8 – Holme Valley Review, August 2020
Picture: Sandie Nicholson ALL WEATHERS: The kinds of conditions the volunteers faced.
BEFORE: The site when volunteers started their work.
AFTER: The site once work was done. Pictures: Sylvia Sellen.
Volunteers see rewards of their hard work By Susan Hampshire
HONLEY volunteers have worked tirelessly through all weathers to clear one of the village’s most historical sites. After almost three years of back breaking work, the graveyard at Green Cliff – which holds a wealth of social history information about former Honley residents – has now been cleared. The graveyard was consecrated in 1857 following the closure of the burial ground at Honley’s St Mary’s Church which was full. Martin Heap, one of the team
of volunteers, said: “At that time there were some very grim living conditions in Honley which saw a lot of children buried at Green Cliff. “There are around 5,000 graves and some 8,000 people buried there, many in unmarked graves. “The graveyard is also home to many very wealthy and well known former Honley residents including Mary Jagger who wrote The History of Honley.’’ Green Cliff graveyard, which saw its last burial in 2010, had become very overgrown particularly with ivy and brambles.
“We have gradually managed to clear it all and now it is about managing it to keep it looking good. “We have been able to create pathways so that families can actually get to the graves and it heartening to see that people are now starting to visit the graves and bring flowers once more,’’ said Martin. The team involved in clearing the graveyard is Chris Green, Pamela Fanchamps, Alison Dempster, Karen Downey, Andrew Wray, Ben Roberts, Martin Heap and Stella McKinna.
One of the team Pamela Fanchamps has found some of her ancestors buried in the graveyard and discovered a particularly distressing story while researching her family tree. Her ancestors Abraham and Elizabeth Mallinson and two of their children are buried at Green Cliff, one of whom burnt to death aged four after reaching to pick a potato out of a pan cooking over the fire. She said: “We started clearing Green Cliff in 2017 and it was such a big undertaking. “Brambles had climbed all over
some of the tallest headstones. “We also discovered there is an underground water source in the middle of the graveyard which had led to some sunken and leaning graves. “Hardcore has now been put down to try and help this. “We noticed during lockdown that more people were coming to look round the graveyard and are now tending the graves and also doing their own family research.’’ Although burials are now longer held at Green Cliff, there is still an area available for cremated remains.
Number of flu vaccinations is expected to double on last year FLU vaccinations will be available from mid-September for people living in the Holme Valley, courtesy of Medicare Chemists, who are preparing for unprecedented demand. This coming winter will see the biggest flu campaign ever launched with potentially 30 million people across the country eligible for the vaccine. Asghar Khan, who runs the family business with his brother Afzal Khan says: “The situation this coming winter is extremely serious and will see the biggest ever flu vaccine programme. “Because of Covid-19, the Government has changed the guidelines so that the most vulnerable groups will be prioritised first. “The Government will then advise later in the year when the over-50s will be eligible for their vaccinations. We expect the usual
EXPERT: Afzal Khan
ADVICE: Asghar Khan numbers to at least double this year.’’ The increase in vaccine uptake, combined with social distancing rules, mean that pharmacies like Medicare are having to plan ahead now to cope with the demand. Medicare has branches at Riverside Shopping Centre and Elmwood Health Centre in Holmfirth and Westgate, Honley. Mr Khan said: “Obviously we are expecting a larger uptake and we will have the added obstacles of social distancing, PPE and thorough cleaning. In order to cope with this, we will have our normal ‘walk-in’ service but also flu clinics with an appointment system. We will be holding flu clinics at the Riverside Shopping Centre and will be sending out text reminders to our regular customers.’’ They ask people to book their flu vaccine appoint-
ments now on the website www.medicarechemists. co.uk where you can also find all the necessary information. He said: “This year the flu vaccination programme needs to be carefully managed with an appointments system so that we know exactly who is coming in and when. “We may even have to hold flu clinics on Saturdays and Sundays to get through the numbers involved. It is going to be a very challenging time for doctors and pharmacists due to the high numbers involved. We ask that patients help us by booking online.’’ Anyone arriving for a flu vaccine appointment is asked to wear a mask and Medicare staff will be in full PPE. Thorough cleaning will be carried out between appointments to guarantee a Covid-19 safe environment. Mr Khan said: “In order to help prevent a second wave of Covid-19, people are strongly advised to get themselves a flu jab.’’ Medicare is one of the leading local pharmacy groups and provides a range of health care. n BOOK YOUR FLU VACCINE APPOINTMENT NOW AT WWW. MEDICARECHEMISTS. CO.UK
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