Cut and dried?

Each Thursday morning a small band of men (about three or four) meet to work in Christ Church grounds. The first thing that has to be done is to clear discarded alcoholic drink bottles, empty cans of every description, plastic bottles, empty cartons and disgusting stuff left by suspected sniffers, druggies and young vandals. Then we try to remove graffiti from the memorial bench and archway, not to mention dog dirt.

The reason for the grass being so long at the moment is that for the last four Thursdays it has poured with rain. Nonetheless, the volunteers still turn up because even if it rains and we cannot mow the grass, we can always find enough litter, etc., to clear up.

Every year the same circumstances seem to happen -- rain on Thursday when it is the grass growing season. In a few weeks time the grounds will look lovely again. Perhaps L.M. will write to the Star then and express his/her thanks to the little band of volunteers, some of whom have no loved ones buried there, but do care for the graveyard and surrounding area.

The police do know about all that goes on in the churchyard and all the vandalism that goes on around Christ Church hall -- windows broken, fences broken down, flagging removed, grassy banks wrecked to make obstacle races for bikes, litter everywhere. Hundreds of pounds are spent on repairs when the money could be given to the poor, the missionaries or other needy causes.

Last Friday afternoon I walked through the graveyard and saw that relatives had cut the grass in the areas around two graves -- most appreciated -- and the sun was shining and two of our volunteers were mowing the grass in the sunshine.

I would like to add that anyone who would like to lend a hand would be more than welcome on Thursday mornings, and do bring a spade, fork or shears, as the tools provided have been stolen time and again, and so we all bring our own.

F.B. (name and address supplied).