'Desperate' plea for volunteers at historic Heaton Graveyard

The Heaton Graveyard Community Project, which has been running for 20 years, needs volunteers to help look after the cemetery in Highgate, Heaton.

Margaret Gray, chairperson of the project, said: “We’re absolutely desperate to get volunteers.

Volunteers are sought to help with the Heaton Graveyard Community Project (Image: Newsquest)

“Covid brought members of our original volunteers to retire, including myself.

“We were all travelling long distances to Heaton from our homes in South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Grassington, and Wilsden, and we were no longer ‘teenagers’.

“Just one member remains and living in Heaton. This person has put in endless work and commitment to the project.”

Volunteers are sought to help with the Heaton Graveyard Community Project (Image: Newsquest)

Mrs Gray said in 2003 she called a meeting at the Heaton Baptist Chapel to discuss what could be done about the graveyard.

She said: “The graveyard was opened in 1824. Since that time the Baptist Church acted as its ‘caretaker’ but for many, many years it was left to its own device.

“Not only was it an eyesore for local residents but it was a prime location for anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping.

Volunteers are sought to help with the Heaton Graveyard Community Project (Image: Newsquest)

“As a result of the meeting, a handful of then local people came together and formed the Heaton Graveyard Community Project.

“Little did we know what we had let ourselves in for. It was blood, sweat and tears, with a lot of laughter thrown in for good measure.

“We started work in March 2004 and continued until Covid."

Volunteers are sought to help with the Heaton Graveyard Community Project (Image: Newsquest)

There are approximately 1,000 graves, with almost 10,000 people buried there, including 45 from World War One and Two.

Volunteers rebuilt walls, made new gates, laid new footpaths, refurbished graves, cut back overgrowth, carried out new planting, installed visitors’ seating, and created a Garden of Remembrance.

“It has not been hallelujah all the way,” said Mrs Gray. “We’ve had disaster and disappointments too.

Margaret Gray, chairperson of the Heaton Graveyard Community Project, shows vandalism to one of the graves in 2019 (Image: Newsquest)

“Yorkshire stone slabs were taken from the graves, people used the graveyard as a toilet, white paint was thrown over walls and gates, Swastika symbols were painted on walls and one morning we found 42 graves had been very, very badly damaged, broken up or destroyed.

“Some with little damage were repaired professionally, others have had to remain as we found them. It was heartbreaking.

“Saying all this, the big heavy jobs have been attended to, now it’s maintenance to keep the place looking good.

“One very nice thing about being a volunteer is the visitors you meet. Families like to find their ancestor’s graves.

“We have had visitors from all over the world. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some lovely people.

“If you like being outdoors, gardening, meeting people, and making friends, then please consider becoming one of our volunteers at Heaton.”

Anyone who would like to volunteer, contact David on 07730 304334.