Category: Volunteers

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

by Adminin Volunteers, Wildlife1 Comment on Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Wildlife Liaison Officer update:

On 24th February I met Andy a representative from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to show him around the Hull General Cemetery.  He offered some suggestions which he believed would enhance the cemetery and improve the diversity of wildlife. 

Suggestions

  • Create a woodland glade where wildflower seeds can be sown. This will attract insects, bees, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies.  A couple of potential areas were identified which had plenty of natural light (See main photograph).
  • Restrict access to some of the lesser used paths. Use barrier plants or woven natural fences of branches.  This would create larger, quieter spaces for wildlife habitat.
  • Replace some of the non-native shrubs with native species.  Remove all rhododendron before it takes over.
  • Pollard the holly to encourage a thicker base and better screening.
  • Plant native honeysuckle and only plant/sow native flowers.
  • Install two Tawny Owl boxes.
  • Extend area of brambles on workhouse mound.
  • Speak to the Council about free delivery of wood-chippings.
  • Do not to cut fallen trees into short pieces. Keep as much of their length of possible/practical.

Summary

Andy said he had never visited the Hull General Cemetery (HGC) before and admitted later that he was sceptical about what he would see.  I am delighted to tell you that he was very impressed with the site. He liked the wood-chip paths, our installation of bat and bird boxes, and the lack of litter.  He was delighted to hear that we had Pipistrelles (bats) visit HCG. As a bonus we also saw a number of birds including a Goldcrest during our walk around the cemetery. This was an excellent visit. We hope to build upon our relationship with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust for the future.

Karen Towner, Wildlife Liaison Officer.

Wildlife Liaison Officer

by Adminin Volunteers, Wildlife

The Friends of Hull General Cemetery has a new Wildlife Liason Officer, this is a short introductory message from Karen…

“Hello, my name is Karen Towner and I was recently persuaded to take on the vacant role of Wildlife Liaison Officer for Friends of Hull General Cemetery. We see my role as engaging with various wildlife groups and organisations to get the best support and advice so that the Friends of Hull General Cemetery (FoHGC) can deliver the dual task of preserving the valuable historical monuments for future generations and encouraging a diverse wildlife within it.

In August last year (2019), with the help of East Yorkshire Bat Group, we established that we had at least two Pipistrelle bats hunting in the cemetery. We look advice from experts on how we can best support these small mammals and subsequently erected a set of three bat boxes in the autumn. Later in the spring we hope to arrange an evening ‘bat walk’.

I have organised for volunteers from Tophill Low Nature Reserve to undertake a survey of bird species in early March (2020). By that time we will have erected 30 bird nest boxes as well as adding more bat boxes which have kindly been made by some of FoHGC volunteers. There will also be an invitation to Friends and supporters to join the Dawn Chorus walk on Sunday 3 May at 6.30am.

In the summer another volunteer from Tophill Nature Reserve, who lives locally, will assist in identifying and photographing insects and other invertebrates which inhabit Hull General Cemetery (HGC). He has kindly agreed to share his findings and photos with us.

Finally, I am in the process of liaising with other organisations with a view to establishing the best way to maintain and improve the cemetery and flora and fauna within it. I will post regular updates here and on our Facebook page to keep you all informed.”

Patrick Branagan 1955 – 2020

by Adminin General, Volunteers

We have just heard of the sad death of Patrick Branagan who was an early supporter of the Friends of Hull General Cemetery and contributed to its success. We send our condolences and best wishes to his family at this sad time.

Mr Patrick Branagan, 3rd May 1955 – 4th January 2020.

Notice Board

by Adminin General, Volunteers

Just a quick message to let everyone know that the notice board we erected in Hull General Cemetery close to the rear (cemetery) entrance of Thoresby Street primary school is for use by everyone. Notices do not have to be related to the cemetery, they can be from anyone or any local organisation across the whole community.

Blue Bins

You may have also noticed that we have also placed some wooden bins (made from pallets) in the cemetery… We would like to add some more but (Patrick) the person who built them for us (he also made the notice board) is too busy at the moment and just doesn’t have the time to be able to help us.. So we were wondering if any of our wonderful ‘friends’ with woodworking/cabinet making skills would be able to put some together for us.

If you are able to help us we can supply all the pallets, and Patrick is able to draw up some plans if needed – though the design doesn’t have to be the same.

Please contact us on our Facebook page, or by using the form on our contact page, or by popping-in to the Head Gardener on Spring Bank and speaking to Jo if you are able to help us. We would be very grateful. Thank you.

John Leopold Brunstrom

by Adminin History, Volunteers

Another of the monuments recently recorded by volunteer Andy Lister whilst undertaking the groups Photo Record Project, was that of John Leopold Brunstrom. Andy records that the stone is a ‘fallen granite obelisk with no evidence of a remaining plinth, but is otherwise in good condition’. Here is John L Brunstrom’s story.

He was born Johann Leopold Brunstrom in Sweden in 1834, the son of Olaf and Nelli Brunstrom. He worked as a mariner, and married Magdalena Theodora Korsholm, the daughter of a Danish ship store manager, in Liverpool on 2 August 1851

They had 5 children and moved to Hull some time in the 1850’s. At the time of the 1861 census they are living at 23 Francis St West, where he is recorded as a ship broker. Around the same time he formed the company of Shields & Brunstrom with his friend Samuel Shields, and in Jones’s 1863-4 Mercantile Directory, they are listed as merchants with offices at India Chambers, Queen’s Dock Side South.

One of their daughters, Elvira Helena, died of croup at their home in Francis St West on 30 April 1860 aged 1yr and 9 mths. John’s wife, Magdalena, died of consumption on 10 January 1864 aged 32 years. 5 years later another daughter, Lene Marie, died of diptheria on 5 September 1869 aged 5 yrs and 9 mths. A few months previously John and Samuel’s business had floundered, and they filed for bankruptcy on 9 February 1868. John died of liver cancer on 9 May 1875 aged 50 and his buried with his family in the above grave.

His partner Samuel Shields, died of an apoplexy at The Hull Workhouse on 30 March 1884 aged 56. He is also buried in Hull General Cemetery along with his father, brother and daughter, but unfortunately their gravestone no longer remains. However, the inscription was recorded by the EYFHS prior to its removal

Grave Visit

by John Wheeldonin General, Volunteers
Family Reunited

A few months ago whilst clearing the area around the Main gates, John Wheeldon uncovered 3 gravestones that were not recorded in MI Book1, these were Arthur & Irene Allen, Sydney & Elsie Winter and Lily and Arthur Holmes. The Winter grave also commemorated Sydney Winter jnr who had been killed in North Africa on 30 Nov 1942.

We discovered that all of the above were relatives of member Sue Honeyman, who sent us photographs of her family. One of the pics was the attached pic of her aunt laying flowers on the above graves in the 1950’s, the girl in the black pram is Sue! Her mum Sheila, took the photograph. We arranged to meet Sue, her cousin Elaine and her mother Sheila (who is now a spritely 91!!) this morning to show her the graves and lay some flowers and 2 poppy crosses. (1 on Sydney Winter’s grave, and 1 on the adjacent grave of Herbert Walker, another family member who had been killed in France on 12 April 1918 ). We went on to show them the grave of Samuel Widdowson who has a headstone at the rear of the cemetery.

We were very privileged to share the time and stories of the family, and thank them for the old photos that they have shared with us.