MERSEYMART, WEST DERBY & TUEBROOK EDITION, 3 JULY 2008

Open Day at Cemetery

An open day at a Liverpool cemetery gave members of the public an opportunity to visit some of the city's leading citizens in their final resting place.

Notable figures including the founder of Lewis’s, David Lewis; the head of the jewellery chain H Samuel and the first Jewish mayor of Liverpool, Charles Mozley, are among those buried in the Deane Road Jewish Cemetery, in Kensington.

A local group is carrying out a major clean-up of the cemetery, with the backing of Kensington Regeneration. The cemetery closed in 1904 and fell into a state of disrepair, with the graves becoming damaged and strewn with rubbish.

Project manager Saul Marks said: “This cemetery is full of historical figures whose combined resourcefulness and wealth contributed significantly to the development of Liverpool. These men and women gave generously to the community and we are keen to pay then back. Our project will restore the site to its former glory and will also benefit the local environment.”

Maria Curran, Neighbourhood Officer for Kensington Regeneration said: “It is great to be involved with such a worthwhile project which has captured the imagination of the local community.”

The open day attracted around 250 people and raised £232 in donations towards the cost of maintaining the graves.