Morning All,
A few years ago I was researching a relative, John Woodger, one of the men with a claim to being the inventor of the kipper.
I decided I wanted to visit his grave and found a newspaper report describing him being buried in St. John's cemetery in Elswick, Newcastle, the grave he had buried his son in.
I visited a few times but couldn't find the memorial described in the report, a large column. Eventually after conversations with the staff in Newcastle council's bereavement’s office managed to work out where I thought it was but unfortunately it looked like it was right in the middle of the biggest, thickest holly bush I'd ever seen.
I contacted the council again who put me in touch with the bereavement services manager who fortunately agreed that because John was quite a significant figure in the history of the area and because I had tracked it down reasonably close it was worth looking a little closer.
The grounds staff were asked to remove some of the lower branches from the bottom of the bush to see if there was any monuments hidden in there.
I'm pleased to report that the staff have now done that and we have managed to locate John's grave. As you'll see from the attached photo it must have been an awful job but I think they have manage to help uncover a piece of history of the North East.
I have posted the story because I'm hoping people will find it interesting but also so I could publically say thank you to all of the council staff who have helped with this.
Michael