Memorial volunteers give thanks to their supporters

Heartfelt thanks have been given to supporters of a volunteer-led project as work to restore lowered memorials nears completion.

The Friends of Pateley Bridge Cemetery and St. Mary’s Churchyard have only 34 memorials left to repair since beginning work in 2004.

Through donations and fund raisers the group have now also hit the £16,000 mark since the headstones were lowered by Harrogate Borough Council due to safety concerns.

Chair of the group, Dr Joanna Moody, stressed how important community and council support has been on the group’s long journey.

Dr Moody Said: “We are all just so grateful to have been able to carry out the work, the support has been amazing and wonderful.

“We started out as just a small group with seven active members and around 12 full-time members. But we have had huge support from the community, among these were contributions from the Mayors Fund, councillor John Fort and many individuals who generously donated.

"I would like to extend our thanks to the town council and chamber of commerce.

“The cemetery is such a lovely place, a sad place, but full of the lives that are buried there.”

A special thanks was also given to the Harrogate Bereavements Services, whose permission is needed for the group to carry out the work.

Dr Moody said: “Without them we cannot have done the work, it was the council who took them down for safety reasons but they have supported us through this whole business.”

More than 300 memorials have now been repaired due to the group’s effort. The memorial restoration project has been commended by the council as an example of how residents can work together to benefit the community.

Deputy Leader for Harrogate Borough Council, Coun Michael Harrison said: “I would like to thank the Friends of Pateley Bridge Cemetery and St. Mary’s Churchyard for all their hard work, they must be commended for their fund raising efforts and the time they have dedicated to this project.”