1、FOWNC Newsletter No 27. September 1996. Free to members. Price 1.00 to non-members.PRIVATE Member of the National Federation of Cemetery FriendsChairmans Report - Bob FlanaganPUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF THE CEMETERY - THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER 1996 - 19.30 - NETTLEFOLD HALLIt is vital that as

2、many members as possible attend this meeting and let Council officers and members know their views as to the future of the Cemetery. This is our best chance yet to change Lambeths approach. The meeting will be open to all and will be advertised by Lambeth as they deem appropriate.It remains my view

3、that establishment of a Charitable Trust to run the whole undertaking is the best option which will prevent further decay and properly coordinate use of resources for conservation and restoration work. Please come along - we may not get another chance to air our views in this way.Legal MattersLambet

4、h have continued to dispute the Consistory Court judgement. After my protest about their decision to advertise their intention to repossess all graves in the Cemetery which had not been buried in for 75 years, the Council redvertised their intention but omitted the reference to removal of monuments!

5、 Even this action is, in my opinion, of dubious legality and is certainly counter to their professed intention of not re-using grave spaces or doing other works in the consecrated portion of the cemetery until the Scheme of Management required by the judgement had been agreed. I remain of the opinio

6、n that the whole advert should be withdrawn to clear the way for effective cooperation between FOWNC and Lambeth.It is especially poignant that at the memorial service to the late Chancellor, Robert Gray QC (see obituary on page xx), in Southwark Cathedral mention was made of the wisdom of the judge

7、ment and the fact that it had been welcomed by all who care about Londons heritage! In reality we have made absolutely no progress on the ground since the judgement was given, and Lambeth have carried on their day-to-day operations in the cemetery as if the Court case had never taken place and FOWNC

8、 did not exist.*I am informed that the Consistory Court is to reconvene later this month (September) under the Deputy Chancellor to review continuing matters of dispute over the Scheme of Management.*Sale of the Century?There have been other developments. Firstly, Lambeth have considered inviting te

9、nders for the aquisition and operation of not only Norwood, but also Lambeth and Streatham Cemeteries. I have pointed out that sale of Norwood may not be possible because the Council inherited all the statutory obligations of the South Metropolitan Cemetery Company when it compulsorily purchased Nor

10、wood in 1965. The owners of the cemetery have a duty to maintain all the listed structures including the catacombs and the boundary railings and wall, amongst other obligations. Faculties are needed for all operations on the consecrated portions of the cemetery, and a faculty would also be needed if

11、 sale of the consecrated portion of the cemetery were planned.Lambeth and Streatham Cemeteries also consist in large part of consecrated ground. No faculties have been obtained in repect of the clearance operations which have taken place in the consecrated parts of these cemeteries and the planned r

12、e-use of existing graves. By analogy with Norwood not only would all these operations appear to have been illegal, but also all future operations will require faculties. In addition, faculties would be required if sale of the consecrated portions of the cemeteries were contemplated. I understand tha

13、t Westminster Council ignored these factors when it rushed through the sale of its own cemeteries, only to find that a Consistory Court ordered their repurchase at great cost to Westminsters Council Tax payers.Public Meeting - Future of Norwood CemeteryAn additional and extremely important developme

14、nt is the Public Meeting announced at the head of this column. Paul Duffield, Head of Environmental Services at Lambeth, has called this meeting and has promised to consider carefully all the points raised. He has also identified funds for a short-term appointment as project manager to coordinate co

15、nservation in the cemetery and moves to comply with the Court judgement.Heritage Lottery FundI have just (4 September) been sent a package of papers concerning a draft Heritage Lottery bid for funds for conservation tasks within the Cemetery and which it is to be submitted by the Council by 30 Septe

16、mber. This proposes FOWNC involvement at every stage and, in principal, I am happy to cooperate. However, the document as drafted contains numerous references to the importance of Norwood as a working cemetery which sit uncomfortably with the idea of heritage, as well as numerous historical and lega

17、l inaccuracies. In addition, it commits FOWNC to raising a large sum (47,500) of match funding! It remains to be seen whether an agreement can be reached by the deadline. It seems very sad that so much time has been wasted in legal wrangling and underhanded dealing when there has been this important

18、 document to discuss.FOWNC Monument ConservationAt last the replacement monument to David Roberts RA has been put in place. There will be a special commemorative meeting at the British Museum and a rededication service at the Cemetery in October (see events list). There has, however, been one disast

19、er in that the Diving Historical Society went ahead with inserting a modern monument to Augustus Siebe without telling us what they were doing. This was due in part to delay in producing the architectural drawing of the the original monument which was demolished by Lambeth in 1987.This breakdown in

20、communication could have been averted save for the fact that the Cemetery Superintendent gave the Diving Historical Society permission to do what they wanted (and charged them 150!) despite the fact that they had no permission from relatives and no planning permission, both obstacles put in our way

21、when we were attempting to get the Roberts memorial reinstated!Sadly the hoped for restoration of the Marsden monument (see January Newsletter) has been delayed by English Heritage not producing the necessary architectural drawing to the necesary time-scale. I hope this project can be progressed pro

22、perly even though we will miss the anniversary we were aiming for.Administrative MattersI am pleased to report that our membership list now stands at some 300. Thanks to all who have renewed for 1996 - FOWNC would not survive without you. Only some 40 members have yet to renew - please remember to s

23、end your subscription to Rosemary Comber (address on page xx) otherwise we will have to delete your name from the mailing list for next year.Sadly we have been informed of the death of Frank Brightman of the South London Botanical Institute. Frank and has wife were strong supporters of FOWNC and hel

24、ped especially with the gift of the Ginkgo planted next to Gideon Matells tomb.Annual General Meeting - Saturday 19 OctoberThe AGM will be held after Prof Slaters talk (see Forthcoming Events). Nominations for any of the officer or committee posts should be sent to me as soon as possible together wi

25、th confirmation that the nominee is willing to serve if elected. All existing officers and committee members are willing to serve for a further term. Peter Gould (Lambeths Chief Executives Office) has promised to address the meeting and discuss the outcome of the Public Meeting on the future of the

26、Cemetery.Jack Burke, The Irish Lad (1861-1897) - Bob FlanaganIn West Norwood Cemeterys Sportsmen (1995) I noted that Wilsons Story of Norwood, which was written before 1949, listed a pugilist, Jack Purke, as being buried in the cemetery. This was clearly a misprint since the Undertakers Journal (Oct

27、ober 1915) lists Tom Spring, Tom King and Jack Burke. However, I was incorrect in assuming that the pugilist referred to was James (Jack) Burke (The DeafUn) (1809-1845) who is buried in St Johns Churchyard, Waterloo. Boxing historian Harold Alderman has kindly written with details of the Norwood Jac

28、k Burke.John (Jack) Burke was born in Killarney, Co. Kerry on 10 September 1861. He was brought to London as an infant and educated at St Josephs Catholic Academy. He was apprenticed in the glass blowing trade, his father having such a business in Lambeth. Jack was a good sculler, winning a match wh

29、en only 15. He then turned to amateur boxing, joining the Broad Street Gymnasium, but went back to rowing and indeed rowed for money. He returned to amateur boxing winning the German Gymnastics Club Amateur Middleweight Competition. However, he was then banned from entering the Queensbury Championsh

30、ip (the forerunner of the Amateur Boxing Association Championship) as he had rowed professionally.English Middleweight ChampionBurke then turned to professional boxing, making his debut on 12 February 1881 when he beat Jem Gaiger on the Hackney Marshes under London Prize Ring rules (bare knuckles) f

31、or 20. The bout lasted 35 minutes. On 29 June 1883 in Manchester he lost on points over 3 rounds in the final of Jem Maces English Heavyweight Championship Belt Competition in a bout he seemed to have won easily. Just a month before at Bob Habbijams West End School of Arms, Newman Street, off Oxford

32、 Street, he had won the English Middleweight Championship Competition, beating Jack Massey on points over 3 rounds, thus claiming the English/British Middleweight title.Burke fought all the top men in England, heavyweights as well as middleweights, including Alf Greenfield of Birmingham, in the fina

33、l of the Heavyweight competition above mentioned, and Charlie Mitchell, also of Birmingham, with whom he drew over 6 rounds (bare knuckles) on 16 June 1881 on Ascot Heath. In May 1883 he travelled to the US, staying there until 1887 and fighting all the top heavy and middleweights. He fought, for ex

34、ample, 4 more draws with fellow Englishman Charlie Mitchell and also drew with Jake Kilraw. On 2 March 1885 he beat Alf Greenfield, another old English opponent, over 5 rounds with gloves at Chicago. He met him again on 23 March when the result was a draw.Fights with John L. Sullivan, Jack Dempsey,

35、and Gentleman Jim CorbettBurke received a forfeit from Dominick McCaffrey, but lost on points over five rounds to the great John L. Sullivan (The Boston Strong Boy), then considered World Heavyweight Champion, in Chicago on 13 June 1885. On 23 November 1885 he was pitted against Mike Cleary in a glo

36、ve contest at San Francisco - after 5 rounds the police interfered and a draw was declared. However, Burke won the re-match in 3 rounds on 28 December in Chicago. Drew with Jack Dempsey, The Nonpareil (real name John Kelly, born Co. Kildare, 15 December 1862), World Middleweight champion, over 10 ro

37、unds. On 27 August 1887 Burke lost on points over 8 rounds to the future World Heavyweight Champion James J. Corbett (Gentleman Jim) although this is sometimes recorded as a draw.Burke left the US for Australia in October 1887 and boxed exhibitions in Honolulu en route. He arrived in Sydney on 24 No

38、vember 1887. He drew with Larry Foley, Australias famous father of boxing. Subsequently he knocked out Peter Newton, claimant to the Australian Middleweight title, but drew and lost to Frank Paddy Slavin, an Australian and a future claimant to the World Heavyweight title. He also drew and then won a

39、gainst Wolf Bendorf of England. In New Zealand he beat their Heavyweight Champion Harry Laing. Subsequently, he returned to the US and on 4 May 1890 in Tacoma, Washington, won two bouts on the same night!Retirement and Comeback in South Africa In England, Burke fought holder Ted Pritchard for his Br

40、itish/English Middleweight title on 12 March 1891, but was knocked out in 3 rounds. The bout was at 11 stone (154 lb). A benefit was held for Burke on 12 April 1891 at the Washington Music Hall, Battersea and in May 1891 he announced his retirement from boxing. However, in late 1893 he went to South

41、 Africa and there made a comeback, going on tour with Patsy Donovan as his sparring partner.After giving an exhibition with South Africas then most famous boxer James Couper, Jack fought two fake fights with the Australian Owen Sullivan, losing both by so-called knockouts, the first in 6 rounds, the

42、 second in 7. He sailed from Cape Town for England on 5 September 1894, virtually being hounded out of town because of the fake fights, after which he had tried to make a living as a bookmaker.Death and Burial at NorwoodBack in England, after a few exhibition bouts Burke took over the Florence Taver

43、n, Islington, on 1 November 1895, but left in November 1896. He developed peritonitis after catching a chill whilst on a cycle tour. He underwent an operation, but died at the Bellevue Hotel, Cheltenham at 4 pm on Tuesday 29 June 1897. He left a wife, a daughter, and also a sister. His brother-in-la

44、w was Mr J. Leftwick of Stepney.Burke claimed the English/British and World middleweight championships. He also claimed 517 bouts, a world record, but his traced bouts are nowhere near that number. However, he was truly a great fighter. His career covered the bare-knuckle era and glove fights under

45、Marquess of Queensbury rules. The two fixed bouts with Owen Sullivan were completely out of character for Burke, who was otherwise known as an honest and fearless fighter.Burke was buried at Norwood on Monday 5 July 1897 from 13 Hemberton Road, off Mayflower Road, Clapham. After his death a fund was

46、 started to erect a memorial to him. This closed on 29 September 1897 with 70 collected. An old opponent, Charlie Mitchell, when donating 5 at the beginning of September, had stated that if enough money was not collected, he personally would pay to have a memorial erected by Christmas. Clearly the e

47、nterprise was brought to a successful conclusion because the monument is intact (grave 27,515, square 120) except that the railings have been removed. A photograph showing the railings does survive, however, in the Cemetery office.The monument is the large granite obelisk next to the tombstone of Bu

48、rkes fellow Claphamite and former pugilist, Tom King (grave 22,559, square 120) - both feature on our postcard The Cemetery in Spring (Squares 119/120). The death of Burkes daughter, Florence Gertrude Armitage ( -1915), a passenger in the Lusitania when it was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland on 7

49、 May 1915, is also recorded on the monument.With this new information I feel even more confident in claiming that Norwood has a unique place in the history of the ring, being the last resting place of heavyweights Tom Spring, Tom King, and Harry Broome, and of middle/lightweights Ned Neale, Johnny B

50、roome, and Jack Burke, and of the ashes of the wrestler/weightlifter George Hackenschmidt. Illustrations:John (Jack) BurkeJohn Burkes MonumentCharles Woolley (18461922) Patricia JenkynsRecent visits to Lambeth Archives, housed at the Minet Library, and to St Marys, the old Parish Church of Lambeth,

51、as well as news of the sale of County Hall, have reminded me very much of Charles Woolley. His family tombstone at Norwood was one of those destroyed in Lambeth Councils clearances, despite his grave (24,192, square 103) in the consecrated part of the cemetery being well within the laws protection (

52、1). Woolley was a remarkable man of many talents and interests, and a lifelong resident of Lambeth. He gave important service to the Parish of St Marys and to the Borough of Lambeth; his gravestone deserved preservation, not destruction.VerulamBorn in Clapham, the son of a doctor, he was educated pr

53、ivately and at Kings College, London. As a young man he was an accomplished cricketer, oarsman and boxer, and in later years he always maintained an interest in all sports. He spent much of his married life in Haycroft Road, Brixton, and then at 35 Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, just opposite St Judes Ch

54、urch. He called his house Verulam after the city of St Albans, of which his maternal grandfather was twice Mayor, and where the family had held extensive freeholds.Woolley was a prominent City man: a Director, President, VicePresident, Fellow, Trustee, Chairman or Member of many Institutes, Companie

55、s, Associations, Societies and Clubs. He was an expert on Company Law, and gave evidence to a House of Lords Select Committee on amendments to a Bill on that subject, which successfully proceeded to law. He helped secure a Charter for the Institute of Secretaries, of which he became President, and h

56、e was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the Regent Street Polytechnic. As a Master of the Worshipful Company of Turners, he took particular interest in their educational programmes and yearly exhibitions at the Mansion House.He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and publis

57、hed books on his travels, A Cruise Round the British Isles and A Voyage to Viking Land, which proved very popular. He was a Member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists and of various Press Clubs, and contributed articles on the history and mysteries of Lambeth to a local newspaper, The Free Pre

58、ss, under the name of Argus Tura. He also wrote fiction, and a book on monetary matters, Phases of Panics.Councillor WoolleyWoolley was an allrounder: he had mechanical talents, and patented several of his inventions, including one for pneumatic tyres for cycles and other vehicles. Although his prin

59、cipal work was within the financial world and the City, he was deeply interested in local matters and this led him into politics. When the Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth was established in 1900 he stood for and won one of the Council seats for the Ward of Tulse Hill (which then included his own Dul

60、wich Road, now in the present Ward of Herne Hill). At one time he considered involvement in national politics, when it was suggested that he might stand for St Albans, but he decided against it as he would have had to forgo his local interests and involvements.His financial expertise made him Lambet