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Clean Up At Key Hill

  • Thread starter Thread starter Balrog
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Balrog

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Today the Rotarians attended Key Hill to clean the place up.

On our way to a meeting we called in to have a butchers and I even had a dabble at helping cleaning a couple of gravestones. Lovely sunny morning, and relatively warm. It really felt worthwhile....

Have a look at these pictures. The Great God Foruum stands watching his Thralls working lolol

The last picture shows a gravestone that is readable and maybe another clean in a week or twos time will make it almost perfect considering its age.

Wendy showed us how to clean the stone, it's important to use great care and no chemicals which might damage the stone.
 
Piffle - I worked harder than all of you ;) Without people supervising, no work would get done!

Now, GET BACK TO WORK!
 
What a brilliant job your doing Wendy and your friends also.
It's a shame that more people don't, won't or can't take the time to help saver their heritage.
I've been visiting the older cemeteries here in Christchurch since I got back from the UK (Doing NZ family reseach). They, I'm ashamed to say are in a far better state, well cared for and looked after by both the council and volunteers, than those I visited in Brum.

Keep up the good work.

Pom :angel:
 
You will have to wait till my own computer is working and then I will post the father and son team at work!

Joking aside we realy enjoyed helping out although we didn't realy intend to. The cemetery looks so much better than it did even five years ago and it gives you such a sence of achivement. We have been told that there are a lot of visitors now which deters the undesirables. The War Screen has been cleaned and looks lovely. I would also like to thank Rod and Keith for their help, Keith actually re assembled a grave which had fallen apart. I would also like to thank Colin Giles at the Pen Room for his tireless work in clearing and tidying the cemetery, and the help he gives to relatives to find their family graves. Colin is a volunteer at the Pen Room and the cemetery.
 
I have to say Wendy, Colin amazes me with his drive and determination. All that research he does too!! If ever a man deserved credit, he does.

I'm looking forward to getting more excersise at Key Hill and Brenda said she would help too so we will have to plan a weekend of clearing and grave cleaning.
 
I really admire all of you for doing what you do, to make our world a better place. I for one would come along and help if i was not so far away. Our cemetery in the village is well kept all paid for by the folk of the village i sometimes go up there and have a look around. The scenery is wonderful and there is a certain atmosphere like there is at most cemeteries that seems to echo. peace at last...Cat:)
 
The guy standing watching had got the hardest job, when you do nothing you never know when you are finished.
 
If I were there I would be with you. Anyway very well done all of you. As an afterthought is there not any power cleaning equipment that the authorities can loan to make your job quicker and easier. It seems to me that with donated time they should be only too willing to help. Can the Lord Mayor be brought in on this. Surely they could loan a couple of trucks and pressure cleaning equipment to encourage this wonderful community spirit, it is a precious thing.
 
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Rupert,

Using pressure washers etc could be quite dangerous to headstones etc due to their properties and age. It could quite literally tear the face off of them.

All that is needed is some soft brushes and some non intrusive stone cleaner and a whole lot of water. I was thinking of making some enquiries as to wether we could have the council drop a vat of water off at Key Hill for use on cleaning the headstones....

We shall have to see.

Thanks
Keith
 
There are very many stones that have begun delaminating, and some that have worn away. This is besides those that been broken. At least those that are cleaned will be able to be transcribed.
 
As has been said you have to be very careful what you use when cleaning memorials of any description. Pom yes it is the screen where your Rupert Beeley is commemorated. It was done by the war graves commision what a wonderful organisation they are.
 
I absolutely commend you all for your help in cleaning up Key Hill. This cemetery is particularly important to Birmingham residents everywhere.
I know it's hard work since my brother and I cleaned up just one grave in Witton Cemetery, our family grave, several years ago. We looked like the Mop Squad when we arrived we had so much gear for cleaning our family grave. It looked really great when we had finished. That's the satisfaction of such a task and I wish more people would realize that their help is so important instead of going by these places and complaining about what a mess they are in, etc. Thanks to all who have made Key Hill a place to be proud of.
 
Just to even the balance.:)
Sorry it's late I am getting to grips with Vista now my computer has been re built.
 
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