VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

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SUMMER ACTIVITY AT THE CEMETERY

Three of us had an informal meeting today (Thursday) in the chapel with Cemetery supervisor Keith Taylor and Liz Sneath, following all current restrictions, to talk about moving forward actions for the “Friends of Spalding Cemetery”.

• Mausoleum – At present SHDC, owners of the Mausoleum, have agreed we can get the building registered with the Mausolea & Monuments Trust. Enlisting the advice of a properly qualified architect or surveyor with experience on historic buildings is essential; grant aid is unlikely to be forthcoming unless you can demonstrate that you have such a professional involved. Rod Marks has taken ownership of pursuing this registration and contacting University of Lincoln Centre for Conservation and Cultural Heritage Research, which sits within the School, a leading group of its kind in the UK and undertakes ground breaking research.

• Graves – The time has come now when “Friends” can get actively involved in charting the grave stones in the old part of the Cemetery. The task will require teams of two people, family household members, or two people working within current isolation rules. Please contact Andrew Hill on ahill10197@aol.com if you wish to become involved.

• Graves Photography – Spalding Camera Club had agreed to photograph all the graves in the old part of the Cemetery. Coronavirus stopped their plans, but hopefully as people move more freely around, the Spalding Camera Club can review their plans to take on the project.

• Graves Trees – It is hoped that as teams start to chart gravestones they will identify shrubs, small trees and copses which are screening or damaging gravestones. These can then be removed.

• Tree Charting – Liz Sneath is going to contact the appropriate person at SHDC to have the trees audited and identified by name. A tree walk will become a feature for visitors to the Cemetery.

• Secateurs Day – We are going to organise in the next few weeks “secateurs days” when “Friends” will be able to help trim back bushes and small trees. Please contact Andrew Hill on ahill10197@aol.com if you wish to become involved.

We went for a walk around the old part of the cemetery. During the lock down Keith Taylor, cemetery supervisor had additional staff to help him. Grass areas were a treat to walk around and grave stones well displayed. Tree debris is still present and vegetation has taken over some areas. However, lot of this can be addressed when we have volunteer days. Please contact Andrew Hill on ahill10197@aol.com or watch this page.