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Saturday 2 January 2016

We Stop for Cemeteries


My beloved Blog has been neglected for the past year, as I succumbed to the 'Quick Fix' of posting my cemetery photos on Facebook ~ no time consuming research is required in order to uncover any interesting stories .......
I was simply drawn to the instant gratification of posting and prompt mutual appreciation of sharing pictures.
But the simple posting of pictures meant that the fascinating stories behind them became forgotten and that had been a huge part of the passion that lead me to writing this blog in the first place.
So I shall start as I meant to go on and tell you about my most recent Cemetery Adventure.

Just over a week ago we decided to spend Christmas at the Italian Lakes with my folks. 
I knew that we would be visiting Milan and doing the requisite whistle stop 'City Tour'.

I know that Milan has an amazing monumental cemetery and I'd admired countless photos of those lucky enough to have visited it. What an irony to be this close to it and yet so far ~ I had even thought of asking if I could be dropped off and picked up again a few days later, but it was an organised trip with timetables to be adhered to and this was a family holiday after all. 
So I shelved that idea and made a mental note to self to put it on my 'Cemeteries To Do List' 

When we joined our coach trip, the two drivers, Mark and Sam greeted us dressed as Santa Claus and his Elf ~ A very Merry Christmas was definitely assured at this time.

On the day of the Milan City Tour, it was explained that we would see the famous Cathedral ~ 5th largest in the world ~ the Citadel, other points of interest and wait for it...the Cemetery ~ did I hear them right ? ~ yes The Cemetery. 
Whoops of joy came from me as I explained to Mark and Sam how excited I was ~ This was the best Christmas gift of the Year ~ I told them about this blog and bless them, even if they thought I was slightly demented, they took it all in their professional stride......

 The Famedio ~ Hall of Fame ~ Main Entrance of Milan Monumental Cemetery

Of course we were not there for very long, but that has only strengthened my resolve to return, but for a few days next time. Luckily I did get a few photos that will appear on here very soon.

A day or so later on another day trip to St. Moritz, as we passed through a village outside Chiavenna, Sam and Mark announced that we would stop for a break at a waterfall and for those who might be interested, there was a small pretty Cemetery in front of it......... 

And sure enough there was.......


So this post is dedicated to the hard work and safe driving of Mark and Sam, who looked after our every needs and made our Christmas trip to Italy such a memorable one and also for sounding like they would be delighted at being mentioned on this Blog. xx












Sunday 12 October 2014

The Rt Hon. The Lord Colwyn ~ 2nd Baron of Colwyn



In 
Loving Memory of
My Dear Husband
Ian
The Right Hon.
The Lord Colwyn
Who Died 31st May 1966
Aged 51 Years



Frederick John Vivian ~ Ian ~ Smith2nd Baron Colwyn was born on 26 November 1914.
He was the son of Hon. Frederick Henry Hamilton Smith and Hilda Ross.

He was educated at Malvern College in Worcestershire. During the Second World War he gained the rank of Captain in the service of the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, where he was wounded. 
He became a Stockbroker after the war and succeeded to the title of 2nd Baron Colwyn, of Colwyn Bay, co. Denbigh, on 26 January 1946.

He married three times, firstly to Miriam Gwendoline Ferguson in December 1940 and they divorced in 1951. They had two sons, Ian Anthony Hamilton~Smith, 3rd Baron Colwyn who was born in January 1942 and Timothy Hamilton~Smith, born in June 1944.

His second marriage to Hermione Sophia O'Bryen Hoare in July 1952 ended in divorce in 1954, he then married for a third time to Beryl Walker in January 1955. 

He died on 29 May 1966 at age 51.
     











Thursday 9 October 2014

Struck By Lightning



In Memory of
Helen
Beloved Wife of
Albert Donald Humphris
Who Was Killed By Lightning
on 30th May 1949
and
In Loving Memory of
Don
Who Died 11th October 1982
Much Loved Husband of
Joan Franklin Humphris
Requiescat in Pace


I think it seems like such a tragic accident, that after surviving the Second World War, Mrs Helen Humphris was killed by lightning. 

About 24,000 people are killed around the world every year by lightning and another 240,000 are injured. In the UK between 30 and 60 people are typically struck by lightning every year. 

From 1852 to 1859 there was an annual average of 19 lightning fatalities. The figure dropped to 12 deaths from 1900 to 1949, then five a year from 1950 to 1999. 

Since then it has fallen to about three per year, due to fewer people working outdoors and better awareness of the risks. 

In the UK you are 600 times more likely to die in a road accident than from lightning strike, twice as likely to die froma Bee sting or a falling tree and 130 times more likely to drown.









Friday 11 April 2014

Talking Tombstones of Föhr ~ Do Not Break My Grave.....



So Do Not Break My Grave As It Will Awaken Me In Time

Here lies Blessed Commander 
Simon Tuhis Pootans ~ Midlum ~ 
who was born 23rd Oct.1742 in Wrixum
His first marriage is told on the reverse side
3rd Jan. 1783 he married a second time Gontje Martinen from Midlum
with whom he lived well for  ? years.
He died 17th March 1792 aged 49 years.
His wife Gontje Simons 
was born 14th June in Alkersum 
and died 14th March 1819 at the age of 80 years.

Death Can Only Give Us That Wishing Souls are Living.










Tuesday 25 February 2014

Talking Tombstones of Föhr ~ Boldixsum, Germany


Here rests in God
Seel Lobbe ~ last name is not legible
Daughter Anna so born 1711 the 15th
June. Married to the Shipman Nikels Jappen
1735 the 30th December. 
During the marriage were born 2 daughters and after
the husband died in 1740 in November 
during a journey to St. Valert,
she walked into another marriage
to Commander Namen Frerck 1744 the 4th December.

Unfortunately the remaining information on this stone is underground. 


It is a fine example of the 'Talking Tombstones of Föhr' ~ a North Frisian Island off the coast of Germany ~ The tombstones are so called because of the amount of personal information they contain and the carvings upon them also depict a wealth of information too.

Pictured above we can see the woman ascending to heaven with the five daughters from her second marriage looking on from one side and her first two daughters looking on from the other side and are shown smaller and lower.
















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