For after 10 or more years working under its own steam, or with others, to restore the twin chapels and to provide a cemetery of which the town can be proud the organisation has reached a critical stage in its own history.

Membership numbers have been dropping for some time and now two of its chief officers, Elaine Brooke and Jack Gannon, who have given many years of valuable service, have decided to step down after being assured that the Twin Chapels have been saved and will continue to be used for the benefit of the community.

The support group has played a crucial role in reducing what once was an appalling state of vandalism in the cemetery and, in doing so, has established a partnership with Kirklees Council to provide better facilities within it.

If people want that public participation to continue it is important that the support group continues to thrive.

And that's even more crucial at this time when a brave trio have taken over the management and responsibility of the Twin Chapels after the previous organisers went into liquidation.

For it is through the support group that applications can be made for grants to help maintain and improve the chapels still further.

Membership of the group is free and it doesn't generally take up a great deal of time. But it has proved to be invaluable in helping the cemetery win several awards and it would be a shame to see all that hard work thrown away.


I'm just hoping that people who express support or concern for the cemetery might now show it in a practical way by turning up at the group's next meeting in the Twin Chapels at 6pm on Wednesday May 7.

Malcolm Haigh
Solway Road
BATLEY