JEWISH TELEGRAPH (LIVERPOOL EDITION), 23 NOVEMBER 2007

Volunteers clear Deane Road Cemetery

Local volunteers are hard at work renovating the historic Deane Road Cemetery.

The cemetery, fronted by a large Grade II Listed Greek revival style archway, has graves dating between 1836-1929.

Among those buried there are local personages like Liverpool’s first Lord Mayor Charles Mozley, Lewis’s founder David Lewis, watchmaker Moses Samuel and university lecturer Professor Jacob Prag.

The clean-up was organised Jewish historian Saul Marks after the cemetery fell prey to vandalism and neglect.

Jewish and non-Jewish volunteers from a variety of regeneration, botanic and architectural organisations have been involved in the task of clearing away tons of weeds, overgrowth and rubbish.

Mr Marks is also making a database of all the deceased. This is being backed up by a computer-generated scaled 3D drawing of the cemetery in its original form, complete with prayer house and groundsman’s cottage.

Anyone with old pictures of the cemetery should contact Saul Marks on 261 0306 or at info@deaneroadcemetery.com, as should those who wish to volunteer.

Mr Marks said: “It is very touching and encouraging how ordinary members of the local community are taking an interest in the project and giving up their free time to come along with garden tools and help clear the weeds and restore some dignity to the cemetery.”