Victorian twin terracotta Chapels at Brandwood End Cemetery

“One of our members wrote this lovely letter and has kindly agreed to us publishing it.  As one of the Founding Members, current Chairman and Friend myself it is wonderful to know our efforts are both noticed and supported.  Thank you Jeannette!”

Anne Courbet, Chairman

 ”It was uplifting to see some activity at the Victorian Mortuary Chapels when my husband and I visited Brandwood End Cemetery at Easter time.  It is such a pity that the metal safety fencing has to remain – not a pretty sight – but obviously it is there to protect what remains of the chapels from further vandalism.

I always try to make my small contribution towards the general appearance of the cemetery whenever my husband and I visit our family graves – picking up litter, raking dead leaves, etc. wherever it is needed.

I realise that it is only due to the dedication and enthusiasm of the Committee of F.B.E.C. that any of the improvements made during the past few years have been achieved.  I would like to say thank you to each one of you.  Thank goodness someone came up with the idea of forming F.B.E.C.

My husband remembers very clearly how beautifully kept Brandwood End cemetery was when his family lived in Yarningale Road in the late 1940s, and the general area was still quite rural.”

Regards,  Jeannette.

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Victorian twin terracotta Chapels at Brandwood End Cemetery

The Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery are delighted to announce that following close liaison with Councillor Timothy Huxtable, Cabinet Member, for Transport, Environment and Regeneration, and Birmingham City Council Bereavement Service Officers, conservation planning has been granted for enabling works to be undertaken on the Victorian twin terracotta Grade II listed Chapels in order to improve security.

Superintendent's Lodge at Brandwood End Cemetery about to undergo a facelift

In addition, the Superintendent’s Lodge (Grade ll listed by association with the chapels), which was rendered uninhabitable by flooding in December 2010, is to be refurbished by Birmingham City Council. Amongst other uses, consideration is being given to the Lodge eventually becoming a Visitors’ Centre and for local community group use. The works include the provision of a garden area and refurbishment of the existing toilet block.

The enabling works have begun on the Chapels and work will commence on the Lodge shortly.

To see more photos of the enabling works, the Lodge and of the Cemetery please visit and join our Flickr group.

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 19th April 2012 at The Brandwood Centre from 19.30.   All interested parties are welcome; only members are entitled to vote.

The Friends have been working in close co-operation with Birmingham City Council since 2005 and have achieved many improvements to the cemetery in general. Combined efforts towards the repair and restoration of the Chapels will be ongoing.

Anyone interested in supporting the Friends in their endeavours can obtain more information here, by e-mailing us at friendsofbec@gmail.com or by writing to us  c/o The Lakeside Centre, 180 Lifford Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B30 3NU.

Litter in Brandwood End Cemetery

The Friends carry out four litter picks each year and we really need your help to keep the Cemetery tidy for family and visitors.  You don’t have to be a member just willing to help out for 90 minutes.  Litter pickers and bags are provided!

Please put the date in your diary and come along if you can.  All you need is sturdy shoes, gloves and suitable outdoor clothing!

We meet at the Lodge at 10.00am and are generally finished by 11.30.

We are in need of all the help we can get to keep the Cemetery looking clean and tidy.

See you there?

Litter in Brandwood End Cemetery

The Friends carry out four litter picks each year and we really need your help to keep the Cemetery tidy for family and visitors.  You don’t have to be a member just willing to help out for 90 minutes.  Litter pickers and bags are provided!

Please put the date in your diary and come along if you can.  All you need is sturdy shoes, gloves and suitable outdoor clothing!

We meet at the Lodge at 10.00am and are generally finished by 11.30.

We are in need of all the help we can get to keep the Cemetery looking clean and tidy.

See you there?

Litter in Brandwood End Cemetery

The Friends carry out four litter picks each year and we really need your help to keep the Cemetery tidy for family and visitors.  You don’t have to be a member just willing to help out for 90 minutes.  Litter pickers and bags are provided!

Please put the date in your diary and come along if you can.  All you need is sturdy shoes, gloves and suitable outdoor clothing!

We meet at the Lodge at 10.00am and are generally finished by 11.30.

We are in need of all the help we can get to keep the Cemetery looking clean and tidy.

See you there?

Postcard View of the Chapels (undated)

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 19th April 2012 at The Brandwood Centre from 19.30.

All interested parties are welcome; only members are entitled to vote.

Please come and join us and learn the latest news about recent exciting events at Brandwood End Cemetery.

The first Social Media Surgery was organised by Birmingham entrepreneur Nick Booth in 2008. Having set up his own successful social media company, Podnosh, Nick wanted to help charities and other voluntary groups to make the most of social media to support their work.  For many local groups social media is a much cheaper and more effective way of reaching target groups than traditional communications.  With support from the Birmingham Bloggers group, he held the first ‘social media surgery’ in Birmingham in October 2008.  These are very informal events bringing together people with web expertise and the desire to share it with people who need help to get their community group online. No lectures, no curriculum, just a relaxed space where people can learn together.

The surgeries were incredibly popular and led Nick to create the Social Media Surgery Plus website to help people all over the country to coordinate their own events.  Surgeries are now held in 60 locations around the UK with nearly 400 volunteer “surgeons” giving their time to help nearly 1,700 local groups and active citizens take advantage of the internet to support their cause.

Nick Booth contact details. nick.booth@podnosh.com

To read the full story, and see our very own mention on Number 10′s website, read on here…

Snowdrops Photo courtesy of Richard Seely

In early January snowdrops made an appearance in the cemetery and the hawthorn hedge still hadn’t dropped its leaves! The squirrels are dashing about and the birds are ignoring the berries in favour of worms in the still soft soil. Where will it end?