GENBRIT-L Archives

Archiver > GENBRIT > 2001-09 > 0999859745


From: "Sheila R. Bryant" <>
Subject: Re: More Headstone Troubles
Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2001 11:49:05 +0100
References: <3B90F2AB.A6FA8402@lightage.demon.co.uk>, <3B965623.8814C4BF@ntlworld.com>, <3B966B93.6DAF@dircon.co.uk>


Liz wrote:
>
> > It isn't fair to bring in the 'jobsworth' argument. It isn't a simple
> > question, and there isn't a simple answer. Judging by the majority of
> > posting to the ng it would seem that they would allow anything of a new
> > grave and completely ignore the views of the many who were quite happy
> > with the old rules. If you want to change the rules to something
> > different shouldn't you ask all them for their views?
>
> No, no, Mike, this is a bit of whole-hoggery worthy of Roy Stockdill <g>
>
> Just because the majority of those posting here have been tolerant of
> the idea of a photo on a gravestone does not mean they would advocate
> the splendid atrocities you mentioned (tho' I am almost tempted by the
> six-foot Millennium Dome, of which I am very fond).
>
> I am puzzled that if this is a church graveyard (someone mentioned the
> incumbent) then surely it will already have a certain variety in its
> grave markers ....unlike, say, a municipal cemetery, which have often
> tended to uniformity.
>
> Personally, I blame motor mowers ..... when it was the chap with a
> scythe the graves didn't have to be in straight rows with no twiddly
> bits .....
>
> Considering how poorly maintained most graveyards now are, and how prone
> to vandalism, it does seem that, in this case, the pendulum has swung a
> little too far in the opposite direction. The bereaved should surely be
> dealt with a little more delicately?
>
> I am reminded of a case a few years ago when a family were prevented (by
> a vicar) from putting 'Dad' on a gravestone, despite the presence of
> older graves with that word ...it was his contention that the proper
> word was 'Father' and 'Dad' was a vulgarity. Some Christian, was my
> thought at the time ......
>
> Liz (Greenwich UK)

I think there's a similar situation here in that there are already other
(older) headstones in the cemetary with likenesses on them. They
apparently aren't in the equation.

Also, opening another can of worms, just because others in the past have
complied with existing rules doesn't mean that they were automatically
happy about them (although many may well have been), just that no-one
created enough of a fuss that it got a wider airing. I would have
thought it takes a strong, brave person to question what they're told
they can and can't have at a time when they are, by definition,
emotionally stressed.
--

Sheila
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Sheila Bryant Software Applications
Support
Email: Dept. of Meteorology,
Phone: 0118 931 6395 University of Reading,

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This thread: