On a very warm morning, Spital Cemetery workparty regulars Sue, Maggie and Sheila were joined by Yvonne and Hollie. Yvonne came fresh from her first W&M group session the previous evening, so it was great that she could join us again in a different location. It was Hollie's first ever GoodGym session, and she picked a hot one! We continued to work on a fallen obelisk and grave stone which had become heavily covered in holly and ivy, probably over a number of years. We cut away at the twisted stems slowly making progress to start to reveal the stonework underneath. Unfortunately some of the stone had already crumbled under pressure from the roots so we left some on to help stabilise the structure. We did however reveal some intricate carving, so look forward to uncovering some more at our next session. Great work by everyone in less than ideal conditions

Sue, Maggie and Sheila joined taskowner Karen at Spital Cemetery on a very hot morning. We started to tackle a huge mound of ivy and bindweed to try to discover what was beneath. Gradually the stonework underneath started to be revealed - a cross and a tall obelisk, both of which are now lying prostrate. More work will be required to remove many years of tangled growth, but we've made a great start

Sue , Maggie and Sheila were at the regular Spital Cemetery workparty, and were joined by one other volunteers. while Maggie went off to tidy some of the war graves, the others started to tackle a tangle of hawthorn and brambles that were completely obscuring one of the headstones. Much chopping later, we had a couple of hippo bags of debris, and the headstone was revealed. To help get rid of as much of the dead branches as possible, some well-aimed boots did the trick. We were delighted to find a jersey tiger moth caterpillar, which we let loose to find it's favourite food of nettles and brambles, of which there are plenty! The headstone belonged to Alfred Stevenson his wife Ellen Mary and youngest daughter Helen Mina

Karen, Sue, Maggie and Sheila met on a beautiful sunny morning at Spital Cemetery to help tidy up some graves. The first grave we attacked, had been overrun with brambles. Once we had cleared the area, it was revealed to be in memory of 3 sisters, daughters of John George Care. A quick Google revealed that they had 15 siblings and another 11 half siblings! Mr Carey, an architect and surveyor of Gloucester Place, had been a busy man!These were the 3 unmarried daughters. We moved on to trim a Pyracantha bush, whose thorny branches were overhanging the path. Lastly we cleared some branches of a wild rose masking another grave belonging to Richard Mentz-Tolley, who we discovered to be an Ironmaker of Osborne Road, Windsor. Karen and Sue worked hard to uncover the beautiful stone cross which had fallen onto the grave, but since covered over with soil and creeping weeds A really interesting morning!

4 Goodgymers joined Taskowner Jaren and another volunteer at a very sunny Spital Cemetery for a regular workparty. Maggie and Sue flexed their muscles re-siting two fallen stone crosses on their graves and clearing the grass so that the outlines could be seen. Meanwhile Karen and Sheila cleared the brambles from a large memorial dedicated to the Riley family. Another satisfying session

Spital Cemetery stalwarts Sue and Maggie were joined by Sheila and Karen for the first work party of the year. We also welcomed Sarah for her very first GoodGym mission. Taskowner Karen gave us a safety briefing , and we were off to find some graves that needed attention. We cut back bushes, and even the lower branches of large trees to reveal hidden gravestones. Our reward was to be able to read the touching inscriptions, now revealed.