Press Release

This press release relates to a misleading item that appeared in the Spring 2008 newsletter of the National Federation of Cemetery Friends.

The Spring 2008 issue of the NFCF newsletter contained a misleading item on Brookwood Cemetery which was published without its Editor, Secretary or President checking its accuracy, or indeed bothering to contact the Society. The Friends of Surrey Cemeteries has no authority to comment on issues pertaining to Brookwood Cemetery, as we do not presume to comment on issues relating to other cemetery groups.

Having written to the Federation, the Society has been granted no right of reply. The Society has therefore resigned from the Federation.

THE BROOKWOOD CEMETERY SOCIETY: PRESS RELEASE

The Brookwood Cemetery Society wishes to distance itself from the misleading news item published in the last issue of the newsletter of the National Federation of Cemetery Friends. Far from being in disarray, as suggested by your correspondent, the Brookwood Cemetery Society is undertaking some serious fundraising to restore the cemetery’s Columbarium, a full programme of walks is underway, and the Society is in regular contact with the Cemetery Management.

As the Friends of Cemeteries may know Brookwood is privately owned and the Brookwood Cemetery Society believes it is vital that we keep in contact and have good relations with whoever is responsible for the day-to-day management of the site.

In order to do that, we have kept all parties informed of our activities as any responsible organisation would seek to do. The next walks are advertised on our website and in our newsletter. All will start at 2pm from the entrance to the Glades of Remembrance off Cemetery Pales and you are all most welcome to join us.

I believe that the author of the piece in the Federation newsletter has had difficult relations with both Mr Ramadan Guney (now deceased) and his son Erkin Guney, and has been excluded from the cemetery. For this reason, that may colour his view. All other members of the Brookwood Cemetery Society and indeed the general public, enjoy access to the site, and we have cordial relations with the current Cemetery Management.

If any members of the National Federation require further information please contact the current Chair, Tim Toghill, or the Society’s Secretary. We would appreciate it if all further news about Brookwood Cemetery came directly from the Brookwood Cemetery Society and not from an unreliable third party.

Tim Toghill, Chairman, Brookwood Cemetery Society