The Ryde
Cemetery Restoration Project is an exciting new initiative aimed at
conserving and restoring one of Ryde’s most key historical landmarks and
taking it back, wherever possible, to its former Victorian glory. In
restoring the Cemetery the project will be creating a Resource Leaning
Centre in one of the central Chapel’s for community use and public research.
The
cemetery hosts a 12 acre green space and nearly 20,000 graves and is rich in
Victorian and Edwardian architecture, commemorating many historic events and
local families, and preserving the social heritage of Ryde for both now and
in the future.
Janis
Mundell, the project co-ordinator, was born in Ryde in the 50’s and has
remained there all her life. Being a local lass she can remember as a young
girl walking from Monkton Street, past Timothy Whites at the top of Union
Street, then crossing past the old Theatre Royal, visiting the library
opposite the Town Hall in Lind Street, then walking up to the Parish Church
and walking through the cemetery and seeing flower borders which bloomed
with an abundance of colour each year.
Janis
started work in early 1970, taking up employment with the old Ryde Town
Council the day it became ‘Medina Borough Council’ and can remember the days
when all the key services were undertaken by Council employees ie parks and
gardens, refuse collection, council house repairs and cemetery maintenance,
to name just a few.
Since
returning to work, after having her family, Janis has continued to work
locally and, laterally, during the last few years has been involved in
education and care delivering a range of Community Development projects and
activities.
Janis is
delighted to be part of the Ryde Cemetery Restoration Project and is looking
forward to working closely with the schools, police, interest groups and
local community, both young and old, in delivering the ‘activity’ aspects of
the programme to include training, conservation and historic research.
The
project is interested in hearing from anyone who would like to be involved
with either volunteering, sharing memories or has any memorabilia or family
stories that they which to share. If you would like to contribute or require
more information please call Janis on 07807159605 or email
Janis.mundell@iow.gov.uk, she would be very pleased to hear from you.
