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

Monday Mourning ~ Winter Sun

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 ~ Smith, 2nd 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.
     

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.

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.

Silent Sunday Cemetery Scapes ~ Ascension Burial Ground, Cambridge

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.