FPC Newsletter January 2022

Ford Park Cemetery Trust Newsletter 2021

JANUARY 2022 Welcome to Ford Park Cemetery Trust’s annual newsletter for 2021.

We wish all our readers a happy and healthy 2022.

This year we decided to hold a Remembrance Day service in the Chapel and the congregation was delighted to see our “Tommies” (which were kindly donated by Metric Engineering of Plympton) in position at the Cross of Sacrifice by the Lodge gates. It is hoped that these superb sculptures can be dedicated during a service in the summer.

ALTAR CLOTH The craft group were pleased to finally be able to dedicate the altar cloth they had made.

Designed by Ann Hart it depicts the Tree of Life, and each member of the group contributed two leaves. The dedication was performed at the memorial service held to commemorate the lives of those volunteers who had passed away during the pandemic and were therefore unable to be remembered as we would have wished. The craft group continues to meet on Wednesday mornings and have contributed many items for sale at the fairs and other events. If you fancy a knit and natter (or just a natter!) come along and join them – you will be most welcome.

CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING Holly wreaths were again produced by Maggie and her dedicated team, with assistance from the ground staff.

Here is a picture of our Lee “bringing in the holly”. Thanks to all who support us in this way.

COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION (CWGC) RESEARCH PROJECT - an article prepared by Vivien Warne The project to research the service personnel buried in the cemetery between August 1914 and August 1921 has now been completed, although it will be added to and amended as new information is received. In August 2021, as a result of a discovery by a CWGC volunteer Jolene Warren and the grave details confirmed, Major Gordon Gill was added to Ford Park Cemetery’s list and will receive a CWGC headstone.

This brought the total burials for the Great War to 776 individuals (in 2014 the figure was 760). One of the earlier additions, was Nikolai Engraffof (Evgrafov) who died shortly after his colleague Petr Garielkow (Ogorelkov) on the Russian Imperial Navy ship Askold.

Nikolai’s grave was discovered when preparing for Petr’s century remembrance service in 2017. The grave has now been restored.

Along with 3 French graves, 6 not granted CWGC status and 43 early 1914 Ministry of Defence burials, the project covers 902 individuals. The individuals were born in various countries such as Australia, Canada, Channel Islands, England, France, India, Ireland, Malta, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, USA, Wales and the West Indies. They ranged in age from 15 to 70 and include two women. Of the known causes of death, 12% were killed in action or as a result of wounds, 8% through accident and 30% from pneumonia, bronchitis and/or influenza.

During the process, 74 memorials were discovered. These do not appear in the burial records and are only found when looking at the headstones or advised by cemetery visitors. A recent addition to this group, a Bewes family grave recently cleaned, revealed the memorial.

There are nine family graves with either a burial or memorial for more than one relative.

Among these are memorials to 3 Baker brothers, one was known as the “pocket Hercules” when he played for Argyle. Two of the nine are War Graves for a father and a memorial to a son.

The immense amount of work starts with a summary of the individual’s life and includes details of family life, photos, newspaper reports, census records, service and other military records. The following supporting information contains all the sources used. The majority of the cost of the project has been contributed by Heritage Volunteers with some monies donated from Private Walks and Talks.

The Books are available to view at the Visitors Centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 to 15:30 and on the weekends 12:30 to 15:30.The project will now be extended to cover the 197 Second World War CWGC graves and any memorials discovered during the process.

RICHARD III SOCIETY We were pleased to be able to welcome back one of the groups which regularly holds its meetings here, the Devon & Cornwall branch of the Richard III Society (contact the office if you are interested in joining).

If you were in the cemetery one day in October you may have been surprised to see people in medieval dress. That was because the subject of their talk was medieval costume and make up.

TURNCHAPEL In December 2017 whilst clearing a site off Barton Road in Turnchapel for housebuilding, 23 sets of human remains were discovered, dating from 1660-1700. As there were no women or children identified it is assumed that these were perhaps dock workers or fishermen who had died and were buried away from their families. Following investigations and analysis by South West Archaeology the remains were reburied here on 19th March during a service attended by Turnchapel residents and one of our Trustees. A plaque now marks the spot:

AND FINALLY We are, as ever, grateful to the Friends of Ford Park Cemetery who continue to support us with their fund raising efforts. This year they have enabled us to purchase new computers for the office, provided gazebos and storage bins in the grounds, made improvements to the Northey Room and assisted with printing costs.

We have a full calendar of events for 2022, which we hope will be able to go ahead as planned. A new venture this year is an exhibition and sale of works of art by Plymouth Arts Club and Plymouth Watercolour Society which runs from 1st – 4th of April. Musical offerings from David Cotter, Lipstick & Lashes and the Tamar Concert Choir should provide entertainment for most tastes, and there will be a quiz night plus the usual fairs, talks, walks and exhibitions as well. Please remember to check our website in case of cancellations.

The Board would like to thank you all for your continued support over the last difficult year – if you feel you would like to help further, there are vacancies for Trustees. Experience preferred but not essential, passion and commitment to this amazing place a pre-requisite!

Please contact the office for more information.