100% Villa - Handsworth Graveyard Vandalised

[not3bad]

Historic Birmingham churchyard with links to Aston Villa targeted by vandals

MINDLESS thugs have vandalised gravestones at a Birmingham church where the remains of Aston Villa’s founders have been lain to rest and memorials to the city’s most historic figures have been erected.

Almost a dozen gravestones at St Mary’s Church, in Hamstead Road, Handsworth, were knocked over and smashed by louts over the weekend.

Graffiti was also daubed over the church building.

The Very Rev Brian Hall said he was “saddened” by the incident, which police chiefs described as “despicable”.

The churchyard is home to two key figures in the history of football, William McGregor, Director of Aston Villa FC, who organised the founding meeting of the Football League on March 22 1888 and George Ramsay, whose headstone reads ‘Founder of Aston Villa’.

There are also memorials to Birmingham’s founding fathers James Watt, Matthew Boulton and William Murdock at the Hamstead Road Cemetery.

Its oldest grave dates back to 1670.

But Rev Hall said none of the historic graves had been damaged.

He said: “I am saddened by this. Someone has been trying to push over the headstones. Some of them have been smashed.

“We don’t get a lot of vandalism and this is the first real trouble we have had for a couple of years. It needs to be stopped.”

Specialist forensic experts have combed the site for clues and officers have increased patrols.

Insp Danielle Corfield, said: “This was a despicable act which strikes at the heart of the Handsworth community.

“Many people from the area, including those who have loved-ones interred at the graveyard, will be very upset by this incident.

“I would like to assure them we are doing everything we can to find those responsible and would ask for the support of people in bringing them to justice.”

Link to Article

[Simon Ward]

Any vandalism in graveyards is disgusting. End of.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

What with the woman throwing the cat in the bin story, seems like its mindless twats in the news week.
It does say none of the historic graves have been damaged. I can well understand people with family buried there being well upset.
Stories like this always depress me because I cant understand the motive. While not condoning theft or robbery, there is at least a reason behind why its done.

[darren woolley]

It make me sick these animals who go around vandalising gravestone's they should be caught and sent to prison.

[SteveN]

You do wonder what goes through the minds of the idiots who have done this. The article doesn't mention I was christened at St Mary's.

[PAKISTAN]

******
i live on church hill rd and frequent the park often .

[lovejoy]

As bad as vandalising Gold's car.

[not3bad]

As bad as vandalising Gold's car.

Is it?

[The Situation]

It's worse than throwing a beer bottle at some silly old man's car, it's as low as you can get and it takes the lowest scum on earth to vandalise a church and it's gravestones.

[Matt Collins]

I went to St Mary's school in Handsworth, opposite this. I think Brummie industrialists Watt, Priestley and Bolton were buried there.

There's a lot of fucking mindless losers knocking about aren't there?

[BC54 VFC]

This is very distressing news. I, and my elder son, were christened there, my wife and I married there, and my father (who watched Villa from 1933 to 2009) was a longstanding church warden there until he passed away sixteen months ago today. My father's ashes were buried there, with a memorial stone, in July last year since when I have regularly visited to pay my respects when I return to Brum. The last but one time I went a few weeks ago there were some 'down and outs' perched on a nearby grave but at least they moved on quietly when they saw us approaching. There was, already, some graffiti to the rear of the church nearest the majority of the gravestones.

I'm pleased to see that the police will increase their patrols. It is a lovely church yard, particularly since the adjacent area around the boating lake in Handsworth Park was improved, and such a shame that people can't respect the dead.

[Lizz]

Any vandalism in graveyards is disgusting. End of.

Whilst not condoning, I can sort of understand why some crimes are committed. Not this one though.

[dave.woodhall]

The trouble there is that it's so open to any flotsam, jetsam and general rabble that might be coming from over the park. It is a wonderfully historic place, though.

[cdbearsfan]

I worry that by advertising its status as a Villa-significant cemetary they will attract more rif-raff who support our 'rivals' to do the same.