please empty your brain below
Seeing as we could all potentially end up spending a long time there, its probably best not to spend too long in a cemetery whilst still alive.

Is there ever a pleasant leakage?

Still Anon | 02.04.21 - 7:44 a.m. | #

Given the day, I had anticipated a revisit of The Widow's Son tradition. Instead a reminder of some of the recent widows and sons, in an unexpectedly nice location. Enjoy your HCBs today.

Frank F | 02.04.21 - 7:45 a.m. | #

A sensitive choice of topic for Good Friday. And a well written piece, with just the right level of solemnity, and display of the usual observational skill.

Malcolm of Kent | 02.04.21 - 8:32 a.m. | #

A few years ago my partner and I made a conscious decision to visit a different cemetery, once a month, while on our various travels and days out.

We enjoy the tranquility and the park like surroundings. However, the most important thing for us is that we leave, having reminded ourselves to make the most of every day.

Carpe diem.

Neesi | 02.04.21 - 9:01 a.m. | #

Very nicely written.

Cornish Cockney | 02.04.21 - 9:38 a.m. | #

Your comment about some of the memorials reminded me of a line from an American Folk singer's song about the funeral "industry" over there - I'm sorry I can't fully remember his name - Tom Parton perhaps?

"Rock of ages cleft for thee, for a slightly higher fee"

PAUL HILL | 02.04.21 - 10:08 a.m. | #

Gateway reminds me of the South Metropolitan Cemetery in West Norwood, cf your excellent feature on the River Effra.

cau1khead | 02.04.21 - 10:18 a.m. | #

PAUL - I think you mean John Denver in the song Forest Lawn.

Sally | 02.04.21 - 10:49 a.m. | #

I went there for the first time a couple of years ago for a cremation.

A sad day but a beautiful place

Mikey C | 02.04.21 - 11:00 a.m. | #

Forest Lawn was written by Tom Paxton and more famously performed by John Denver.

Mel | 02.04.21 - 11:07 a.m. | #

DG, this was so well written. Thankyou

GB | 02.04.21 - 12:06 p.m. | #

I'm surprised you didn't mention the trees. Lots of exotic and unusual trees have been planted there over time. Many years ago, there was a brochure you could get from the entrance office setting out a couple of 'tree trails'. In total, they identified probably around about 70 different trees, most very magnificent specimens.

ScottishExile | 02.04.21 - 12:35 p.m. | #

Thanks for the article, I work in the cemetery and our staff work very hard to maintain it to a good standard. Its nice to see you got one of our resident foxes in a picture, we have a lot, including one family whose lineage goes back about 4 generations.

Mick H | 02.04.21 - 4:11 p.m. | #

My mum's cremation was held there seven years ago and her ashes were scattered under a horse chestnut tree, where we have a memorial bench (the same spot where my grandfather's ashes were placed twenty five years earlier). It is indeed a well maintained and interesting cemetery. This is my first ever comment on the Diamond Geezer blog which I've read for many years and always enjoyed. Keep up the good work.

David | 02.04.21 - 5:16 p.m. | #

I loved the photograph of the fox. It's posture seems to be saying - How Much? No thanks.

Jo W | 03.04.21 - 7:42 a.m. | #

Interesting to see the photos of the well-kept grounds at City of London cemetery as there is rarely time to look round properly. Sadly I was there for a double funeral just over a week ago. I didn't see the orange dustcart but a splendid horse-drawn white hearse was leaving.

I live in E4, and the City of London Crem is often the recommendation of local Undertakers. So almost too many memories. It tends to be that or occasionally Enfield Crem = no competition.

Chingford Cemetery just up the road from here is, I think, is nearly full. Only claim to 'fame' the Kray family.

g.chingford | 03.04.21 - 1:26 p.m. | #

Fairly recent reburial of Edith Jesse Thompson there from Holloway via Brookwood , hung in 1922 as a result of he murder of her husband and story well covered in edithjessethomson.com and in Laura Thomspon's book on Rex v Edith Thompson.

I was late arriving to the plot for a commemoration service yer before last and one of the workers ran me to it in a cemetary truck!

David Smith | 04.04.21 - 2:25 p.m. | #











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