The Hidden Glasgow Forums

Benhar Cemetery, Shotts. I have been past this a few times and the arch was lit up with fairy-lights, so tonight I stopped and took a photo. Unfortunately the arch wasn't lit, but there was six or seven solar-powered garden lanterns in red, white and blue (a clue perhaps?) dotted amongst the massive assortment of plants. As you can see this is all enclosed by a nice tasteful green picket fence.





Aren't there rules against this? If not, there should be.

a bit o.t.t

You know, Im not sure there should be rules (well maybe a few guidelines) on how people should remeber the dead.

Perhaps this reflects the person?

Or maybe helps the bereaved feel less pain?

Although, there is how it impacts on other peoples graves to consider...

jury is out.

Sharon wrote:
Although, there is how it impacts on other peoples graves to consider...

Thats what i was thinking also, its not the only grave in the yard.

And, it loks awfully close to another stone.

I'm sorry but shit like that totally detracts from the rest of the cemetery. I have no problem with some flowers or maybe a small token, but when it overtakes the grave six feet out from the gravestone, and the plants come up to my shoulders, that is too much.

Now that I remember, on the sign in Cambusnethan there is a whole set of rules specifying what you can and cannot have on a grave, fences being one of them. I daresay those rules apply to all cemeteries in North Lanarkshire Council's jurisdiction.

If I had a relative who was buried anywhere near that, I would dig it all up myself.

Yes, I have to admit i'd be unimpressed to see that anywhere near a grave of someone i cared about.

That said, i think graveyards are a bit on the impersonal side.

Ach well, at least the red, white & blue are'nt bad colours :)

I've got a photograph I'll upload tonight, but Ronnie and kn0wledge will remember it. It's in the Bent Cemetery in Hamilton.

It's one of the Commonwealth War Grave Commission stones. These are a standard size and design. You'll recognise them from the Cemeteries in France, where there are row upon row of them.

This one in Hamilton is a quiet, dignified stone made utteryl ugly by the addition of abut eight bunches of fake flowers and two gnomes. There may have been a windchime as well.

What I also don;t get is the stones nowadays with big (and I mean big) inscriptions at the top like "BIG MAN" or "WEE SENGA".

These used to be the family name. Imagine someone in twenty years looking at that stone. They won't have a bloody clue....

dr_lightning wrote:Imagine someone in twenty years looking at that stone. They won't have a bloody clue....

Sure, but how many of us know the difference between "RIP" and "IHS" - when these were put on stones people knew what the letters stood for, what the intention was behind them, and the difference.

As for the tat, why shouldn't people decorate graves in whatever way they like. Individuals have individual tastes, and no one taste should prevail. Having said that, I do think all decorations should be off graves six months after the committal.

That's my two bytes worth, anyway.

I suppose if it brings comfort to the families then fair enough, but there's nothing worse than seein rows of graves, and a load of gnomes, windmills and the like all over the place.

Six months after sounds a fair compromise.

Acutally Ronnie...what does "IHS" stand for???

Just asked jeeves (not my fav search engine) but this is the answer I got, and I'm sure Ronnie will correct me if I'm wrong,

"IHS is often said to mean Iesus Homine Salvator (Jesus the Saviour of Mankind), but it is actually a corruption of IC-XC, the abbreviation for Jesus Christ found in early Christian art

During a visit to the cemetary in Bishopbriggs (the one with the horse statue) amids all the catholic, jewish, masonic (etc) symbolism on the modern headstones there's one with a Harley Davidson logo

Ronnie wrote:...how many of us know the difference between "RIP" and "IHS"

I know!

but only because you told me

kn0wledge wrote:

Ronnie wrote:...how many of us know the difference between "RIP" and "IHS"

I know!

but only because you told me

And I remember asking you....and I've forgotten what you said.

Dumbass me.....