Tending to Forefathers of Tyneside

By Lisa Hutchinson

(Taken from the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 09/05/08)

They changed the face of the North East and made it what it is today.

But in death these famous sons and daughters have been forgotten.

Their graves lie neglected in ruin, their headstones weather-beaten.

Many of the region's greats were lain to rest in Jesmond Old Cemetery, but today these prominent figures would be turning in their graves if they could see how they have been abandoned.

Their state has led a group to roll up their sleeves and bring them back to glory.

Led by Ray Hayes, they have set up the Friends of Jesmond Old Cemetery and start their mission tomorrow.

Ray, a senior lecturer at Northumbria University, said: "My two sons bought me a book about the cemetery by Alan Morgan. I thought it would be a good idea to bring the cemetery back to its former glory. I contacted Newcastle City Council's bereavement service and managed to get about 20 family members and friends together."

John Dobson, one of the architects who helped to transform Grainger's vision into reality, is buried in the cemetery he designed.

Also buried there are the forefathers of Fenwick, Bainbridges and Pumphreys, the Hancocks, art gallery founder Alexander Laing, former 19th Century Newcastle mayor and MP Archibald Reed and socialist Thomas Burt, the first working class man to become an MP in 1874.

Patrick Freeman, a former farmer who gave his name to one of the city's hospitals, is also there, along with William Adams, who joined the Evening Chronicle as editor in 1863.

The Fenwick grave is surrounded by brambles and weeds – a far cry from the grand department store located on Northumberland Street since the 1870s.

Newcastle City Council is responsible for the cemetery, but the graves are the responsibility of the families.

In 2001, John Dobson's grave was cleared and restored by Newcastle-based Strettle Memorials, who offered to step in after the Chronicle highlighted the problem.

Now the weeds are back, but Ray and his team are getting ready for the clean-up.

Ray, 48, of Fenham, Newcastle, added: "I would like to see the cemetery become a tourist attraction. There is son much history. Through the Friends we can access grants, as well as lottery and heritage funding that the council can't access.

A Newcastle Council spokesman said: "Through their work, the Friends are helping us to look after an area of sustained interest and we welcome their support."