In September, Dave Hunt, Chair, and Ruth Willis, Trustee, hosted a visit from HM Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Professor Dame Hilary A. Chapman DBE RN, and Lady Anne Neill DL. Dame Hilary took on the role after a very successful career in Nursing; she has always been deeply committed to charitable work. Lady Neill has been a Deputy Lieutenant for many years and very involved in supporting charities and their work. The James Neill Trust Fund has supported us for over a decade, particularly by making grants to the SGCT for landscaping equipment. Also present were Simon Ross, Head of Service, SCC Parks and Public Realm, and Andy Phillips, Area Manager for South West Sheffield, SCC Parks and Countryside.
It is only in the last 20 years that the Cemetery has become a place to visit, and only since the restoration of the Samuel Worth Chapel in 2016 and completion of Sheffield City Council’s 2020-2023 conservation project (funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Community Fund) that it has been on the map as a visitor attraction. Well-known Sheffielders like Hilary and Anne will help us pass on the message that the General Cemetery heritage park is a unique place in South Yorkshire, raising our profile and helping us to build relations with potential supporters who know little about what the Trust does.
Both Hilary and Anne enjoyed their visit. Hilary wrote: Thank you for your kind invitation and warm welcome to Sheffield General Cemetery heritage park, an absolutely fascinating visit. There has obviously been so much excellent work undertaken to both restore and maintain aspects of the park and it really is a jewel in Sheffield’s crown.
I started scanning one of the books last evening and ended up totally absorbed and finishing reading it; I’m looking forward to reading the other one too. There’s always so much to learn about our city’s assets.