a poster for it, and take part in a quiz and activities –
a great way to get a glimpse of the ecological importance of this three-acre site.
Lifestyle
2.15pm-3.00pm Kara Folk B and
15
3.15pm -4.00pm Yoga Classes
4.00pm-4.45pm Kara Folk B and
Or enjoy some tea and special cake!
Skills
Find out about how to restore monuments or watch the skill of a mason carving letters on stone.
There’s also an exciting opportunity to try brass-rubbing, or take part in ‘rubbing’ the Cemetery
story.
The Future
Meet members of the Groundwork Trust who will be
seeking your views on how to enhance the Cemetery.
Take a look at the ideas on the displays or follow the
competition trail that will get you thinking about the
challenges and opportunities for enhancing this
beautiful space.
‘Well done on all your hard work clearing the Rectory Lane
cemetery lately. It looks terrific! I have been taking my son to play
in and around it since he was a toddler….’
Mary Cas s erley, who kindly provided this painting of the gate
piers .
Please:
•
•
•
•
•
•
treat the Cemetery with respect in remembrance of those buried here
be careful and aware of trip hazards, such as kerbstones, headstones and memorials,
anthills, tree stumps and thick clumps of grass
some graves and memorials have sunk or may not be stable
keep off the boundary walls and away from the section which has been roped off
some berries, fungi and other plants may be poisonous
exercise extreme care when carrying out rubbings – supervise children at all times and
ensure rubbings are made onto the paper provided thus avoiding marking the gravestones
16
If you would like to be involved in this exciting project, or join the Friends, please visit our website
at
www.stpetersberkhamstedfriends.org.uk
If you have family members or friends buried here, we would love you to share any information
with us. Please contact jamesmgmoir@aol.com, Convenor of the Rectory Lane Project and Trustee,
Friends of St Peter’s.
The survey can also be filled in online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/rectorylane
Hosted by Groundwork Trust
‘If you can achieve all this, I would like to be buried here’
(Questionnaire Respondent)
Appendix 1B: Craftspeople/Demonstrators
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11-14
15
16
17,18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Alan Swe e tm an
Julia W atts
A.N O the r
Je nnife r Gilbe rt
Michae l She ppard
Mark Lose by
Sam Ke lly
Liz C arlile
Kate W ilson
Kate C am pbe ll
Kara Folk Band (4) Darai Kule sh
Kathy & Yoga
Gill Ne wton
He r he lpe rs (2)
R ichard C ornish
Alan
Laurie W atson
Davina W atson
A.N O the r
A.N. O the r
Mik e Sk ate s
C harle s Hogarth
David Park e r
David Le ve nson
Andy Spain
2 x Groundwork Te nts
2 x Groundwork Te nts
2 x Groundwork Te nts
H&MW T
DHT Te nt: Inspire C onse rvation
DHT Te nt: Inspire C onse rvation
Le tte r C utting
Face -Painting
Brass-rubbing
Brass-rubbing
Pe rform ance Are a
Pe rform ance Are a
Te a Te nt
Te a Te nt
R oving - Malcolm Jone s & Me tcalfe
He arse
Living History Social Group
Living History Social Group
Living History Social Group
Living History Social Group
Mr Ghost
Sculpture
Sculpture
Photographe r
Photographe r
17
Appendix 3: Thought Bubbles
Answer
Q
T
1
RL Gates*
Pat
Who did Phil love
Do I look welcoming?
2
3
War Memorial*
Tree growing out of tomb
27
Barnes
How many names remembered here?
Who's tomb has a tree growing out of it?
Should there be more seating/planting
Should we repair this tomb?
4
Grave (Smith-Dorrien)
Sword
Why is this grave well looked after?
5
6
Seat of Remembrance*
Arch
Dog
Rest
What's missing from my cross?
What type of animal's head is carved
on the bench end?
What the People of God are entitled to …
What other kinds of seating would you
Would you like to see marked paths?
7
Foundation Stone
1842
What date was the Cemetery opened?
All voluntary … can I help now?
8
Brick Wall*
Slapton
Where did these bricks come from?
How much will it cost to maintain thes
Tree on Avenue*
Sculpture
Irish Yew
Flanders
What type of tree am I?
In which fields do the poppies grow?
What sort of new trees could we introd
Would permanent scultpures be good?
9
10
1*
On this thought bubble - add the information that
Can you see why we think these gates have been moved from somewhere else?
2*
On this thought bubble - add the information that
5*
You can follow a trail of 14 of the 27 men mentioned here who were killed in WW1
On this thought bubble - add the information that
Help us to raise £5,000 to begin our restoration programme - starting with this seat
8*
On this thought bubble - add the information that
9*
These bricks were supplied from 'the Countess of Bridgewater’s Brick-ground at Slapton at 35/- (£1.75) per Thousand'
On this thought bubble - add the information that
There used to be 12 pairs of Irish Yew Trees representing the 12 Apostles
19
Appendix 4A: The Questionnaire: Sample Paper Return
20
21
Appendix 4B: Analysis of Questionnaires
30 Questionnaires were completed on I-pads on the day with Groundwork.
The results of the analysis of the questionnaires collected both at the launch event
and as part of the wider consultation process will be published as part of the Master
Plan.
Appendix 4C: Letter Accompanying Questionnaire
22
Appendix 4D: Labels by Children
23
Appendix 4E: Labels by Adults
24
Appendix 5: Mood Boards
25
26
27
28
29
30
Appendix 6: List of songs/titles played by Kara
First half
1. Rusalka
2. Water Horse
3. O'Carolan's Last Words set (tunes)
4. Cossack's Lament
5. Union Street
6. The Unquiet Grave
7. Yew Tree set (tunes)
8. She Moves Through the Fair
9. Ride On
10. In Lunenburg
Second Half
1. Waltz for Polle
2. Made of Light
3. Begone!
4. Sadko Lullaby
5. Found Harmonium set (tunes)
6. Green Fields of France / No Man's Land
7. Dark Eyes / No Regrets
8. She Lived Beside the Anner
9. Carnforth Station / Graveyard of Trains
10. Hunter's Moon
The Unquiet Grave
How pleasant is the wind tonight
I feel some drops of rain
I never had but one true love
31
In greenwood he lies slain
I'll do so much for my true love
As any young girl may
I'll sit and mourn all on your grave
For twelve months and a day
The twelve months and a day being up
The ghost began to speak
Why sit you here and mourn for me
And you will not let me sleep
What do you want of me sweetheart
Oh what is it you crave
Just one kiss of your lily white lips
And that is all I crave
Oh don't you see the fire sweetheart
The fire that burns so blue
Where my poor soul tormented is
All for the love of you
And if you weren't my own sweetheart
As I know you well to be
I'd rend you up in pieces small
As leaves upon a tree
Mourn not for me my dearest dear
Mourn not for me I crave
I must leave you and all the world
And turn into my grave
Green Fields of France / No Man's Land
Well, how do you do, Private William McBride,
Do you mind if I sit down here by your graveside?
And rest for awhile in the warm summer sun,
I've been walking all day, and I'm nearly done.
And I see by your gravestone you were only 19
When you joined the glorious fallen in 1916,
Well, I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean
Or, Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene?
Did they beat the drum slowly, did the play the fife lowly?
Did they sound the Death March as they lowered you down?
Did the band play The Last Post in chorus?
Did the pipes play the Flowers of the Forest?
And did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind
32
In some loyal heart is your memory enshrined?
And, though you died back in 1916,
To that loyal heart are you always 19?
Or are you a stranger without even a name,
Forever enshrined behind some glass pane,
In an old photograph, torn and tattered and stained,
And fading to yellow in a brown leather frame?
The sun's shining down on these green fields of France;
The warm wind blows gently, and the red poppies dance.
The trenches have vanished long under the plow;
No gas and no barbed wire, no guns firing now.
But here in this graveyard that's still No Man's Land
The countless white crosses in mute witness stand
To man's blind indifference to his fellow man.
And a whole generation who were butchered and damned.
And I can't help but wonder, no Willie McBride,
Do all those who lie here know why they died?
And did they believe when they answered the call,
Did they really believe that this war would end wars?
Well the suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame
The killing, the dying, it was all done in vain,
For Willie McBride, it all happened again,
And again, and again, and again, and again.
33
Appendix 7: In Flanders Field by John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
34
Appendix 8: Volunteers/Helpers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
James Moir
Ann Mosley
Alan Mosley
Christian Ennels
Emma Norrington
Richard Norrington
Paul Crosland
Jeremy Biddle
Ian Imber
Cathy Imber
Penella Warren
Elaine Mercer
David Pearce
Philippa Seddon
Jake Wlliamson
Chris Webb
Jak Chowdhary
George Pilling
Christopher Green
Hugo Hardy
Children: PC (2), JB (1), AM (1), EN
(1)
Roving
SoR Gazrbo
SoR Gazebo
Setting up
Bug Hotel
Bug Hotel
Setting up, roving, dismantling
Setting up, dismantling
Setting up, general help, dismantling
Heritage Tent
Setting up poppies
Marshalling hearse, Heritage general help
Opening ceremony
Heritage Tent
Gate
Gate
Gate
Gate
General help
Setting up
35
Appendix 9: Publicity
36
37
38
39
Appendix 10: Income and Expenditure
Expenditure
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Hearse and horses
£
£150.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£2,080.00
£0.00
£0.00
£400.00
£100.00
£0.00
11
Release of dvoves
Opening Ceremony
Exhibition Boards
3 Trail Booklets
Memorial Symbolism Booklet
Children's Trail
Social Living History Group
Mr Ghost the Gravedigger
Appeal Leaflet
Herts & Middlesex Wildlife
Trust
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Face-Painting
Yoga
Kara
Memorial Conservation
Stone Lettering
Brass/Grave Rubbing
Groundwork Trust
Teas
Sculpture
Berko Tool Hire
Photography
Helpers
Programme
Banners
Flyers & Questionnaires
Posters
£97.67
£0.00
£300.00
£670.54
£200.00
£34.00
£3,840.00
£0.00
£50.00
£221.00
£0.00
£160.00
£140.00
£360.00
£306.80
£452.80
(50% of cost; Malcolm Jones & Metcalfes paid
for other 50%)
Pd for by Malcolm Jones & Metcalfes
Produced previously
Pd for by Malcolm Jones & Metcalfes
Produced by Ann Mosley
Produced by JM
£900.00
Marquees, Chairs, Tables
£10,462.81
Income
DBC
Locality
BTC
HLF (For exploratory events)
St Peters
Donations
Unsold Books at £1 each
4,425.00
1,000.00
500.00
2,000.00
2,000.00
195.20
175.91
27.72
Books
Gate
Memorial Restoration
£10,323.83
TBC
40
Appendix 11: Letter from Mayor of Dacorum
41