FRIENDS OF RYDE CEMETERY

Welcome to the friends of Ryde Cemetery Web site

Latest updates go to Events and Activities.  Green Gym, Friends Work Party, Updated 8th March 2009

The friends of Ryde cemetery was initially established with the aim of rejuvenating a cemetery that had fallen into serious neglect, as their was insufficient funding available from the Isle of Wight Councils Bereavement Services Department  to maintain the cemetery to the standards that it deserves. Malcolm Houghton the Bereavement Services Manager at the time along With Councillor Ian Stephens and a small but dedicated group set the wheels in motion to begin what would be a mammoth task. the first task would be to generate  interest in the cemetery itself and this was achieved by posting flyers through local residents doors making them aware that a friends group for the cemetery  had been formed and inviting residents to become active voluntary members themselves. As the weeks progressed, further volunteers started attending  planned work parties at the cemetery and as a result a large area of very grand and ornate graves was un-covered showing a taste of what the cemetery had to other in the way of memorial architecture and more importantly local history in and around Ryde A committee was formed and the cemetery set about forming a cemetery constitution along with a cemetery management plan.
It soon came apparent to the group, through these activities, that the surrounding boundaries walls railings and fences along with the mortuary and two chapels where all of significant architectural interest and also the boundary fence at Pellhurst Road which had been erected as  ornate cast iron railings.  A decision was made to concentrate in trying to secure funding to have these fully restored.

Initial talks with the council indicated that funding would be unavailable for the project to move forward and it was decided that the friends along with council officers would submit a bid for lottery funding. Whilst talks where taking place to decide the best way to put a bid together, it was decided that an attempt tosubmit a bid to secure funding to transform the cemetery to its former Victorian including all the buildings, boundaries, incorporating a conservation management plan to ensure maintenance of the cemetery for a further ten years after the project was completed.

The bid was submitted and in 2006 the council and the friends where informed that they had been successful and awarded the full grant applied for

A Project Board has been set up consisting council officers Friends of Ryde cemetery  groups and other group members with an interest within the cemetery   

Constitution Friends of Ryde Cemetery