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| 20 February 2010 update |
| AGM Minutes You can now read the minutes of our 2010 Annual General Meeting by clicking on this link. If you have any queries about any of the matters raised at the AGM, please contact us. |
| 29 January 2010 update |
Signs of progress!  Earlier this week we saw the installation of three new information signs in Hyde Park Cemetery. The signs were designed by the Friends, funded by a Grassroots Grant from Doncaster Central Development Trust, and manufactured and installed by Jubb Signs. One sign is placed adjacent to each of the cemetery's three entrances, the subjects of the signs covering 'Cemetery History', 'Notable Doncastrians' and 'Natural History'. Why not go and have a look? Successful AGM A very good turnout of 25 members and 8 visitors attended the Annual General meeting of the Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery on Monday 25 January. As well as the formal business, the meeting was inspired by an illustrated presentation by the Friends of Wombwell Cemetery. The FoHPC Chair, Richard Bell, provided attendees not only with a report on progress during 2009, but also a summary of proposed and potential projects for the group during the coming year. Keep an eye on this website to track progress through the year! |
| 23 January 2010 update |
| Reminder of the imminent AGM! The Annual General meeting of the Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery takes place on Monday 25 January at 7:15pm at St James' Hall, St Sepulchre Gate West, Doncaster. Please see the Events page for further details. |
| 22 January 2010 update |
| Sine FM Podcast now online If you missed the radio interview earlier this week, when Sheila North talked to Richard Bell about the work of the Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery, as well as talking about Richard's local history book "The Sand House - A Victorian Marvel", you can now catch it online at Sine FM. Why not have a listen? (Note - Link no longer available). |
| 15 January 2010 update |
| Civic Trust hears all about Hyde
Park Cemetery The Friends' Chair, Richard Bell, gave a illustrated talk entitled "Hyde Park Cemetery - Past, Present & Future" to members of Doncaster Civic Trust yesterday evening. An enthusiastic group of 35 people not only heard about the cemetery's 154-year history, but they also learnt about the projects being pursued by the Friends. The interactive quiz about notable Doncastrians interred in the cemetery was particularly well received. If you are involved with a local group which would like to see and hear this presentation, please contact us. |
| 14 January 2010 update |
| 'Sine on' to Listen The Friends' Chair, Richard Bell, will be a guest on Sheila North's regular show, 'Book It' on Doncaster's community radio station, Sine FM, on Tuesday 19 January, starting at 11am. Richard and Sheila will be discussing the work of the Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery, as well as talking about Richard's local history book "The Sand House - A Victorian Marvel". Sheila's weekly programme is dedicated to books and various literature, incuding interviews and coverage of local events. If you live in the central districts of Doncaster you can listen on 102.6 FM. Alternatively, you can listen online at Sine FM (Note: Link no longer available). You can also listen to the show after the event, via a podcast which can be accessed from the same link. |
| 12 December 2009 update |
A Visit to Wombwell Cemetery In the few years since the Friends of Wombwell Cemetery were formed, they have achieved an enormous amount to improve the local authority-owned site. Members of FoWC acted as guides, showing their Hyde Park visitors around the cemetery. Their passion and commitment was clearly evident and they were able to provide lots of ideas for potential projects at Hyde Park Cemetery. The FoWC also were delighted to confirm that some of their group will be attending the FoHPC Annual General Meeting on 25 January 2010, to share their experiences with us. |
| 11 December 2009 update |
| Sowing the
Seeds In the past few weeks, pupils from Hexthorpe Primary School's Allotment Club have sown wildflower seeds, provided by the Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery, into seed trays. These seeds will be propagated at the school over the winter period and then, in the spring, the young seedlings will be planted out, by Hexthorpe pupils, in Hyde Park Cemetery. More wildflower seed will be sown directly into the ground at the same time, to form the beginnings of a wildflower meadow. Watch out for more about this project early in 2010. |
| 19 October 2009 update |
| More on the
Mayor's Visit As promised, we can now bring you further information concerning Mayor Davies' recent visit to Hyde Park Cemetery. On
a pleasant, early October afternoon Mayor Peter Davies and Councillor
Cynthia
Ransome, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, visited After
explaining a little of the history of the cemetery and the role and
objectives
of the Friends, Richard and Alan sought Mayor Davies’ support for the
improvements
which the Friends are working to achieve. The discussion
covered subjects
ranging from re-surfacing some of the paths to the potential for
renovating the
Lodge and Chapels and bringing them back into long-term, sustainable
use.
Mayor Davies pledged his support to the Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery
and
undertook to do what he could to help in reversing the decline of the
site and
exploiting its potential for the benefit of the people of Soon
after
the visit, Mayor Davies said "I was impressed by the improvements made
at "Clearly
there is
much work still to be done, and I will look into any assistance the
Council can
give. I have already asked Richard Walker, my Cabinet Member
with
responsibility for Drainage, Transport and Roads, to look into, as an
initial
contribution, the possibility of improving the footpaths that criss
cross the
cemetery, and which are of vital importance to local residents. |
| 15 October 2009 update |
Great News!
Funding Bid Approved News
just in that the Friends' application to Doncaster Central Development
Trust (CDT) for a Grassroots Grant has received partial approval.
In fact, all elements of our bid except one have been
approved,
so we can now put into action several schemes that were developed
earlier this year.
This is a real milestone and a very significant achievement. For the first time, the Friends are in a position to make tangible improvements at the cemetery and begin to reverse the decline of recent decades. We'll provide updates on how the funded schemes are progressing over the coming weeks. |
| 10 October 2009 update |
Mayoral
visit to cemetery On
1 October, elected Mayor Peter Davies and Cllr Cynthia Ransome, Cabinet
Member for Neighbourhoods, took up an invitation from the Friends to
visit the cemetery.
More information about this meeting will follow shortly. |
| 9 October 2009 update |
All the fun
of the (History) Fair The
Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery's (FoHPC) display at the annual Doncaster
and District Heritage Association's Local History Fair was the subject
of a lot of interest.
The fair, which took place on Saturday 26 September at Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery, was a chance for people to find out more about the dozens of history-related groups in the area. As well as signing up for new members, the Friends distributed copies of self-guided walks to the cemetery, as well as flyers containing basic information about the FoHPC. They also took orders for copies of Margaret Burns' book about the cemetery, 'Standing Stones - Recumbent Ancestors', and took details of people who expressed interest in future FoHPC events. If you would like a copy of Margaret's book, please contact the Friends. |
| 8 October 2009 update |
A Walk
through the Past Eight adults and
two children enjoyed the September sunshine as the Friends once again
held a 'Heritage
Open Day' event at the cemetery.
Three FoHPC committee members led a guided walk titled 'Hyde Park Cemetery through the life of a Doncaster family' on Saturday 12 September. Starting with a brief introduction to the cemetery, the walk followed the story of the Carrs, Duckitts, and Moates, the latter being a well-known local building firm. It also took in the story of Hodgson and Hepworth's, a name still well-known in the Doncaster area for the chain of shops which it used to own, and the 'emporium' which was located on the site of the present-day Frenchgate centre. If you are interested in hearing more about this or future guided walks, please contact the Friends. |
| 18 August 2009 update |
|
Clean-up
Success
 Question -
What do the following have in common? A car wheel-trim, a pillow, a
gent's sweat-top, a road cone, and two duvets. Answer -
They were all items that were gathered up during FoHPC's Litter Pick
evening!
On the evening of Wednesday 12th August an intrepid group of Friends, led by members of DMBC's Safer Neighbourhoods Team, spent a couple of hours tidying Hyde Park Cemetery, by collecting as much litter and miscellaneous rubbish as they could find on the site. The result was about 20 refuse bags-full and a real sense of satisfaction, having made a positive contribution to the appearance of the cemetery. The Friends hope to hold another Litter Pick in the not-too-distant future, in order to tidy the areas that could not be done this time. This follow-up will also help us to judge how significant the littering problem is, based on how much 'new' litter has appeared by next time. So it's a great big thank you to everyone who took part in the Litter Pick, all of whom enjoyed the fresh air, pleasant weather, exercise and sense of achievement. |