THE MAN responsible for restoring Droitwich’s St Mary’s Churchyard to its former glory has praised and thanked everyone who joined the working party on Saturday to give the area a much-needed tidy.
Kevin Hyett contacted The Standard after eight people turned up and undertook a host of tasks.
The group worked very hard throughout the morning despite the poor weather conditions, and cleared a large area of brambles in the north-east corner of the churchyard, uncovering a number of headstones in the process.
The many wheelbarrow loads of brambles were ferried to an area for later burning by the Rev Laura Handy.
Shrubs and thistles were also cut back and rubbish that had built up was removed.
Among those involved in the clean-up were parish representatives and relatives of people buried there.
Some stayed for two hours and others for three-and-a-half.
Mr Hyett was on hand throughout, in order to guide and assist the group, and he moved the heavy logs that at one point were obstructing the progress.
He said: “We got so much done and it is looking really nice now.
“It shows what can be accomplished when the community pulls together.
“I want to say a big thank you to everyone who came along and have made such a difference and to The Standard for promoting and publicising the day.”
The churchyard on Worcester Road, behind the Castle pub, has a rich history which has been the subject of a book by local historian and photographer Paul Jones.
The book details the area’s 1,000 year past and features 21 biographies of people interred there, including Edgar Francis Talbot who tragically died during the First World War.
Paul was at the working party event to take photographs, to talk about his book and to sign copies.
Mr Jones also shed some light on a comical moment at the end of the day involving a very friendly young squirrel.
He said: “Just as the group were leaving, a young squirrel was found under one of the volunteer’s cars, and had to be gently coaxed out with the handle of a rake.
“After the group had left, the squirrel began to cling to Kevin’s leg – possibly mistaking him for its mother.
“Kevin attempted on several occasions to put it up a tree, but it just returned to him, and sat between his feet.
“Eventually, we had no option but to try the tree routine again, and then make a quick exit from the churchyard.”
