Friends of Key Hill Open Day 2008

Open Day- Saturday 13th September 2008

The Open Day on September 13th this year was a major success thanks in no small measure to a band of willing volunteers who put so much effort into preparing the site and then when the visitors arrived guiding them round the cemetery and running the stalls and attractions.

The day began with a formal opening by the Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr. Randall Brew together with a young helper. Cllr Brew then spent a considerable time in the cemetery looking at the features and greeting visitors

As with previous events a major stalwart was Phil O’Dell who brought many of his colleagues with him on the day all beautifully costumed

Not least of these helpers was Mel with her magnificent horse-drawn hearse – a great favourite with children. The Deputy Lord Mayor presented her with flowers in recognition of her hard work over the years the Open Days have been held.

The diminutive Pauline Roberts, exquisitely dressed as always was in her element taking groups of visitors around the cemetery and pointing out where all the notable people rest.

A very popular feature this year was a horse-drawn bus which a few people were able to take for rides up to Spring Hill Library and back.

The marquee was packed with stalls with the ‘Tomb-bola’ & raffle being amongst many very popular features.
Visitors could search the records to see if any ancestors were buried at Key Hill and Birmingham Air Raid Association were on hand to talk about the city’s more recent history.
There were displays and local history items for purchase.

Inside the cemetery visitors were taken down ‘Memory Lane’ - this resulted from research undertaken by Barry Crighton and his wife Cissie into the background of all the people buried in one corner of the cemetery – some 60 plots.

This was tremendously popular, visitors reading variously about the ‘Spring Hill Dairy Herder’, the ‘Surgeon who married both of two sisters’ and the lovely story of the ‘Boy and Girl Next Door’.

It is hoped to publish this information in booklet form in due course.

Memory Lane

The Open Day will be held again next year along with other ‘Heritage Open Days’ but watch this site for news of other events and happenings at Key Hill.